R (Milburn) v Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman – St John’s Buildings

‘In R (Milburn) v Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman [2023] EWCA Civ 207, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of HHJ Sephton KC (sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court) that the Claimant’s complaints regarding the local authority’s conduct in an appeal before the First-Tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) well within the remit of the Tribunal, and therefore fell outside of the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction due to s.26(6) of the Local Government Act 1974.’

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St John's Buildings, 15th March 2023

Source: stjohnsbuildings.com

Awaab Ishak: Rochdale housing group dismissed residents – report – BBC News

Posted March 28th, 2023 in children, complaints, health & safety, housing, inquests, news, ombudsmen, repairs by sally

‘A housing association criticised over the death of a toddler treated its residents in “dismissive, inappropriate or unsympathetic ways”, a report says.’

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BBC News, 28th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Betsi Cadwaladr: Apology over Jean Graves, 10 years on – BBC News

‘A son has accepted a settlement and an apology from the north Wales health board nearly 10 years after his mother was a patient in a mental health unit.’

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BBC News, 26th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Newcastle care home whistleblowers alert CQC to failings – BBC News

Posted March 24th, 2023 in care homes, news, ombudsmen, whistleblowers by tracey

‘A care home has been placed in special measures after whistleblowers alerted the care watchdog to serious failings.’

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BBC News, 24th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Councils “all too often” failing in duties to prevent homelessness, says Ombudsman – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 21st, 2023 in homelessness, local government, news, ombudsmen, reports by tracey

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has said that vulnerable people are facing homelessness because some councils are “still not getting it right”, in a report marking five years since the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Watchdog to block shareholder payouts if UK water companies miss targets – The Guardian

‘The UK water regulator is to use new powers to block companies from shareholder payouts if they fail to hit performance and environmental targets.’

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The Guardian, 20th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Royal Mail referred to Ofcom over late letter deliveries

Posted March 17th, 2023 in enforcement, news, ombudsmen, postal service by tracey

‘Royal Mail is falling down on its letter delivery obligations, a group of MPs has said.’

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BBC News, 17th March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman issues special report on Catalyst Housing over ‘repeated failures’ indicative of wider service failure – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 13th, 2023 in complaints, housing, landlord & tenant, maladministration, news, ombudsmen by tracey

‘The Housing Ombudsman has called for significant improvements at Catalyst Housing ahead of its merger with another major social landlord, Peabody, following an investigation that found it “routinely failed to recognise formal complaints” and that aspects of its service were “arbitrary, disjointed and concerning”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council told to pay nearly £10k after woman forced to live in unsuitable accommodation for three years – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found that Croydon Council placed a woman fleeing domestic violence in “unsuitable accommodation” for three years, as well as finding poor complaint handling.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

IOPC investigating response of West Midland police in death of Priory patient – The Guardian

‘The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the response of West Midlands police into the death of a 23-year-old man who ran away from a mental health hospital and was killed by a train.’

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The Guardian, 13th March 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Birmingham City Council told to change handling of care complaints – BBC News

‘A council wrongly handled complaints by families over respite care for children with disabilities, an ombudsman found.’

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BBC News, 2nd March 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Universities rebuked over academic misconduct cases in England and Wales – The Guardian

Posted February 28th, 2023 in complaints, coronavirus, examinations, news, ombudsmen, penalties, reports, universities by sally

‘Universities have been reprimanded over unfair treatment of students accused of academic misconduct in a report by the higher education ombudsman for England and Wales.’

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The Guardian, 27th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Major social landlord to pay more than £2k after disabled resident left without use of toilet – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration at major social landlord Clarion after repeated drain blockages left a disabled resident unable to use a functioning toilet in their new build home.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 21st February 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Nicola Bulley: Ofcom ‘extremely concerned’ by family media complaints – BBC News

Posted February 22nd, 2023 in bereavement, complaints, families, media, missing persons, news, ombudsmen, privacy by tracey

‘Broadcasting regulator Ofcom has said it was “extremely concerned” to hear complaints made about ITV and Sky News by the family of Nicola Bulley. Ofcom said it had written to both “to ask them to explain their actions”.’

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BBC News, 21st February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Ombudsman makes severe maladministration finding against council after family left “with unsafe and rotting windows” – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 16th, 2023 in housing, local government, news, ombudsmen, repairs by sally

‘The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham’s continued repairs failings over 18 months, which left a family in “unsafe conditions”.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th February 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

ASA rulings show that gambling brands can still utilise sports personalities – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 15th, 2023 in advertising, children, gambling, news, ombudsmen, sport, young persons by sally

‘The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has determined that two gambling adverts featuring a pair of former England international footballers were not likely to appeal to under-18s.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 14th February 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Harold Shipman ad trivialised murders, says advertising watchdog – BBC News

Posted February 15th, 2023 in advertising, complaints, doctors, insurance, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘A life insurance advert featuring serial killer Harold Shipman “trivialised” his murders and was distressing to victims’ families, the advertising watchdog said.’

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BBC News, 15th February 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mobile and broadband prices: UK watchdog reviews inflation-busting rises – The Guardian

Posted February 10th, 2023 in consumer protection, inflation, news, ombudsmen, telecommunications by sally

‘The UK telecoms regulator has launched an investigation into the industry-wide practice of hitting broadband and mobile customers with inflation-busting price rises of up to 17% and could bring in tougher protections against hefty mid-contract increases.’

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The Guardian, 9th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ombudsman sees “significant increase” in heating and hot water cases – Local Government Lawyer

Posted February 8th, 2023 in complaints, housing, landlord & tenant, local government, news, ombudsmen, statistics by sally

‘The Housing Ombudsman has revealed that it has seen a 60% increase in complaints on heating and hot water, with 1,600 received in 2021/22 and 1,491 received already in 2022/23.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 7th February 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Hundreds of UK officers should never have been appointed, says police watchdog – The Guardian

‘Officers with prior convictions and close links with criminals are among hundreds who have joined the police in the last three years who should not have been allowed in, according to the head of the police watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 5th February 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com