Making a complaint

If you or your child is being looked after in care by a local trust and you are unhappy with the services provided, you can formally complain.

Minor problems

Not all everyday problems should automatically be grounds for making a complaint. The first thing to do is to tell your child's social worker or their manager.

Many small problems can be sorted out promptly and do not need to go through the complaints procedure. You can ask them why they did what they did or if they can do something else instead.

Major problems

Children's Services need to provide care for children including:

where children are living away from home, the local trust is expected to ensure that good care is being provided
making sure only suitable people look after your child
providing proper training and support to staff and foster carers
listening to your child's views and your views, taking religion, race, culture and background into account
making sure your child has someone independent to talk to and knows who to complain to

If you feel Children's Services are not doing these things properly, talk to your or your child's carer or social worker and their manager if you need to. You can also raise the issue at the next review meeting.

All social services must have a way of letting children make a complaint. This is called a representations or complaints procedure. All children have the right to use it. If a child needs help to do this, social services should be able to advise who can help.

The Voice of Young People in Care offers children and young people a confidential service outside of social services. The phone number is 08450 742942

Voice of Young People in Care website

The Children's Law Centre also helps young people, their parents and professionals they work with to understand the laws which affect children. Their free phone advice line for is 0808 808 5678

Children's Law Centre (contacts section)

If you still feel unhappy about treatment from social services you may be able to go to court or you can make a complaint to the NI Ombudsman on free phone 0800 343 424