Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s children’s services involvement with her child between 2021 and 2023. This is because the complaint is late.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about the Council’s children’s services involvement with her child, Y, between 2021 and 2023.
2. Ms X said the matter caused her distress.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

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.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaints about the Council’s involvement with her child between 2021 and 2023. This is because the complaint is late.
7. Ms X originally complained to the Council during court proceedings in February 2023. Court ended several months later, at which time it was open to Ms X to raise a new complaint.
8. Ms X did not complain to the Ombudsman until April 2025. This is more than 12 months since she was aware of the matters complained about. I have seen no good reasons Ms X could not have complained sooner. Therefore, we will not investigate this complaint.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is late, and there are no good reasons to exercise our discretion.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman