stage 2 complaints with social services, who has had one?

[OwlLady]

I have had a reply saying when we will get a response but the person who has sent it is the person who has responded to the stage 1 complaint

this is not right surely?

[Atozandbackagain]

It's normal.

At Stage 1 they investigate themselves and find themselves faultless

At Stage 2 their boss will investigate their actions and find them faultless

At Stage 3 (in our area) a Panel of Councillors will investigate and find their employees actions were faultless.

You will then have exhausted the Council complaints proceduare and are entitled to complain to the Local Govt Ombudsman who will probably find the Council havs no case to answer or (rarely) will agree with you and award you a pittance in compensation.

It will be about 2 years of your life that you'll never get back.

[OwlLady]

I don't want compensation, i want proper support before I top myself

[OwlLady]

how can it be even remotely independent if someone involved is doing the complaint
jesus wept

[sazale]

I currently have a complaint at stage 2 and I have been allocated an independent person who is now investigating my complaint. I has to really push them for it as they lied to me by saying it was moved to stage 2 but didn't escalate it as they thought that after a meeting with social services manager I would withdraw it (I have this in writing). However, I persisted with it as there were still a couple of issues that I felt needed clarification and it's a good job I did as nearly 4 months since that meeting and none of the promises have been done!

[Strongecoffeeismydrug]

Atoz was spot on in her reply.
That's exactly how my complaint was investigated!

[OwlLady]

my complaint was upheld in part in july and they have tried to disreagrd it because I have not met their deadlines, which I couldn't because it was during the summer holidays ffs

I was approved for overnights the beginning of the year and still nothing has come to fruition and I have been threatened if I didn't attend meetings to discuss the stage 1 my service allocation would be withdrawn (it's honestly fuck all anyway)

[OwlLady]

disregard, sorry lots of shouting in background
:(

[badgerparade]

I have a stage 2 complaint ongoing and am having it looked at by someone independent. I was told by the LA not to read too much into this though - it is purely because their person had left and it needs to be dealt with quickly.

[sazale]

This is really good guidance
www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/Getting%20the%20best%20from%20complaints.pdf
It clearly states that stage 2 involves the appointment of an independent person HTH.

[OwlLady]

thanks sazale, that looks really helpful