Focus Reports and Good Practice Guides Focus reports highlight common or systemic issues we see, brought to life with case studies from our complaints. They share learning from complaints to help councils and care providers make improvements, contribute to public policy debates and give elected members tools to scrutinise local services. Focus reports are web-based publications. If you need any o ...

Compliance Manual Contents: Chapter index for Compliance Manual Updated: 02 April 2025 Compliance Manual search Search this content Submit search Part 1 • Introduction IntroductionLast updated: July 2025 This is an internal policy which we have published for transparency. It may contain links or references to other internal guidance which is not published. Where we find evidence of fault causing ...

Ombudsman issues guidance on housing adaptations for Disabled people The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is issuing practical guidance to housing officers to ensure Disabled people’s homes meet their needs. Following on from the Ombudsman’s focus report on Disabled people and housing, the new Good Practice Guide is designed to help officers in local councils improve their practice when ...

Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy Contents: Chapter index for Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy Updated: 05 August 2024 Health, Safety and Wellbeing Policy search Search this content Submit search Part 2 • Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Statement of Intent Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Statement of Intent The Commission for Local Administration in England’s policy is to: maintain safe and heal ...

Ombudsman and Enforcement Conduct Board sign agreement The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to aid better investigation of complaints and concerns about enforcement agents. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about enforcement agents – more commonly known as bailiffs – when acting on behalf of local authorit ...

Ombudsman issues guidance on housing allocations for Disabled people Councils’ housing allocations schemes is the subject of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s third practical guide for housing officers to help improve services for Disabled people. The latest guide highlights issues Disabled people face when applying to councils’ housing schemes, and the changes local councils can m ...

“Just who is left to fight their corner?” – Ombudsman launches report on fostering for councils When ‘Amie’ left care, her local council did not look into her claim that she suffered abuse while living with foster carers properly. This is just one of the cases highlighted in today’s Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman report about fostering in England which demonstrates what can and has go ...

Ombudsman responds to NAO report on sustainability of local government finances The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has welcomed the report by the National Audit Office (NAO), highlighting the precarious nature of local government finances due to increased demand for frontline services. The report highlights the increasing number of complaints the Ombudsman receives and upholds, as evi ...

Hackney to review rejected Blue Badge applications from past 16 months following Ombudsman investigation Drivers in Hackney who have been refused a Blue Badge can apply to have their cases reassessed after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found flaws in the local council’s scheme. The Ombudsman investigated a woman’s complaint that London Borough of Hackney had not renewed her badge ...

New report highlights urgent need to listen to disabled people in the fight against England’s housing crisis England’s housing crisis is deepening, and for Disabled people, its impact is particularly acute. A new report, released today by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, sheds light on the disproportionate challenges Disabled people face when navigating local authorities’ housing a ...