Summary: We cannot investigate Miss Y’s complaint about social work involvement with her children. The complaint is late. It was reasonable to expect Miss Y to complain to us sooner.

The complaint

1. Miss Y complained that a named social worker recorded inaccurate information in her children’s records and so has not met their professional standards.
2. Miss Y said this caused distress to her and her children.
3. Miss Y wants the Council to arrange suitable staff training, and for the social worker’s fitness to practice to be investigated.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
5. 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

6. I considered information provided by Miss Y.
7. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

8. Miss Y complained that her children’s social worker recorded wrong information within the Council’s systems.
9. When Miss Y complained to the Council, it decided not to consider her complaint because the events that led to the complaint took place more than 12 months ago.
10. We will also not investigate. The complaint is late. It was reasonable to expect Miss Y to complain to us sooner when she became aware of the matter.

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Final decision

11. We will not investigate Miss Y’s complaint because the complaint is late and it was reasonable to expect her to complain to us sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman