Summary: We will not investigate this complaint the Council failed to offer appropriate children’s social care support. That is because the complaint is late.

The complaint

1. Miss X complained the Council had failed to provide her and her children appropriate support since 2014. She said she subsequently moved out of the Council’s area however, it did not transfer all her children’s case records to the new council. She said that had affected the service she had since received. She said the Council still owed her financial compensation for belongings that were damaged following her move.
2. Miss X said the Council’s actions had affected her health and wellbeing. She wants it to apologise and investigate what happened.

Back to top

The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
4. 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)

Back to top

How I considered this complaint

5. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

7. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council. That is because the matters she complains of took place more than 12 months ago. Therefore, this is a late complaint and we should not investigate. We have discretion to set aside this restriction where we decide there are good reasons. In this case I have decided not to exercise discretion because it was reasonable for Miss X to complain to us sooner is she was unhappy with what the Council had done.

Back to top

Final decision

8. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it is late.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman