The Parliamentary Ombudsman investigates complaints about the action or inaction of British government departments. They also handle some issues brought by members of the public. Additionally the department performs the role of Health Service Ombudsman, investigating complaints from the public about failures in NHS care and treatment. The website offers a summary of its duties and information for the general public on when to use the ombudsman service and how to make a complaint. An additional feature is the full-text annual reports, investigation reports and consultation documents.
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales (PPO) responds to complaints about conditions and treatment from prisoners and people subjected to probation orders. Its website provides information on the function and current activities of the ombudsman. It includes access to recent annual reports, case digest newsletters, fatal incident reports, special investigation reports and surveys and research reports. Also provided is user information on how to file a complaint and a listing of related internet sites on the topic of prisons.
The Financial Ombudsman Service oversees the UK financial industry and resolves individual complaints against specific organisations. It covers financial services such as insurance, mortgages, investments and credit. Its website provides information for consumers and businesses, together with a database of the Ombudsman's decisions (or 'determinations') from April 2012 onwards.
The Local Government Ombudsman investigates complaints of injustice and misadministration by local authorities and all adult social care providers (including care homes and home care agencies) in England. It includes such areas as housing, education, consumer services, social services and council tax. Its website describes the role of the ombudsman and provides information for the public on how to file a complaint. Annual reports from 1995/96 onwards are available along with a digest of cases considered.
The Independent Complaints Reviewer provides a complaints review service for the following public bodies: the Land Registry; the Audit Commission; the Charity Commission; the Homes and Communities Agency; the National Archives; the Northern Ireland Youth Justice Agency and the Children’s Commissioner for Wales. The site has guidance to making a complaint, background information on each organisation and copies of their annual reports. The Independent Complaints Reviewer will only investigate complaints once they have been exhausted by the organisation’s internal complaints procedures.
Website of the Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales, set up by the Office for Legal Complaints in 2010 to resolve complaints relating to legal services, such as conveyancing, wills and civil litigation. The site has organisational information, guidance on making a complaint and FAQs aimed at lawyers. There is also a selection of case studies, as well as business plans and discussion papers.
