Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about bereavement support from the Council. His complaint is late and we have seen no good reason why he could not have complained to us sooner.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains the Council has not provided him tailored bereavement support since his child died in 2024.
2. He said the Council provided links to generic websites and did not respond to an external organisation that offered support to improve bereavement services.
3. Mr X said the lack of bereavement support has caused him distress. He would like the Council to review its bereavement support services and implement changes. He said he would also like a formal complaint response from the Council.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

4. 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

5. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
6. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

7. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late. We have seen no good reason why he could not have complained to us sooner.
8. We acknowledge Mr X’s bereavement of 2024. He said that since then, he has been trying to get tailored bereavement support from the Council. He did not complain to us until 2026.
9. The Council has advised Mr X it does not offer a specialised bereavement support service.

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Final decision

10. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is late, and we have seen no good reason why he could not have complained to us sooner.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman