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Information about our organisation
Financial statements, governance reports, performance reports.
Strategic Plans, minutes of meetings, our Principles.
Comments from people following our investigation into their complaints.
Tell us about your unresolved complaint.
Advice on how to complain to a public body and what to do if you remain unhappy at the end of the process.
Information about our assessments and investigations
How to make a complaint about NIPSO
Resources to help public bodies understand our role
Information on our work to create Model Complaints Handling Procedures for public bodies
Investigations into complaints from the public
Investigations we've launched on our own initiative
Resources on the theme of patient safety in Northern Ireland.
Information to help users experiencing vulnerability
Ombudsman Principles, Case Digests, Bulletins and more
This can include organisations such as:
Check our list for organisations we can investigate.
If your complaint is about an individual school, dentist or doctor's surgery then they won't appear on the list but you can still make a complaint about your treatment.
We do not have the powers to investigate employment matters. Please refer your complaint to the Labour Relations Agency.
Tel: 3300 552 220 Email: info@lra.org.uk Website: www.lra.org.uk
If you are not happy with their final decision you can bring the complaint to us to consider.
We have guidance to help you make your complaint.
Get help with your complaint
We can normally only look at your complaint if you have received a letter explaining their decision.
If you believe that a councillor has failed to comply with the Code of Conduct you can complain to this office.
You must make your complaint to us in writing. You do not need to have complained first to the councillor or to his/her council.
Not all complaints that are made to us will be investigated. We require a certain amount of information in order to decide whether to investigate your complaint. To ensure that we have all relevant information, you should submit your complaint using our complaint form.
Complain to the Commissioner
The Commissioner alone decides, usually following a public hearing, whether there has been a failure to comply with the Code and what sanction, if any, she should impose.
The Commissioner can impose one of the following sanctions:
The Ombudsman will consider individual complaints from applicants for judicial appointment where there are allegations of maladministration by the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (the Commission), Committees of the Commission, or by the Lord Chancellor in respect of his role in making recommendations for appointment.
The Office is completely independent of the Government and the judiciary.
The NIJAO may make recommendations to the Lord Chancellor and the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (NIJAC) about what steps should be taken in relation to a complaint which has been upheld.
The Ombudsman may also offer advice on changes to procedures that have come to her attention as a result of a complaint. She also has the power to recommend compensation be paid to successful complainants for loss suffered as a result of maladministration, but not in respect of any earnings that the complainant would have received had their application for appointment been successful.
Find out more about the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman
We won't be able to help with your complaint about these areas but there are other organisations available to help you.
For complaints about the police in Northern Ireland
Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland New Cathedral Buildings St Anne’s Square 11 Church Street Belfast BT1 1PG
Tel: 0845 601 2931 or 028 9082 8600 Fax: 028 9082 8659 Email: info@policeombudsman.org Website: www.policeombudsman.org
For consumer rights and advice you can contact:
The Consumer Council Floor 3 Seatem House 28-32 Alfred Street Belfast BT2 8EN
Tel: 028 9025 1600 Fax: 028 9065 7701 Email: contact@consumercouncil.org.uk Website: www.consumercouncil.org.uk
For complaints about electricity and gas industries and water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (the Utility Regulator) Queens House 14 Queen Street Belfast BT1 6ED
Tel: 028 9031 1575 Fax: 028 9031 1740 Email: info@uregni.gov.uk Website: www.niaur.gov.uk/
For complaints about TV and radio, fixed line telecoms, mobiles and airwaves over which wireless devices operate
Ofcom Riverside House 2a Southwark Bridge Road London SE1 9HA
Tel: 020 7981 3040 or 0300 123 3333 Website: www.ofcom.org.uk
For complaints about a bank, building society, financial adviser, insurance company, investment firm, stockbroker or Unit Trust Company
The Financial Ombudsman ServiceSouth Quay Plaza183 Marsh WallLondonE14 9SR
Tel: 0800 023 4567, 0300 123 9123 or 020 7964 0500Fax: 020 7964 1001Email: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.ukWebsite: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
If you're having issues with your employer or around employment conditions
Labour Relations AgencyJames House2-4 Cromac Avenue, the GasworksBelfastBT7 2JA
Tel: 3300 552 220Email: info@lra.org.ukWebsite: www.lra.org.uk
For advice about discrimination due to disability, gender, race, religious belief or political opinion
Equality Commission for Northern IrelandEquality House7-9 Shaftesbury SquareBelfastBT2 7DP
Tel: 028 9050 0600Fax: 028 9024 8687Textphone: 028 9050 0589Email: information@equalityni.orgWebsite: www.equalityni.org
We do not have the powers to investigate complaints about private landlords. Please refer your complaint to the Environmental Health team at your local council
For complaints about solicitors in Northern Ireland:
The Law Society of Northern Ireland96 Victoria StreetBelfastBT1 3GN
Tel: 028 9023 1614Fax: 028 9023 2606Email: info@lawsoc-ni.orgWebsite: www.lawsoc-ni.org
For complaints about pensions:
The Pensions Ombudsman11 Belgrave RoadLondonSW1V 1RBTel: 020 7630 2200Fax: 020 7821 0065Email: enquiries@pensions-ombudsman.org.ukWebsite: www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk
The Pensions Advisory Service11 Belgrave RoadLondonSW1V 1RBTel: 0845 601 2923 or 020 7630 2250Fax: 020 7630 2250Email: enquiries@pensionsadvisoryservice.org.ukWebsite: www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk/
Please contact Advice NI or Helplines NI for a range of helplines and support services throughout Northern Ireland.
AdviceNIForestview, Purdy’s LaneNewtownbredaBelfastBT8 7AR
Tel: 0800 915 4604Email: advice@adviceni.netWebsite: www.adviceni.net
HelplinesNIwww.helplinesni.com
If you wish to speak to a mental health support service you can find details at Minding Your Head:
Minding Your HeadWebsite: https://www.mindingyourhead.info
For complaints about our performance visit our dedicated section.
