Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s child protection enquiries. This is because the complaint is late. I have seen no reason why Mr X could not have come to us sooner.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council did not adhere to Section 47 Guidance. He says the Council delayed the family assessment and there were gaps in the Section 47 document.
2. He would like an apology from the Council and for the social worker to be investigated.

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 Mr X and the Council. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

Back to top

My assessment

6. Mr X made a complaint to the Council about failings in its safeguarding enquiries in March 2024. The Council’s stage 2 response in April 2024 apologised for the gaps in the Section 47 document.
7. I see no reason why Mr X did not bring his complaint to us sooner, so we will not investigate as stated in paragraph 4 above.

Back to top

Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council’s safeguarding enquiries because he did not bring his complaint to us in time.

Back to top

Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman