This Office is independent and impartial. This means that we are not allowed to take sides and we have to consider both sides of the complaint.

We will write to you to let you know that we have received your complaint and to explain what will happen next.

The Complaints and Investigations team will look at it and decide on the next steps. That means we check

If the complaint is something we can look at

what stage local procedures are at

how the matter could be resolved

that the necessary criteria have been met (i.e. that there may be a negative impact on a child and that the administrative actions may not have been fair or sound).

If we decide that your complaint requires our involvement, then we may write to the public body to give them an opportunity to respond.

Many complaints are resolved at this stage.

However, this Office may decide that further investigation is required. An investigation may include meetings with the people involved as well as looking at all of the correspondence. We will keep you informed of all of the steps we take and any decisions that we make.

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