Public Health complaints policy

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Service can assist complainants throughout the life of a complaint. This affords the complainant the opportunity to engage with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman dispute support advisors. 

Complainants should be provided with advice, at the point a complaint is acknowledged, regarding their right to access the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Service, and not just at the point the complainant has exhausted this complaints policy.  

This is an independent service set up by the Government to investigate complaints about councils. The complainant can refer their complaint at any time during the course of an investigation by the council. However, it is usually expected that the complainant will exhaust the council's procedure before involving the Ombudsman. 

The council will fully co-operate with the ombudsman's investigation and consider any remedies proposed. The Ombudsman will decide whether or not the council has acted unfairly or if a complainant has suffered an injustice as a result of maladministration. A report on the Ombudsman's findings will be sent to the council.