Ombudsman
Council appeared to be in ‘crisis management mode’
‘Multiple and repeated’ failures by Hammersmith & Fulham LBC left residents feeling ‘anything but secure in their homes,’ an investigation has found.
Ombudsman calls for Royal Commission for social housing
The Housing Ombudsman has called for the establishment of a Royal Commission to deliver a long-term plan for social housing that tackles social injustices.
Gove criticises ‘unacceptable’ maladministration findings
Housing secretary Michael Gove has told three councils he will take a ‘personal interest’ in how they improve following findings of severe maladministration by the Housing Ombudsman.
Incoming Ombudsman defends lack of experience
The woman due to become the new Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has defended her lack of experience in the sectors.
Getting the basics right
Paul Najsarek says these may not be easy times for public services, but a focus by councils on complaint management must be part of the basics. Ann McGauran reports
Stoke-on-Trent guilty of severe maladministration
Stoke-on-Trent City Council has received a severe maladministration ruling from the housing ombudsman.
Education and children's services top complaints to Ombudsman
The Ombudsman’s annual complaints statistics have revealed education and children’s services as the key areas of concern, making up nearly a quarter (24%) of the workload.
B&B housing figures increase by more than a third
The number of households living in B&B accommodation has shot up by more than a third in a year, new figures have revealed.
Complaints: heed the warnings
Housing ombudsman and Local Government Association conference speaker Richard Blakeway offers key lessons from complaints. He says landlords are too often failing to recognise, record or respond to the welfare needs of residents.
Council chiefs named in King's Birthday Honours
Council officers and members were among those to be named on the King’s Birthday Honours list this year.
London borough hit by 'severe maladministration' finding
The Housing Ombudsman has issued seven findings of ‘severe maladministration’ against Hammersmith & Fulham LBC.
Interim Local Government Ombudsman named
Paul Najsarek has been appointed as the interim Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
Ombudsman warns councils ‘not getting it right’ on homelessness
Vulnerable people are facing homelessness because some councils are ‘still not getting it right,’ according to the Local Government Ombudsman.
London boroughs taken to task over housing failings
Haringey and Lambeth LBCs have pledged to take action to address housing shortcomings.
Social care users ‘failed’ by complaints system, watchdog says
Adults attempting to challenge social care decisions made by councils are being 'failed,’ the national equalities watchdog has said.
Council left family in 'unsafe conditions'
‘Multiple repair failures’ over 18 months by Hammersmith & Fulham LBC left a family in ‘unsafe conditions,’ the Housing Ombudsman has ruled.
Watchdog calls for 'radical improvements' to Lambeth housing
The Housing Ombudsman has called for ‘radical improvements’ to be made at Lambeth LBC, following five findings of severe maladministration.
Councils urged to check information sharing agreements
Councils are being urged to check they have adequate information sharing agreements with their providers after one council struggled to access essential data.
Birmingham complaints handling ‘fundamentally flawed’
Birmingham City Council has been ordered to overhaul its ‘fundamentally flawed’ complaints procedures by the housing ombudsman.
Warning over 15-minute social care calls
Councils could be infringing social care recipients’ human rights, the sector's ombudsman has warned.