Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint about what happened when Mrs X adopted her children in 2016 and 2017. There is no good reason to exercise discretion to do so now.

The complaint

1. Mrs X said there was fault in the conduct of the adoption and fostering teams at the Council.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. The complaint concerns actions from 2016 and 2017 that Mrs X stated in her complaint to the Council she had raised at the time. She was aware of the matters she now complains of by 2017 and could have approached us sooner.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is late and there is no good reason o exercise discretion to investigate it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman