Summary: We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint about the Council’s failure to investigate her safeguarding complaints in full. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. Mrs X has made her complaint late outside of our usual 12 month time limit for accepting complaints. I see no good reason for us to investigate now.

The complaint

1. In summary, Mrs X raises serious complaints alleging abuse by a church and NHS staff. She says the Council were made aware as a safeguarding matter.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We provide a free service but must use public money carefully. We do not start an investigation if we decide the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended)
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. The Council considered Mrs X’s complaints in 2023 and found no evidence to support her allegations.
7. We will not investigate as Mrs X’s complaint is caught by the time bar on the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction and I see no good reasons for us to investigate.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it has been made late and there are no good reasons for us to investigate .

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman