Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
(LGSCO)
The independent dispute resolution scheme for complaints about most council services and adult social care providers in England. Free for complainants. Investigates injustice caused by maladministration. Established under the Local Government Act 1974.
The LGSCO handles complaints about: council services (housing, planning, adult social care, parking, council tax administration, children's services, education admissions), and adult social care providers (council and private). It does NOT cover NHS (use PHSO), schools that have completed admission appeals, courts, or central government departments. Complainants must first exhaust the council's own procedures and refer within 12 months. The Ombudsman can recommend apologies, financial payments (£100-£10,000+), corrective action, and service improvements. Recommendations are followed in 99%+ of cases.