Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about an adult social care assessment completed with her relative, Mr Y, in 2022 and charges for his care. The complaint is late and there is no good reason to investigate now.

The complaint

1. Ms X complains about an adult social care assessment completed with her relative, Mr Y, in 2022 and about charges for his care.

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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.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Ms X complains about an adult social care assessment completed with her relative in April 2022 and charges for his care between April and July 2022.
7. We will not investigate this complaint as it is late. Ms X was aware of the matters complained about in 2022, but did not bring the complaint to us until December 2024.
8. This complaint is late and I can see no good reason why Ms X could not have approached us sooner and so we will not investigate now.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint because it is late and there is no good reason to investigate now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman