Complaints and feedback

 Start a complaint about children's social care now

You can also:

• email us at sscomplaints@southwark.gov.uk

Or you can write to us at:

• Social Care and Education Complaints
  FREEPOST RTFL-XAZG-ZRTU
  PO Box 64529
  160 Tooley Street
  London SE1P 5LX

If you want to talk over your options, or need some extra help, call the children's services complaints team on 020 7525 3977.

Find out more about making a complaint about children’s social care services. 

What happens when you contact us 

When you contact us to make a complaint about children's social care we will: 

• provide you with options for how to resolve your concern, where there are opportunities to do so
• explain the process to you and keep you updated
• give you extra information about others who might be able to help

We aim to represent you and support our service teams in responding to you.

In your complaint about children's services you should tell us:

• the names of relevant officers and teams if you have them
• any important dates or approximate dates
• what you would like to happen

Other organisations you can contact

The Local Government Ombudsman

The Local Government Ombudsman is the final stage for complaints about councils, adult social care providers (including care homes and home care agencies) and some local public service providers. This is a free service. They investigate complaints in a fair and independent way and they do not take sides.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) offers confidential advice, support and information on health-related matters. It provides a point of contact for patients, their families and their carers. You can find officers from PALS in your local hospital.

If you're unhappy with an NHS service, complain to the provider first, such as your GP, dentist, hospital or pharmacist. 

Barnardo's

Barnardo's – Advocacy for Children and Young People

• call 0800 085 8287
• email : advocacy2@barnardos.org.uk

Speakerbox

SpeakerBox is a forum for Southwark children and young people in care, and care leavers up to the age of 21 (or 25 if they are in full time education). They also include children who are privately fostered and children and young people who are from other local authorities but placed in Southwark. Young people meet with their peers, talk about their experience of being in care and inform council practice. They run several different activities including supporting young people in raising complaints with the council.

To contact Speakerbox:

• call 0207 525 3186 or 0771 813 0451
• email speaker.box@southwark.gov.uk

Childline

Childline is a free 24 hour counselling service for children and young people up to their 19th birthday in the UK provided by the NSPCC.

• Call Childline on 0800 11 11.
• You can also contact the Southwark Information and Advice team (SIAS) on 020 7525 3104 or email sias@southwark.gov.uk for additional advice on children with special education needs.