Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council failed to safeguard his children. This is because the complaint is made late, and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and investigate it now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council failed to properly investigate safeguarding concerns about his children. Mr X says this led to trauma to the family and financial loss.

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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. The issues raised by Mr X concern the Council’s involvement with his family more than four years ago and his complaint is therefore late. Whilst I acknowledge that Mr X has been involved in court proceedings during the interim, I do not consider that this has prevented him from raising his complaint.

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Final decision

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late and I see no good reason why he could not have complained sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman