Social services complaints - other action you could take

If you don't want to use the local authority's complaints procedure, or if you have used it and are not satisfied with the outcome, what else could you do? This page tells you about other options if you have a complaint.

What else can you do?

If you do not want to use the local authority's (LA) complaints procedure, or if you have used it and are not satisfied with the outcome, you may be able to do one or more of the following:

• take up the issue with a local councillor, an Assembly Member (AM) or a Member of Parliament (MP)

• make a complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

• ask the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, or the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales to help

• apply for a judicial review, or take other legal action

• take action against discrimination

• sue the local authority for personal injury

• make a claim under the Human Rights Act 1998.

Your LA can give you the contact details for councillors in your area

Next steps

• National Assembly for Wales

• UK Parliament

• Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

• Children's Commissioner for Wales

• Older People's Commissioner for Wales

• For more information on judicial review applications see the Public Law project website at www.publiclawproject.org.uk

• If you’re thinking about taking court action, you should get advice from an adviser - for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau

• More about Dealing with discrimination

• More about Personal injury

• More about Taking legal action about human rights