Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the way the Council dealt with Mr X’s adoption matter. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to investigate now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained to the Council about issues during an adoption process in 2023. He also complains about the way the Council dealt with his complaint.
2. Mr X says the Council caused distress, disappointment and anxiety. He is seeking a change in the Council’s processes.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

3. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start an investigation if we decide the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
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)
5. It is not a good use of public resources to investigate complaints about complaint procedures, if we are unable to deal with the substantive issue.

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How I considered this complaint

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

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good reasons to investigate now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman