Quick query for those that have had LGO complaints

[fightingyetagain]

I had a letter from the LGO saying that the LA have responded to them and that they will write to me again as soon as possible. How long should that take does anyone know?

God, it cold take two weeks, it could take six months! You're asking the wrong person. We had 6 months gaps in between decisions.

Thanks IE been a few weeks so far so won't hold my breath then! They haven't come and asked for any evidence yet so wonder if the LA have admitted it....

No set time that I could ascertain.

My LA have till the 7th to reply to the LGO which may explain why a core assessment is suddenly taking place! I'm not holding my breath after the stuff I've read about the LGO but I would love to see this discriminatory LA that's full of blanket policies be brought down a peg or 2!

Good luck, fightingyetagain and hope you're not waiting too long

If its not about SEN you might stand a chance. They dealt with a complaint about the withdrawal of my brothers social care really quite well and he got all his money back.

Have a kid without SEN provision and somehow it will be your fault. You complained prematurely or complaint too late.

Well I was quite impressed by one thing the LGO did. My complaint is about one major issue but when I ran through a timeline of events I was asked what the LA did about x issue. I hadn't considered that as a part of my initial complaint but the LGO have pointedly asked the LA what they had done with regard to x which is a good thing really. Difficult to talk about it all here but I think I do have a good case with lots of evidence and the LA clearly breached their duty without any remedy provided so will wait and see.

I hope so, I really do.

Two and a half years ago when I complained about something with lots of evidence, the caseworker also said what about x.

In her view she berated ME for raising x saying the council had done nothing wrong. The whole complaint was my fault for complaining prematurely.

Two and a half years later we are still trying to unpick that view which flew in the face of all the evidence. The LGO has even decided that there is no need for the Councils to follow the law as it is the only way they can get around the clear breach.

Be warned, the LGO says unlawful conduct isn't necessarily maladministration and they look at the conduct behind the illegality to see if, in effect, LAs are breaking the law 'reasonably'. Utter gibberish from any perspective but it gets them out of holding maladministration for unlawful action.

I have just filed another complaint about a lack of OT for a year. But I am regretting it already as I know I will be blamed for it somehow. Yet, I have lots of evidence and I have even been through both stages of the LA complaints process like the LGO asked me to. LA say there was an OT programme. Three months ago I asked them to provide me with a copy. No comment.

But the worst thing about the LGO si that they don't just come up with ridiculous judgments, they blame and sometimes vilify the complainant for daring to complain in the first place.

I don't know why I am bothering really save for the fact that the vitriol lodged against me in the council answer to my complaint cannot and should not be withstood.

That should say "Then in her provisional view she berated ME for raising x saying the council had done nothing wrong. The whole complaint was my fault for complaining prematurely. "