Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint that the Council failed to investigate concerns she raised about her ex-foster child. The complaint is late with no good reason to investigate it now.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains the Council failed to investigate safeguarding concerns she raised about her ex-foster child. She says she has concerns about the safety of the child. She wants the Council to listen to her concerns.

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

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My assessment

6. Mrs X complained to us in December 2025. Therefore, we can only consider safeguarding referrals she made within 12 months before this time.
7. The evidence I have seen shows the Council did not receive any safeguarding referrals from Mrs X between December 2024 and December 2025.
8. We will not investigate the Council’s actions in response to safeguarding referrals Mrs X made before December 2024. This is because the complaint is late. If Mrs X was dissatisfied with the Council’s actions at that time then it was reasonable for her to complain to us then. I have seen good reason for the delay in complaining to us and therefore I will not investigate.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is late with no good reason to investigate it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman