Source: Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman (LGOS)

 

When the Local Government& Social Care Ombudsman (LGOS) end their investigation and issue a decision, that decision is final.

 

LGOS give care providers several opportunities to contribute to the decision during the life of an investigation. This is through their response to enquiries and at the draft decision stage. They also look for agreement from the care provider if they are recommending a remedy, prior to them closing a case.

 

Once that agreement is given they expect the care provider to adhere it.

 

It is totally unacceptable for a provider to try to engage the complainant in any form of non-disclosure agreement as the basis for completing the remedy or to ask the complainant to keep the outcome of the complaint confidential. 

 

LGOS investigate in private which means that during the life of the complaint they do not expect information to be shared. However, three months after a decision is issued they publish the majority of cases on their website. These decisions are anonymised. They do this in this in an open and transparent way to help others learn from the complaints they investigate.