Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint about the Council’s children’s services involvement with her family. This is because the complaint is made late, and I see no good reason to investigate it now.

The complaint

1. Miss X complains about the Council’s children’s services involvement with her family in early 2023. She says she was forced into being separated from her children. She wants the Council to pay her compensation and to find her a solicitor.

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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. In early 2023, the Council’s children’s services competed an assessment after concerns were raised about Miss X’s children. The recommendation was for the family to receive support from Early Help and the case was closed.
7. I will not investigate Miss X’s complaint because it is made late. Whilst I sympathise with Miss X that she has faced personal difficulties since 2023 I do not consider this prevented her from raising her complaint with us sooner.

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Final decision

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

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman