Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about a lack of support from the Council’s children’s services after he left the family home in 2020. This is because the complaint is made late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and consider it now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council’s children’s services failed to provide him with support after he left the family home in 2020. He says his child is living with their mother who is abusive.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

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

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

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My assessment

6. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late. The issues he complains about date back some five years ago and I see no good reason why he could not have asked the Ombudsman to consider them sooner.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman