Complaints about education outside of a school setting This fact sheet is aimed at parents who are experiencing problems with accessing education for a child who is unable to attend their usual school. It is also aimed at parents who choose to educate their children outside of the state education system. I believe my child is unable to attend school and I am not happy with the support provided by ...

Land sales and disposals This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who have concerns that the council did not follow the correct procedures when disposing of some land and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I am unhappy about the council’s decision to sell or dispose of land or buildings; or about the way it went about such a sale or disposal. Can the Ombudsman help me? Ye ...

Noise nuisance This fact sheet is aimed primarily at people who are concerned that the council is not taking the right action to deal with the noise nuisance they are experiencing and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. Organisations the Ombudsman can look at We hold councils to account for services they pay other organisations, including private companies, to carry out on the ...

Scrutiny questions Suggested questions to help councillors scrutinise their local services We believe that complaints raised by the public can be an important source of information to help councillors identify issues that are affecting local people. Complaints can therefore play a key part in supporting the scrutiny of public services. Below are range of questions that councillors could ask their ...

Scrutiny questions Suggested questions to help councillors scrutinise their local services We believe that complaints raised by the public can be an important source of information to help councillors identify issues that are affecting local people. Complaints can therefore play a key part in supporting the scrutiny of public services. Below are range of questions that councillors could ask their ...

Disabled boy missed out on education and support because of poor council practice A West Sussex boy missed out on vital support because the county council decided he had the ‘wrong’ type of disabilities, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has reported. The boy, who has Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder did not have his social care needs met ...

Essex couple unable to spend as much time as they wanted in final days because of council decision An Essex woman was not able to spend as much time as she wanted with her husband in his final weeks because the county council moved him to a care placement further away from the family home, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The man, who had dementia, had been living in a ca ...

Pregnant homeless woman left to sleep on hard floor by LB Tower Hamlets A pregnant woman, who approached Tower Hamlets council for help when she was made homeless, was left in an unfurnished flat, miles from her support network, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found. The woman was left in the flat for three months, and did not even have a bed until she was awarded a grant a mon ...

School transport This fact sheet is aimed mainly at parents who have been refused help from the council with their child’s transport costs to school and may be considering making a complaint to the Ombudsman. I have been refused help with my child’s transport costs to school. Can I complain to the Ombudsman? Yes, in some circumstances. The Ombudsman cannot question the council’s decision, if it t ...

Council did not do enough to support a woman fleeing violence West Berkshire Council has been criticised by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for not doing enough to support a woman and her children who were fleeing threats of violence. The woman had been a tenant in a different council area, in which the police confirmed she was no longer safe. She approached West Berkshire for supp ...