Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that he was incorrectly advised by the Council to seek a Parental Responsibility Order. The complaint is late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains that the Council gave wrong advice about which order to apply for when they started caring for the children of a family member.

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

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My assessment

6. Mr X and his partner assumed care of a family member’s children in 2019. He says they were advised to secure a Parental Responsibility Order and were not offered other options.
7. Mr X should have contacted us earlier. He did not contact us until March 2025. His complaint is late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late and there is no good reason to exercise discretion to investigate this matter now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman