There are time limits for making a Service complaint and also for making an application to my office. These time limits are set in law. Complaints that are made outside of those time limits can still be accepted if it considered “just and equitable”. But what does that actually mean?
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Today, the Samaritans are hosting The Big Listen – a 24-hour event to raise awareness of their work and the importance of listening. The Samaritans are open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. They take calls from anyone who is finding it difficult to cope. It is a safe place […]
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An Ombudsman’s office is the place people turn to when things go wrong. Whether they want information about how they can address their complaints, or want an investigation, there is an expectation that the Ombudsman can and will help in a timely manner. However, those expectations may not be met when that office is experiencing a backlog. This is the current situation in my office.
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New ways of dealing with complaints in the Armed Forces mean personnel can now take their grievances to the service complaints ombudsman.
Continue readingAfter recently appointing a new Head of Investigations and Senior Investigator, recruitment is continuing to fill the outstanding vacancies in our Investigations Team.
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9ICOAF took place in London in 2017 and was co-hosted by the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces of the UK. It focused on how ombuds institutions can act as a moral compass of the armed forces and engender positive change.
Continue readingAs the Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces, I am appointed by the Crown for a single term of 5 years. Having started the role in January 2016, this month marks the halfway point in my term. In my blog this month, I reflect on what we have achieved so far and what I hope to achieve before the end of my term.
Continue readingOn the 24th May, one of our investigators helped to deliver a session as part of the annual Ombudsman Association (OA) conference on assessing and reporting performance against the OA Service Standards Framework.
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This week is Volunteers’ Week in the UK. It is an annual event that provides an opportunity to recognise the contribution that volunteers make to society. Volunteering is something that is strongly encouraged within the OSCO by myself and my senior management team. In my first blog for June, I will be sharing with you why I believe volunteering is so important and how it benefits our office.
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The Office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman (OSCO) is a learning organisation. That means that as we grow and develop, we strive to improve the way we do things. This applies to all areas of our work – including how we tell people who we are and what we do. In my last blog for May, I will be sharing with you what we have done and will be doing over the coming year to improve our communication with you.
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