Manual for Councils Updated: 09 September 2025 Manual for Councils search Search this content Submit search Contents Part 1: Introduction Part 2: About the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Part 3: The Complaint Handling Code and other complaints procedures Part 4: Signposting to the Ombudsman Part 5: The role of the Link Officer Part 6: The Ombudsman’s Processes Part 7: How we make a de ...

Guide for complaint handlers: A proportionate approach to considering complaints Updated: 06 February 2025 Guide for complaint handlers: A proportionate approach to considering complaints search Search this content Submit search Contents Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Effective behaviours in complaint handling Part 3: Reasonable adjustments Part 4: Representatives and consent Part 5: Understanding ...

Monthly News March 2026 25 Mar 2026 Social care ombudsman launches best practice guidance for handling self-funder complaints 19 Mar 2026 Disabled man slept on floor after council homelessness failure, Ombudsman finds 12 Mar 2026 Families due to receive long-overdue remedies after Leicester City Council reverses refusal of Ombudsman recommendations 05 Mar 2026 Investigation into Bucks brothers’ m ...

Monthly News February 2026 25 Feb 2026 Council failed Disabled young woman and her family over college transport, Ombudsman finds 17 Feb 2026 Ombudsman warns councils are 'losing control' of planning enforcement as complaints increasingly reveal years-long delays 12 Feb 2026 North Tyneside child left without alternative education for more than a year because of council failures - Ombudsman 06 Feb ...

Monthly News January 2026 12 Jan 2026 Introducing the new virtual assistant 08 Jan 2026 Resident left feeling unsafe after council ignored neighbour complaints

Yearly News 2020 17 Dec 2020 Ombudsman annual report details further innovation in its service 15 Dec 2020 London borough criticised for not saying sorry 10 Dec 2020 Ombudsman urges councils to scrutinise services for children in care 10 Dec 2020 City council in foster carer dispute after girl’s mother dies 03 Dec 2020 Teenager with autism misses start of term when council cancels transport 03 De ...

Joint Working Manual Updated: 27 November 2025 Joint Working Manual search Search this content Submit search Contents Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Key Principles Part 3: Common Joint Working topics Part 4: Governance Part 5: Statutory requirements related to joint working cases Part 6: Prematurity Part 7: The Joint working process Part 8: Escalation process Part 9: Post decision reviews Part 10: ...

Investigation Manual Contents: Chapter index for Investigation Manual Updated: 25 February 2026 Investigation Manual search Search this content Submit search Part 1 • 1. Introduction 1. IntroductionThis is internal guidance which we have published for transparency. It may have links or references to other internal guidance or policies which are not published. Last updated: February 2026 The Local ...

Guidance on Jurisdiction Contents: Chapter index for Guidance on Jurisdiction Updated: 01 January 2026 Guidance on Jurisdiction search Search this content Submit search Part 1 • 1. Introduction 1. IntroductionThis is internal guidance which we have published for transparency. It may have links or references to other internal guidance or policies which are not published. Last updated: January 2026 ...

Yearly News 2022 15 Dec 2022 Oxfordshire fails to provide alternative education for a year 14 Dec 2022 Ombudsman’s Annual Report highlights improvements for complainants and local service users The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has published its Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22, which details the success of its work to give more complainants a quicker decision on their case. 08 Dec ...