The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this late complaint about Miss X’s time in foster care in the early 1990s. There is no good reason to exercise discretion to do so.
The complaint
Miss X said she was placed in a foster home in the early 1990s. She said she was shown no consideration for her mental illness, she was made homeless and given no advice on how to get help or find accommodation.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
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)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
We may consider a late complaint if we feel there is a good reason. Some complainants are not aware of a matter at the time it happens, and others are not able to complain at the time. While we would not expect a child to complain, or a person turning 18 to do so immediately, there is gap of about 30 years between the events complained of and Miss X’s complaint to us. That she complained to the Council in 2014 shows she was able to complain about matters she had been aware of for 20 years. Her complaint to us is eight years after that.
Final decision
We will not investigate Miss X’s late complaint because there is no good reason to exercise discretion to do so.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman