Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about how the Council cared for her when she was a young mother in care during the 1990s. This is because the complaint is late.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains about how the Council supported her as a young mother in care during the 1990s. She says this has had a life-long impact on her mental health.

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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 the complainant and the Council.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Miss X complained to the Council in 2025 about the care she received as a looked after child and young mother in the late 1990s. The Council said it would not investigate the complaint as it could have been raised sooner. The Council noted Miss X had previously approached it about other matters.
7. Miss X was aware of the matters she complains about for many years. She could have raised the complaint sooner. Miss X has told us about significant health difficulties she has experienced. She says these issues have prevented her from raising the complaint sooner.
8. I will not investigate this complaint. The complainant could have raised the matter sooner, and in any case, I must consider whether there is a realistic prospect of reaching a fair and meaningful decision. I do not feel that this is possible in this case, given how long ago the matters occurred.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it is late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman