Complaints mechanism when subject leaves employment
Case reference FOI2026/00149
Received 21 January 2026
Published 28 January 2026
Request
Question: If a complaint is raised in regards to social services its managers, senior staff, agency and/or contracted staff and the subject/subjects of the complaint leave the councils employment (lets call these aborted complaints):
a) Is the complaint pursued to completion, so allowing the complainant to go to the LGO Local govt ombudsman, Parliamentary ombudsman or ended?
b) If a complaint is ended does a record of these aborted complaints get published? if so where?
c) Is OFSTED told about aborted complaints when they inspect the council?
d) Do councillors get told about the detail of aborted complaints? if so how?
e) If its correct that complaints are aborted due to staff leaving the council how many complaints got aborted calendar year 2024, so Jan 1st 2024 to Dec 31st 2024?
Response
Question: If a complaint is raised in regards to social services its managers, senior staff, agency and/or contracted staff and the subject/subjects of the complaint leave the councils employment (lets call these aborted complaints):
a) Is the complaint pursued to completion, so allowing the complainant to go to the LGO Local govt ombudsman, Parliamentary ombudsman or ended?
Answer: The Service Area have advised that any valid complaint made in line with the formal complaints policy and procedure timescale, or accepted by the Complaints Manager, is pursued to completion. If any complaint is rejected, a clear reason is given as to why and the complainant is directed to the Ombudsman.
b) If a complaint is ended does a record of these aborted complaints get published? if so where?
Answer: N/A
c) Is OFSTED told about aborted complaints when they inspect the council?
Answer: N/A
d) Do councillors get told about the detail of aborted complaints? if so how?
Answer: N/A
e) If it’s correct that complaints are aborted due to staff leaving the council how many complaints got aborted calendar year 2024, so Jan 1st 2024 to Dec 31st 2024?
Answer: N/A
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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