Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint the Council failed to support her when it removed her child from her care. This is because the complaint is late and there are no good reasons to exercise discretion to investigate it now.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains the Council failed to safeguard and support her as a victim of domestic abuse. She says the Council removed her child from her care despite them not being present when an incident occurred. She complains the Council ignored her repeated disclosures of violence, manipulation and risks from the paternal family. She wants the Council to better support women and their families.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. 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. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by the complainant and the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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Final decision

4. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it relates to events that happened in 2020 to 2021 and 2023 to 2024. We expect people to complain to us within 12 months of the events they are complaining about. Miss X has been aware of these issues for a number of years before bringing them to us in January this year. I have seen no good reason why she could not have brought these issues to our attention sooner, so I will not exercise discretion to investigate this late complaint now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman