The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the lack of support from the Council’s Post Adoption Team in 2017, and about an assessment carried out by its children’s services in 2020. This is because these events happened too long ago, and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and investigate them now.
The complaint
The complainant, who I will call Mrs X, complains about the lack of support her family received from the Council’s Post Adoption Team in 2017, and about a assessment carried out by the Council’s children’s services in June 2020, which Mrs X says contained inaccurate information and led to the Council initiating pre-proceedings regarding the care of Mrs X’s adopted daughter.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
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 and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
I will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint. This is because the issues she raises happened more than 12 months ago, and I see no reason why Mrs X could not have raised them sooner.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it is made late.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman