Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s historic complaint about events over 30 years ago when she was a looked after child. The law says we cannot investigate late complaints and there are no good grounds to exercise discretion to consider it because we could not carry out a full and fair investigation into these events now.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains about the care she received between 1992-1994 when she was a looked after child. Miss X says she was subjected to extremely traumatic experiences which the Council did not act on when she reported them at the time.

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

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My assessment

6. Miss X complained to the Council about the matter set out in paragraph one, above, in July 2025.
7. The Council told Miss X it would not consider her complaint because the events were outside the timeframe it can consider via its complaints procedure.
8. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint. It lies outside our jurisdiction because it is late, as per the restriction set out in paragraph 3, above. I see no good grounds to exercise discretion to consider this complaint now. This is because the complaint is historic and given the very significant passage of time, of over 30 years, since the events complained about there is no realistic prospect of us being able to carry out a meaningful investigation of events and reach a fair and sound view on the Council’s actions and decisions now. Further to this, changes in staff, policies and procedures, practice, guidance and legislation since these events would further impact our ability to carry out a reliable and meaningful investigation now.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it is late and there are no good grounds to exercise discretion to consider it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman