A guide to best practice for complaints handling in schools has been launched today (21/03/2023). The guide which is being issued to schools throughout Northern Ireland, will provide school leaders and Boards of Governors with an insight into the key issues which have arisen from complaints.

Councillor Padraig McShane (Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council) has been suspended for two months following an Adjudication Hearing held today (3 March).

Former Councillor Jolene Bunting has been disqualified from holding the office of councillor for 3 years following an Adjudication Hearing held today (8 February).

This Bulletin highlights some of our most recent investigation reports, including those which found serious failings in two care homes, and into complaints about the Department for the Economy and the Department for Communities.  It also provides other updates on our work.

Our Complaints Standards team are continuing to work with the local government sector in Northern Ireland to change the way they deal with complaints.

At an Adjudication Hearing held yesterday (28 November) former Councillor Ruth Wilson (Mid and East Antrim Borough Council) acknowledged that a comment she made on Facebook in 2018 was a breach of the Local Government Code of Conduct for Councillors.

Alderman John Carson (Mid and East Antrim Borough Council), has been suspended from his role as councillor for 3 months following an Adjudication Hearing held on 10 October.

Our latest Bulletin provides an update on our work to introduce common standards for complaints handling in the public sector. We also highlight some of the investigations we have carried out over the last Quarter.

We recently conducted two online surveys in support of our Own Initiative investigation into how the Trust communicates with patients on a healthcare waiting list.

We recently reached another important milestone in our programme of transforming the way public bodies deal with complaints.