What we do

The Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO) is here to make sure that the government and other people who make decisions about young people really think about what is best for young people.

The things that the OCO can do are set out in a law called the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. The main areas of work of the OCO are:

Independent complaints handling
Communication & Participation
Research & Policy

This means that the OCO can:

Support people, including children and young people, to find out more about children’s and young people’s rights;
Find out what’s important to young people and let the Government and others know what matters to young people themselves;
Carry out research to get a better understanding about things that are really important in children’s and young people’s lives;
Give advice to the Government and others about doing what’s best for children and young people;
Receive and, where possible, look into complaints made by young people or by adults on young people's behalf.