of the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints 2013~2014

Transcription

1 Annual Report of the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints 2013~2014

2 My Role The title of Northern Ireland Ombudsman is the popular name for two offices: The Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland: and The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints. I deal with complaints from people who claim to have suffered injustice because of maladministration by government departments and agencies and a wide range of other public bodies in Northern Ireland. The term maladministration is not defined in my legislation but is generally taken to mean poor administration or the wrong application of rules. The full list of bodies which I am able to investigate is available on my website (www. ni-ombudsman.org.uk) or by contacting my Office (tel: ). It includes all the Northern Ireland government departments and their agencies, local councils, education and library boards, Health and Social Care Trusts, housing associations, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. As well as being able to investigate both Health and Social Care, I can also investigate complaints about the private health care sector but only where Health and Social Care are paying for the treatment or care. I do not get involved in cases of medical negligence nor claims for compensation as these are matters which properly lie with the Courts. I am independent of the Assembly and of the government departments and public bodies which I have the power to investigate. All complaints to me are treated in the strictest confidence. I provide a free service. Crown Copyright 2014 You may re-use this document/publication (excluding the Northern Ireland Ombudsman logo) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; or @psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

3 ANNUAL REPORT of the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and thenorthern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints Presented to the Assembly pursuant to Article 17 of the Ombudsman (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 and Article 19 of the Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

4 Section One Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Contents Page SECTION 1 5 The Year in Review SECTION 2 Annual Report of the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland 11 Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 The Caseload for 2013/14 Statistics SECTION 3 Annual Report of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints 19 (excluding complaints about Health & Social Care) Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 The Caseload for 2013/14 Statistics SECTION 4 Annual Report of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints 29 (Health & Social Care complaints) Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 The Caseload for 2013/14 Statistics Appendix A: 37 Principles of Good Administration Appendix B: 39 Selected Case Summaries Appendix C: 53 Key Operational Performance Indicators Appendix D: 57 Financial Summary 2013/14 4

5 Section One The Year in Review

6 Section One Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report The Year in Review I am pleased to lay my 14th Annual Report before the Northern Ireland Assembly, recording the work and performance of my office as Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints. This is the final year in which I will have the privilege to do so, and I am pleased to report that it has been a year of continuing improvement and progress. The role of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman continues to be complex and wide ranging - investigating complaints of maladministration about Northern Ireland Departments, and their statutory agencies, as well as against a wide range of other bodies delivering public services including housing, local government, health trusts, general practitioners (GPs), and independent health service providers. Whilst complaints usually only come to my office after the internal complaints process of the relevant body has been invoked and completed, it is clear to see how the ongoing pressures facing public administration in Northern Ireland are being evidenced in the significant increase in the numbers of complaints to my office. My staff have noted that not only is there an ever increasing volume of complaints to my office but they are also increasingly complex; this is particularly true of complaints relating to health and social care. 6

7 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section One Emerging Trends 2013/2014 Overall complaints to my office have increased by 31% this year which is a significant increase on the previous year. This surge was driven largely by a 46% increase in complaints relating to health and social care bodies a trend which has been developing over recent years. As well as an increase in volume, it is also noteworthy that the gravity of these cases is increasingly profound. Many involve serious adverse clinical incidents or tragically the death of a loved one which understandably gives rise to deep anxiety and distress on the part of relatives. The health and social care sector is being increasingly challenged to demonstrate openness and transparency in the way it investigates complaints and thus maintain the trust and confidence of patients and their families. It is essential, therefore, that it meets the challenge of delivering rigorous and professional standards of complaint handling. Section 4 of this report deals with this area of complaints in more detail. Health and social care is not the only sector recording increased numbers of complaints. There are also an increased number of complaints being submitted that relate to the DOE Planning and Local Government Group and DFP Land and Property Services. Complaints Handling in the Public Sector In 2009 I published a guide to Effective Complaints Handling which highlighted the need for common standards in complaints handling across the public sector in Northern Ireland. I am pleased to note the progress that has been made by the Departments Permanent Secretaries Group (PSG) in establishing principles that will underpin the standards that will inform complaints handling across Departments and their agencies in Northern Ireland. In December 2013 I gave evidence to the Parliamentary Administration Select Committee (PASC) at Westminster on the substantial programme of work being undertaken by the Interdepartmental Group on Complaints Handling whose primary objective is to ensure that lessons are learned from complaints and any identified changes implemented. Since then, further progress has been made by Departments, their agencies and arms length bodies in revising their existing procedures to align then with the agreed common principles and standards. Importantly, information on complaints will now be included in all future Departmental Annual Reports. There is also now an explicit commitment across government in Northern Ireland to learn lessons from complaints and improve public services. The principles of good complaints handling are that procedures be: Accessible and simple; Fair and impartial; Timely, effective and consistent; Accountable; and Able to deliver continuous improvement. My staff are committed to embedding these principles in the work of this office and to supporting new bodies that come under my jurisdiction in the development of their complaints process. 7

8 Section One Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report ASSIST: Delivering a Better Public Service In last year s Annual Report, I indicated that work had begun on a new front of office team to provide early determination and resolution of complaints. I am pleased to report that in May 2013, the ASSIST or the Advice, Support, Service and Initial Screening Team was launched. Against the context of increasing numbers of complaints this team is already helping citizens in achieving a speedier route to redress. Comprising Investigating Officers and a dedicated Administrative Support team ASSIST operates a triage service for the office. Staff answer all written, telephone and in-person queries, expediting decisions on whether or not a complaint meets the legislative requirements under which the Office must operate. This new resource has already improved office output significantly and I am confident that service levels will continue to improve as the new system beds in. Good Administrative Practice In dealing with complaints made against public bodies it is important that I also should acknowledge those circumstances where a public body demonstrates pro-activity and proposed solutions to particular types of complaint. One such initiative is the Shortfall in Service (SIS) guidelines followed by Land and Property Services (LPS). In following these guidelines LPS recognises that there are instances when the service provided fails to meet the required standard and this failure is defined as a Shortfall in Service. The guidelines make reference to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman s Principles of Good Administration (see Appendix A) and centre on the principle of Putting things right. These procedures enable LPS to decide if, in their judgement, a shortfall in service has occurred. If so, it can be internally reviewed and an appropriate remedy arrived at for the ratepayer. I would commend this initiative by LPS and its staff who are putting things right both in terms of its recognition of the Principles of Good Administration and the proactive approach demonstrated in attempting to achieve a resolution for the complainant. Joint Working A key element of my stakeholder engagement strategy has been to work with other oversight or regulatory bodies to achieve improvements in public administration. In 2007 the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman introduced the Principles of Good Administration (Appendix A). From 2009 I have been using these Principles to inform my decisions as to whether maladministration has occurred and to set an objective benchmark against which I can measure the actions 8

9 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section One of bodies in my jurisdiction. As a result of my liaison with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) in relation to the good records management aspect of these Principles I have developed the Principles further. In conjunction with the Information Commissioners Office I intend to launch a Guide to Good Administration and Good Records Management in July 2014 and to develop workshops for practitioners in the Autumn of As a result of a Service Level Agreement with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NICHR) I have also been working on a human rights based approach to my investigations so as to ensure best practice and to test whether bodies meet the FREDA values of Fairness, Respect, Equality, Dignity and Autonomy in their interactions with the public. My staff have had extensive human rights training and with the NIHRC I intend to launch a joint working manual for investigation staff in September Looking Forward New Legislation I am pleased to report that the past year brought significant progress on the legislation to modernise my Office by reforming the legislation under which my Office operates. This legislation was originally sponsored by the Assembly Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister in The legacy report of this Committee commended the project by report to the reconstituted Committee formed following the May 2011 Assembly election. The current Committee has now given detailed consideration to all consultation responses from a range of interested parties, taken further evidence, refined its policy proposals and completed a further more targeted consultation in 2012 with key stakeholders. The final policy proposals were agreed over a series of Committee meetings in 2013 and the proposals were debated and, I am pleased to record, approved by the Assembly on 16 September A draft Bill is currently being prepared; the Bill will propose the establishment of an office of a Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO). Once the draft Bill has been agreed by the Committee it will be introduced into the Assembly in the Autumn of 2014 and it is hoped that the Bill will secure Royal Assent in early This represents a significant milestone for the office of the Northern Ireland Ombudsman, signalling the culmination of a period of major reform and modernisation. Key developments included in the proposals are the establishment of a single Ombudsman s office and provision for an authority for own initiative investigations. I look forward to working with the Committee and the staff of the Assembly Commission in ensuring that this important legislation is implemented successfully. Local Government Standards A further significant change for my office in 2014/15 will be the extension of my jurisdiction as Commissioner for Complaints as part of the Local Government Act. Under the new mandatory Code of Conduct for Councillors, my office will now be responsible for investigating complaints against Councillors. The challenge is to introduce a system that is effective but, crucially, also secures the confidence and trust of the public in respect of ethical standards in local government. Equally the process must be fair and proportionate and ensure natural justice for the individuals whose conduct is the subject of a complaint. As the office embarks on this new era in which councillors will have an increasingly important role, particularly in planning matters, I expect this new jurisdiction to be of significant interest and importance. This extension to jurisdiction will bring with it new challenges and demands for my Office, but my staff and I are firmly focused on delivering the same standard of service to this new area of jurisdiction as is currently being accorded to all other aspects of my current remit. 9

10 Section One Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Statistical Overview 2013/14 Number of Contacts 2013/14 Breakdown of Written Complaints to the Office 2013/14 Assembly Ombudsman 278 Commissioner for Complaints 237 Health and Social Care 370 Outside Jurisdiction 87 Enquiries 1058 Written Complaints (Including Electronic Transmission) 972 Assembly Commissioner Healt h & Tot al Ombudsman for Complaint s Social Care Breakdown of Enquiries ( excl. to the H& SC) 2004/ 5 Office 2013/ / / 7 Assembly Ombudsman / Commissioner for Complaints / / 10Health and 248 Social Care / / 12Outside Jurisdiction / / Complaints Received 2002/ / /5 2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/ / / / /14 Assembly Ombudsman Commissioner for Complaints (excl. H&SC) Health & Social Care Total 10

11 Section Two Annual Report of the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland

12 Section Two Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report In my role as Assembly Ombudsman I investigate complaints of maladministration against government departments and their agencies which are referred to me by MLAs. I received a total of 278 complaints of maladministration during 2013/14, 19% more than in 2012/13. The Department which attracted most complaints was the Department of the Environment about which I received a total of 75 complaints. Of these complaints, the majority (91%) related to Planning matters. I received a total of 39 complaints about the Department of Finance and Personnel and of these the majority (92 %) related to Land and Property Services. In all, 72 of the 278 complaints I received in 2013/14 related to alleged maladministration by government agencies. Poor Record Keeping I continue to receive an increasing number of complaints about planning matters. This year the number received rose from 52 complaints in the previous year to 68. Complaints are mainly made by objectors and are about planning decisions and lack of enforcement. The most common area where I find maladministration relates to the adequacy of the record keeping which underpins the planning decision. These include the recording of the relevant planning considerations that were taken into account and the reasons why decisions have been reached. The failure to keep proper records hinders the ability of the planning authorities to evidence the openness and transparency of decision making and leads to a lack of confidence from complainants that their objections have been properly considered. In addition I continue to receive complaints about the failure of the Department of the Environment, Planning and Local Government Group (PLGG) to take effective or timely enforcement action; a theme which I have highlighted in previous annual reports. Inaccurate Information in Property Certificates During the year I reported on two linked cases which demonstrate how the failings of one government body can have a significant effect on the standard of service delivered by another body. In this case I received a complaint that the PLGG had provided the complainant with information that a road which runs past his property was adopted and therefore the responsibility for maintenance lay with the Roads Service. It subsequently became clear that this information was inaccurate. The complainant stated that he relied on this information when he agreed to purchase the property and also that he would have to include the road on his insurance cover, the value of his property was diminished and he would have unknown costs for future road maintenance. It became clear during my investigation that the Roads Service had provided inaccurate information about the adoption of the road which was included in the property certificate provided by the PLGG. I therefore investigated the involvement of the Roads Service and made a finding of maladministration regarding its failure to provide accurate information to the PLGG. The Chief Executive (CE) of Roads Service agreed to my recommendation that he should apologise to the complainant and make a payment of 1,000. I welcome that the CE also offered to consider adopting into the public network the portion of the laneway which abuts the complainant s property. I found that the PLGG acts as a single point of contact with regard to property certificates and collates information from other sources in good faith. That body did not therefore generate the incorrect information. However I considered there should be a protocol in place whereby the body which provides inaccurate information should accept responsibility for it actions. I am pleased to note that the PLGG carried out a review of its internal processes and identified a number of changes which will lead to administrative improvements and clarity and accountability should a similar situation arise and accepted my recommendations. 12

13 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section Two Good Practice in Complaint Handling I received an increased number of complaints about Land and Property Services (LPS) this year. Complaints are generally about the service received by members of the public in relation to the rating of their homes, delays in notification of liability for rates by LPS and accrual of rates arrears resulting from such delay. As stated in Section 1 of this report, I am pleased to record that LPS have introduced the Shortfall in Service (SIS) guidelines, which is an encouraging initiative to pro-actively effect settlement of complaints internally. While the number of complaints I received about LPS have risen, as a result of LPS s actions under the SIS process I have been able to determine 34 of 36 of the complaints received at an early stage as SIS intervention had effectively dealt with the matters complained of. Rates Arrears Further in this year I investigated a significant complaint against LPS. The complaint related to arrears of rates that had accrued, during the period 1 April 2004 to 12 September 2006, on entertainment premises and the actions taken by LPS to recoup those arrears. The core of the complaint was that maladministration by LPS, in the form of delays in its overall handling of this case, had caused an injustice to the company that had purchased the entertainment premises in September 2006 because warranties it obtained as part of the purchase became worthless as a result of those delays. I did not accept that this was the case. However, I identified a number of instances of maladministration characterised by delay, failure to take appropriate action, inactivity and wrong action. I considered that, as a consequence of an extended list of instances of maladministration, the complainant sustained injustice. I recommended that LPS should reinstate the decision reached at two stages of its Shortfall in Service process that 10% of the rates debt should be written-off. I also recommended that LPS should make a payment to the complainant in recognition of the injustice experienced. I am pleased to record that the Chief Executive of LPS accepted my recommendations. Complaints Statistics A breakdown of the number and nature of complaints received under the Assembly Ombudsman jurisdiction is set out below. This includes a breakdown of the Complainant Association of written complaints received during the year. This refers to the complainant s relationship to the service provided by the body that they are complaining about. Statistical Information Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 There was a total of 278 complaints received during 2013/14, 45 more than in 2012/13. Caseload for 2013/14 Written Complaints Received 278 Number at Complaint Validation 241 Number at Preliminary 26 Number at Detailed 32 Number of Complaints/s Ongoing at 31/03/14 43 Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 by Authority Type Agencies of Government Departments 72 Government Departments 189 Other Bodies Within Jurisdiction 17 Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 by Complainant Association Benefit Claimant 31 Complainant - general 101 Customer 42 Employee 23 Grant Applicant 5 Non Resident Parent 5 Parent With Care 9 Planning Applicant 11 Planning Objector 51 13

14 Section Two Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Recommendations in Reported and Settled Cases Case No Body Subject of Complaint Recommendation DOE Planning & Local Complaints Handling Apology; Payment of 400 Government Group DOE Planning & Local Policy and Procedures Apology; Payment of 100 Government Group Northern Ireland Complaints Handling Apology; Payment of 500 Environment Agency Delay DOE Planning & Local Government Group Policy and Procedures Apology; Payment of DOE Planning & Local Government Group DOE Planning & Local Government Group Delay on Enforcement /Legal Action; Policy and Procedures Policy and Procedures Department of Education Delay Apology DOE Planning & Local Policy and Procedures Apology Government Group DOE Planning & Local Government Group Department of Finance & Personnel Northern Ireland Courts & Tribunals Service Complaints Handling; Policy and Procedures Apology; Payment of 750 Apology; Payment of 2,500 Delay; Apology; Payment of 2,000 Delay Apology; Payment of 100 Complaints Handling; Enforcement/ Legal Action Apology; Payment of 5, DOE Planning & Local Complaints Handling Apology; Payment of 750 Government Group Department of Justice Complaints Handling Apology; Payment of Department for Social Delay Payment of 300 Development Child Maintenance Service DRD Roads Service Complaints Handling Apology; Payment of 1, DOE Planning & Local Government Group Policy and Procedures Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation Land & Property Services Enforcement/ Legal Action Apology; Payment of 5,000 Policy and Procedures Apology; Payment of 250 Payment of Land & Property Services Policy and Procedures Payment of Land & Property Services Policy and Procedures Action by body Northern Ireland Courts Policy and Procedures Action by body & Tribunals Service DOE Planning & Local Policy and Procedures Apology; Payment of 450 Government Group Land & Property Services Delay Payment of 5, DOE Planning & Local Government Group DOE Planning & Local Government Group Complaints Handling; Policy and Procedures Complaints Handling; Policy and Procedures Apology; Payment of 250 Apology; Payment of

15 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section Two Detailed Statistics Analysis of Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Government Departments Agencies of Government Departments Other Bodies Within Jurisdiction Total Analysis of Written Complaints against Government Departments Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed DARD DCAL DE DEL DETI DFP DFP (LPS) DHSSPS DOE DOE (P&LGG) DOJ DRD DSD DSD (CMS) OFMDFM Total Ongoing at 31/03/14 Ongoing at 31/03/14 15

16 Section Two Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Analysis of Written Complaints against Agencies of Government Departments Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Compensation Services Driver & Vehicle Agency General Register Office Northern Ireland Environment Agency Rivers Agency Roads Service Social Security Agency Total Ongoing at 31/03/14 Analysis of Written Complaints Against Other Bodies Within Jurisdiction Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation Northern Ireland Courts & Tribunals Service Northern Ireland Prison Service Not Specified AO Body Prisoner Ombudsman for Northern Ireland Total Ongoing at 31/03/14 16

17 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section Two Cases - Analysis of Issues of Complaint at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Total Complaints Handling Delay Enforcement/ Legal Action Other Out of Jurisdiction Policy and Procedures Staff Attitude and Behaviour Total

18 Section Two Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report 18

19 Section Three Annual Report of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints (excluding complaints about Health and Social Care)

20 Section Three Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report My remit as Commissioner of Complaints extends to a wide range of public bodies in Northern Ireland. A significant number of complaints relate to health and social care matters. Details about these cases can be found in Section 4 of this report. Additionally, I receive complaints about local councils, the Housing Executive and registered housing associations, and the education and justice sectors. Housing Related Complaints Complaints about the social housing sector are wide ranging and include maintenance, arrears, housing allocation, housing benefit and antisocial behaviour. Maintenance and repairs and housing allocation are the most common areas of complaint. In my report last year I noted that complaints against Registered Housing Associations had increased by 45%, that trend has continued this year resulting in my Office receiving 57% more complaints about Housing Associations This year the number of complaints against the Housing Executive has remained the same. Local Government There has been a rise this year in complaints against local councils which increased from 55 last year to 70 in the current year. As the reform of local government takes place, giving greater powers and responsibilities to Councils, this increase in dissatisfaction from citizens merits particular attention from those charged with delivering services at local level. I have also noted the increase in complaints against Craigavon Borough Council which rose from 5 last year to 13 this year. This increase is accounted for mainly by complaints from Council employees about their treatment by the Council. The increase in employment related cases is a matter which I will comment on further. Information Issues A recent case against Lisburn City Council highlighted the need for bodies to update information which is publicly available on websites on which members of the public rely. It also demonstrated the importance of acknowledging failings promptly and taking corrective action in a timely manner. A dog owner complained about the handling of a dog worrying incident which resulted in his dog being put down by the Council. The dog owner complained that he was misled by the Dog Warden into thinking that he had no alternative but to sign his dog over to the Council on the day of the incident, which resulted in his dog being put down that day. He also complained about incorrect information about the relevant legislation on the Council s website which led him to believe that his dog could not be saved. Additionally he was dissatisfied about how the Council responded to his complaint on the matter. I found that the Council had failed to display the current legislation on its website. I also found that it failed to update the website promptly when it realised its error and failed to apologise to the complainant. I did not however find maladministration in how the Dog Warden handled the incident and did not uphold this element of the complaint. I recommended that the Chief Executive apologise to the complainant for the Council s failings and make a payment. I am pleased to record that the Council accepted my recommendations Failing to Follow Policy on Employment Related Cases I continue to receive complaints about employment matters from staff across the public sector, complaints from employees rose from 35 last year to 49 in the current year. A recent complaint about the Business Services Organisation (BSO), an organisation established to provide support functions and specialist services to the health and social care sector, including recruitment and selection, highlighted the need for employers to establish clear policies which are communicated to staff and to act in accordance with those policies. The complaint involved a decision by the BSO not to continue with the successful employment 20

21 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section Three application of the complainant because she had previously accepted voluntary redundancy from a health and social care body under the Review of Public Administration. I found that BSO had failed to act in accordance with its policy and guidance by failing to ensure that the complainant had access to all of the relevant information to enable her to make an informed decision as to whether or not to accept voluntary redundancy including that she should have no expectation of re-employment/re-engagement within the BSO or the health and social care sector. I also found that the BSO failed to give due consideration to the full circumstances of this case before deciding that it was unable to continue with the complainant s employment application, also that it acted outwith the policy of the Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety in making that decision and that it failed to keep appropriate records. I am pleased the Chief Executive accepted my recommendation that the BSO issue an apology and payment. Complaints Statistics The statistical information below reflects the number of complaints received in my Commissioner for Complaints role in 2013/14 and how they have been determined by my Office. As noted in Section 2, I have included a breakdown of the Complainant Association of written complaints received during the year. This refers to the complainant s relationship to the service provided by the body that they are complaining about. Statistical Information Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 A total of 237 complaints were received during 2013/14, 55 more than in 2012/13. Caseload for 2013/14 Written Complaints Received 237 Number at Complaint Validation 203 Number at Preliminary 19 Number at Detailed 10 Number of Complaints/s Ongoing at 31/03/14 44 Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 by Authority Type Education Authority 25 Health & Social Care Bodies 32 Housing Association 28 Housing Executive 59 Local Councils 70 Other Bodies Within Jurisdiction 23 Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 by Complainant Association Benefit Claimant 4 Complainant - general 100 Employee 49 Grant Applicant 5 Job Applicant 14 Tenant 65 21

22 Section Three Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Recommendations in Reported and Settled Cases Case No Body Subject of Complaint Recommendation Lisburn City Council Complaints Handling Apology; Payment of Northern Ireland Social Policy and Procedures Apology Care Council Northern Ireland Policy and Procedures Apology Housing Executive Northern Ireland Complaints Handling; Apology; Payment of 300 Housing Executive Northern Ireland Policy and Procedures Apology; Payment of 100 Housing Executive Northern Ireland Housing Executive Complaints Handling Action by body Northern Ireland Police Fund Health & Social Care Business Services Organisation Northern Ireland Housing Executive Southern Education & Library Board Belfast Education & Library Board Northern Ireland Housing Executive Health & Social Care Business Services Organisation Complaints Handling Delay Apology; Payment of 500; Action by body Apology Policy and Procedures Payment of 250 Policy and Procedures Apology; Payment of 500 Delay Apology; Payment of 200 Policy and Procedures Payment of 250 Policy and Procedures Apology; Payment of 6,000 22

23 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section Three Detailed Statistics Analysis of Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Education Authorities Health and Social Care Bodies Housing Authorities Housing Executive Local Councils Other Bodies Within Jurisdiction Total Analysis of Written Complaints about Education Authorities Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Belfast Education and Library Board Council for Catholic Maintained Schools North Eastern Education & Library Board South Eastern Education & Library Board Southern Education & Library Board Western Education & Library Board Total Ongoing at 31/03/14 Ongoing at 31/03/14 23

24 Section Three Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Analysis of Written Complaints about Health and Social Care Bodies Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Belfast Health & Social Care Trust Business Services Organisation Northern Health & Social Care Trust South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust Southern Health & Social Care Trust Western Health & Social Care Trust Total Analysis of Written Complaints about Housing Authorities Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Alpha Housing Association (NI) Ltd Apex Housing Clanmil Housing Association Ltd Connswater Homes Ltd Fold Housing Association Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) Ltd Harmony Homes NI HELM Housing Ongoing at 31/03/14 Ongoing at 31/03/14 24

25 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section Three Northern Ireland Housing Executive Oaklee Homes Group Open Door Housing Association (NI) Ltd South Ulster Housing Association Ltd Trinity Housing Total Analysis of Written Complaints about Local Councils Antrim Borough Council Ards Borough Council Armagh City & District Council Belfast City Council Carrickfergus Borough Council Castlereagh Borough Council Coleraine Borough Council Cookstown District Council Craigavon Borough Council Derry City Council Down District Council Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Ongoing at 31/03/14 25

26 Section Three Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council Fermanagh District Council Larne Borough Council Limavady Borough Council Lisburn City Council Magherafelt District Council Moyle District Council Newry & Mourne District Council Newtownabbey Borough Council Omagh District Council Total Analysis of Written Complaints about Other Bodies within Jurisdiction Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Arts Council NI Equality Commission for Northern Ireland Health & Safety Executive NI Invest NI Labour Relations Agency National Museums Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children & Young People Ongoing at 31/03/14 26

27 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section Three Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission Northern Ireland Medical & Dental Training Agency Northern Ireland Police Fund Northern Ireland Policing Board Northern Ireland Social Care Council Not Specified CC Body Probation Board for Northern Ireland Total Cases - Analysis of Issues of Complaint at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Complaints Handling Delay Enforcement/ Legal Action Other Out of Jurisdiction Policy and Procedures Total Total 27

28 Section Three Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report 28

29 Section Four Annual Report for the Commissioner for Complaints - Health and Social Care Complaints

30 Section Four Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Increase in Complaints to my Office Health and Social Care complaints continue to increase year on year, with analysis of the complaints received this year showing a significant increase of 46% (117) compared to last year. This represents 38% of all complaints received by my Office during the period. Of the 370 health and social care cases received this year, 288 (78%) were closed at complaint validation stage, with only one of these having been determined as being outside of my jurisdiction. A large number of the complaints received, which relate to health and social care, continue to be received prematurely; that is, the complaint has not been put to the relevant health and social care body and/or fully considered by that body under the Health and Social Care (HSC) complaints procedure. Statement of Complaint Since the changes in the HSC complaints procedure removed the Independent Complaint Review element of the process in April 2009, complaints have doubled. Notably, in matters of health and social care, complainants often have difficulty due to vulnerability in expressing the exact issues they wish to complain of; not least on account of the complexity and sensitivity of the matters involved. It is therefore frequently necessary for contact to be made with a complainant to confirm the issues complained about and to agree a statement of complaint with them, before a decision can be made as to whether I can or should investigate further. This work, whilst necessary, can often be time consuming. Since May 2013 however, ASSIST staff have undertaken this role which has proven beneficial to the Office in enabling investigation officers to focus on those complaints already under investigation. Clinical Care and Treatment The overriding issue of complaint made to me in relation to health and social care during the year continues to be clinical care and treatment; which represented 50% of the overall health and social care issues determined by me throughout all stages of the investigation process this year. I also have a jurisdiction in relation to social care and these issues accounted for 18% of the issues determined within my health and social care jurisdiction. This figure does not represent any increase in this sector from last year. Complaints Handling In previous reports I have taken the opportunity to highlight a number of common failures in complaints handling which I have identified in the course of my investigation of health and social care complaints. I have also reminded bodies of the need to consider a co-ordinated approach to dealing with complaints which involve more than one Trust or indeed for example a Trust and General Practice. I would remind HSC bodies of the importance of providing complainants with specific responses which directly answer all of the issues raised within a complaint. I am concerned that, particularly in health and social care cases, complainants are being provided with inadequate and at times evasive responses by HSC bodies. These responses fail to address the specific matters the complainant has raised. Increasingly, the issues of complaint raised with me in relation to the provision of health and social care are ever more diverse and complex in nature, but in my experience complainants often simply want answers and a clear understanding of events, for instance the question often asked is, did something go wrong and if so, why? In providing an incomplete answer, I believe a body simply encourages suspicion on the part of the complainant that there is something to hide, resulting in mistrust and a breakdown in the relationship. I would urge HSC bodies to focus on providing complainants with full and complete responses, which are properly considered. The response should address all of the concerns raised, with all necessary reasons for decisions expressed in clear language so as to aid understanding. A complainant centred approach will help to ensure that complainants get the answers they are seeking to all their issues of concern at source. 30

31 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section Four Poor Record Keeping I would also like to take this opportunity to address the issue of record keeping. It has become increasingly evident to me in the course of my investigations that there is a growing culture of poor record keeping within the health and social care sector. I do appreciate the ever increasing demands being placed on healthcare professionals. However, it is essential that appropriate and accurate notes are made in relation to the care and treatment provided, medication prescribed and administered and communication which takes place with a patient and their family. Good record keeping is a requirement under both Nursing and Midwifery Council and General Medical Council guidance, and it is an essential factor in ensuring effective complaints handling should concerns arise. Accurate and contemporaneous record keeping allows for thorough independent assessment of the care provided and helps ensure transparency. Additionally it provides protection to clinicians and nursing staff involved in patient care by providing a clear picture of their actions and reasons for decisions. My investigation can be hampered by lack of records. Frequently I am unable to reach a determination or ascertain the quality of care provided due to a lack of recorded evidence. Such failure prevents the complainant from gaining the answer(s) they seek and leaves the body vulnerable to challenge. I would therefore urge all Trusts, general practitioners and independent healthcare providers to ensure that good record keeping is given prominence and invite those bodies to reinforce with all their staff the importance of clear, thorough and accessible records. Statistical Information Caseload for 2013/14 Number of Written Complaints Received 370 Number at Complaint Validation 288 Number at Preliminary 31 Number at Detailed 21 Number of Complaints/s Ongoing at 31/03/ Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 A total of 370 complaints were received during 2013/14, 117 more than in 2012/13. Written Complaints received in 2013/14 by Authority Type Health & Social Care Board 4 Health & Social Care Trusts 302 Other Health & Social Care Bodies 64 Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 by Complainant Association Complainant - general 180 Patient 149 Social Care Client 41 Complaints Statistics The statistical information below reflects the number of health and social care complaints received in 2013/14 and how they have been determined by my Office. As noted in Section 2, I have included a breakdown of the Complainant Association of written complaints received during the year. This refers to the complainant s relationship to the service provided by the body that they are complaining about. 31

32 Section Four Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Recommendations in Reported and Settled Cases Case No Body Subject of Complaint Recommendation Belfast Health & Social Policy and Procedures Apology Care Trust South Eastern Health & Clinical Care and Apology Social Care Trust Treatment; Policy and Procedures Northern Health & Social Complaints Handling Apology; Payment of 250 Care Trust Northern Health & Social Complaints Handling Apology; Payment of 250 Care Trust Health Service Provider - GP Complaints Handling Apology South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust Belfast Health & Social Care Trust Northern Health & Social Care Trust Belfast Health & Social Care Trust South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust Belfast Health & Social Care Trust South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust Belfast Health & Social Care Trust Northern Health & Social Care Trust Staff Attitude and Apology; Action by body Behaviour Complaints Handling Apology; Payment of 250 Clinical Care and Treatment Clinical Care and Treatment Clinical Care and Treatment Social Care and Treatment Clinical Care and Treatment; Complaints Handling Clinical Care and Treatment Clinical Care and Treatment; Complaints Handling Apology; Payment of 7,500; Action by body Apology; Payment of 17,500; Action by body Apology Apology; Payment of 250 Apology; Payment of 2,000; Action by body Apology; Action by body Apology; Payment of 500; Action by body 32

33 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section Four Detailed Statistics Analysis of Written Complaints Received in 2013/14 Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Health & Social Care Trusts Health & Social Care Board Other Health & Social Care Bodies Total Analysis of Written Complaints against Health & Social Care Board Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Health & Social Care Board Total Analysis of Written Complaints against Health & Social Care Trusts Ongoing at 31/03/14 Ongoing at 31/03/14 Belfast Health & Social Care Trust Northern Health & Social Care Trust Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Trust South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust (Prison Healthcare) Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Ongoing at 31/03/14 33

34 Section Four Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Southern Health & Social Care Trust Western Health & Social Care Trust Total Analysis of Written Complaints against Other Health and Social Care Bodies Number of Written Complaints Received at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Business Services Organisation Health Service Providers - GDP Health Service Providers - GP Health Service Providers - Optometrists Health Service Providers - Pharmacists Independent HSC Provider Independent HSC Provider - Out of Hours GP Services Independent HSC Provider - Private Nursing Home Not Specified HC Body Patient & Client Council Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority Total Ongoing at 31/03/14 34

35 Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report Section Four Cases - Analysis of Issues of Complaint at Complaint Validation at Preliminary at Detailed Total Clinical Care and Treatment Complaints Handling Delay Other Out of Jurisdiction Policy and Procedures Social Care and Treatment Staff Attitude and Behaviour Total

36 Section Four Northern Ireland Ombudsman Annual Report 36