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.
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Complaints and feedback
Find out the different ways to make a complaint or give feedback about certain council services.
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Make a complaint about children's social care
Contact children's social care services
If you want to make a complaint about children's social care services, you should contact the children's services team.
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
Contact us
You can contact us by:
- using the online form
- emailing 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 how to contact us to make a complaint about children’s social care services.
There are also other organisations you can contact.
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
NHS: 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.