Please complete this application form if you want the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces (SCOAF) to investigate the substance and/or maladministration in the handling of your Service Complaint.
What is a substance investigation?
An investigation into why you think the Service's decision on your Service Complaint was wrong, to decide whether or not we think the complaint is well founded. We do not accept all eligible applications for investigation.
What is a maladministration investigation?
An investigation if you think something was wrong or improper in the way your Service Complaint was handled. We do not accept all eligible applications for investigation.
Applications to SCOAF
You can only ask for these investigations once you have received a final determination (see below) on your complaint at the end of the internal process.
When is a complaint finally determined?
A complaint is finally determined when:
- A decision has been made on the Service Complaint by a Decision Body, which you have appealed and been given a final determination by an Appeal Body (Appeal Body determination)
- A decision has been made on the Service Complaint by a Decision Body, which you have no grounds to appeal on (Decision Body determination).
- You appealed the Decision Body’s decision, but it has been decided that the appeal cannot proceed (is inadmissible) and you do not ask the Ombudsman to review that admissibility decision (Appeal inadmissibility determination).
- You submitted an appeal of the Decision Body’s decision, which was found to be inadmissible, and then asked the Ombudsman to review that appeal admissibility decision. If the Ombudsman agreed that the appeal was inadmissible, our appeal admissibility decision is the final determination (SCOAF appeal admissibility determination).
Not all applications for investigation are accepted. Each application is initially assessed to determine if it is eligible for investigation.
If the application is eligible, we will then ‘triage’ it to decide whether your complaint, or any part of it, should be investigated. The points we consider when triaging applications include, but are not limited to:
- Is it likely a new investigation would result in a different outcome?
- The redress you are asking for can be achieved.
- There is a public interest in SCOAF conducting an investigation.
- An investigation would be a proportionate use of the Ombudsman’s powers.
- For maladministration applications, there appears to be potential that you suffered injustice because of the maladministration you are complaining about. If your application is not accepted, we will send you a decision letter explaining why.
If your application is not accepted, you will receive a decision letter explaining why.
If you need any further information, or assistance with your application, please phone 0300 369 0689 or email contact@scoaf.org.uk.
