Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the actions of children’s services regarding the care of his child. This is because his complaint is made late and I see no good reason to exercise discretion and investigate it now.

The complaint

1. Mr X complains about the Council’s involvement in with his family which he says led to his daughter moving to a different part of the United Kingdom.

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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)
4. We investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies. We cannot investigate the actions of bodies such as the police. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 25 and 34(1), as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

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

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My assessment

7. Mr X has raised complaints about other bodies such as the police in the area where he believes his child is living. We have no jurisdiction to investigate these bodies and can only consider the actions of the Council in this regard.
8. I will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council. This is because the issues he raises happened more than ten years ago and I see no good reason why he could not have complained to us at the time.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because it is made late.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman