LGO - How long???

[losingthewillagain]

I know a few of us here have been, or are still,going through the LGO process. How long did everyone have to wait to get a final decision?

I have almost reached the 6 month mark now and it is not a complicated issue at all. The provisional judgement was rejected almost 5 weeks ago as it was so inaccurate and mainly condoned what the LA had done. Is there any way to complain about the timescales? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks

My complaint went off to the LGO in mid October. At the end of November they told me that based on my evidence they were opening an investigation into the LA's behavior. The ball is now back in the LA's court as they have been given until the New Year to respond to the LGO's investigation.

This is for an unlawful event which took place 11 months ago but which I couldn't act upon until after Tribunal, after the LA's deadline for appeal expired, and after I'd been through the LA's official complaints procedure.

The wheels of "justice" are very slow.

You can complain if it is taking a long time. There is information about complaints on their website.

I would go back to the investigator as a first step and ask that s/he give you a firm idea of when they are likely to have an amended provisional judgment with you and say that you do not believe a matter which is not complicated should take this long. Ask the investigator to explain the delay.

I suspect, sometimes, that it is the wrangling with the LA about the wording of judgments that takes time. This is very annoying and should be done openly.

Yes Towie but at least they are looking at your evidence . My investigator seems to be relying wholly on what the LA are saying and is not interested in the copious amounts of evidence I have

IE I will chase that as suggested - thanks.

Tbh I don't expect anything will come of mine - despite my written evidence which comes from the horses mouth (aka the LA themselves). They all stick together.

I say Scenario A happened (backed up by the LA's own written evidence obtained as part of a DPA search), the LA say Scenario B happened (backed up by - well, no evidence, just the memory of a senior SEN manager).

LGO investigator has already asked me why did I employ lawyers and that I should have used Parents Partnership for my appeals Err - because it's my right to have legal representation and because if I hadn't have done, I would never have uncovered the documentary evidence that Scenario A had happened

Doesn't bode well that LGO are asking me why did I use lawyers!

Parent Partnership helping with appeals- that's a new one!

It might be helpful that they know you used lawyers as it shows that you're no pushover iykwim

That's quite incredible behaviour asking you to justify using lawyers TOWIE! Beggars belief!

I think it was at least a year and probably nearer 2 for my complaint to be decided as original investigator went sick and case had to be transferred to new investigator plus I told them I would not accept their putative decision that LA was whiter than white, so they had another look at it and found in my favour.

TBH - complaints to the LGO are a waste of time.

Well it's interesting and a little desperate that parents are quizzed about using lawyers. I have represented myself at four tribunals, the LA have instructed barristers on each occasion. No one has questioned that yet I am just a mum..... No legal qualification so why do they feel the need I wonder?