City of Wolverhampton Council
Annual statistics ?Find out more about annual statistics
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Complaints upheld
86% Complaints upheld by City of Wolverhampton Council
86% of complaints we investigated were upheld.
This compares to an average of 80% in similar authorities.
6 upheld decisions
View upheld decisionsAdjusted for City of Wolverhampton Council's population, this is
2.2 upheld decisions per 100,000 residents.The average for authorities of this type is
4.4 upheld decisions per 100,000 residents.Statistics are based on a total of 7 investigations for the period between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
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Compliance with Ombudsman recommendations
100% of cases were successfully implemented by City of Wolverhampton Council
100% of cases we were satisfied the Council had successfully implemented our recommendations.
This compares to an average of 99% in similar authorities.
Statistics are based on a total of 5 compliance outcomes for the period between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
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Satisfactory remedies provided by the Council
0% Complaints with satisfactory remedy provided by City of Wolverhampton Council
In 0% of upheld cases we found the Council had provided a satisfactory remedy before the complaint reached the Ombudsman.
This compares to an average of 14% in similar authorities.
0 satisfactory remedy decisions
Statistics are based on a total of 6 upheld decisions for the period between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
View all satisfactory remedy decisions
Annual letters
We write to councils each year to give a summary of the complaint statistics we record about them,
and their performance in responding to our investigations.
Reports ?Find out more about reports
In the last nine years, the Ombudsman has published the following reports against City of Wolverhampton Council
City of Wolverhampton Council to improve its adoption recruitment process
Wolverhampton council has agreed to ensure its adoption recruitment procedure adheres to statutory guidance, following an Ombudsman investigation.
Ombudsman reminds councils of their foster carer school transport duties
Councils across England are being reminded about the financial support they must provide to foster carers’ school transport expenses following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman into Wolverhampton council.
Service improvements ?Find out more about service improvements
Since April 2018, the Council has agreed to make the following improvements to its services following an Ombudsman investigation. We list up to 10 cases below – click ‘view all’ if there are more.
Case reference: 23 021 448
Category: Education
Sub Category: Special educational needs
- The Council has agreed to provide the Ombudsman with an action plan specifically around how the Council intends to reduce annual review backlogs and a further update, two months after it has provided the action plan, on its progress with the backlog.
Case reference: 23 021 423
Category: Housing
Sub Category: Homelessness
- The Council should review its process when it receives notification that a property is unsuitable, and ensure all relevant staff are reminded of the Council’s duty to carry out a suitability review.
Case reference: 23 016 340
Category: Environment and regulation
Sub Category: Licensing
- The Council will remind its vehicle licensing officers of each applicant's right to appeal a refusal to issue or renew a private vehicle licence, and ensure that officers know this appeal right should be explained to applicants when refusing a licence.
Case reference: 23 004 866
Category: Transport and highways
Sub Category: Rights of way
- a)Take steps to introduce a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in relation to a public footpath if its locked gates are to remain in place.b)Review other PSPOs which replaced previous gating orders and expired in October 2020 to determine if they need to be re-made.
Case reference: 23 001 270
Category: Adult care services
Sub Category: Assessment and care plan
- Review its record keeping procedures to ensure officers record all key decisions relating to a person’s care needs, such as whether a person has eligible needs under the Care Act 2014 and notify the client of the decision.
- By training or other means remind officers to provide key information about care home funding in writing following conversations with clients regarding funding arrangements. This is to ensure understanding of the key issues discussed and potential financial implications.
Case reference: 22 013 940
Category: Education
Sub Category: Special educational needs
- By training or other means remind staff of the importance of adhering to the Council’s complaint procedure / timescales.
- Produce an action plan to demonstrate how the Council will meet statutory timescales for EHC needs assessments and EHC Plans.
Case reference: 22 006 023
Category: Adult care services
Sub Category: Residential care
- The Council agreed to remind the care provider about the importance of raising safeguarding alerts immediately and keeping a record of safeguarding referrals.
Case reference: 22 002 239
Category: Education
Sub Category: Special educational needs
- The Council agreed to review how it monitors and arranges social care assessments for disabled children to ensure it completes these in a reasonable period of time.
Case reference: 22 001 797
Category: Benefits and tax
Sub Category: Housing benefit and council tax benefit
- The Council will remind its staff they must pass housing benefit appeals to the Tribunal without undue delay; usually within four weeks. They should do this regardless of whether the Council's case is prepared.
Case reference: 21 010 968
Category: Education
Sub Category: Special educational needs
- The Council should ensure relevant staff are aware of their responsibilities when sending Education, Health and Care advice requests. Specifically, requests to NHS organisations should specifically set out what advice is needed.
- The Council should ensure it clarifies what role meetings have in its 'Complaints Policy and Procedures'.
- The Council should ensure it explains what the local arrangement for joint complaint handling is with NHS organisations in its 'Complaints Policy and Procedures'.
Last updated: 4 April 2015