The strategy sets out how the Ombudsman's Office intends to achieve its goals in the coming years and the principles and values that will guide its work.

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We launch today a consultation on a proposed own initiative investigation into whether Registered Social Landlords (also known as Housing Associations) and local authorities are appropriately responding to reports and concerns relating to disrepair, with a focus on damp and mould, taking into consideration the needs of vulnerable tenants.

We can launch an investigation into a matter even without receiving a complaint, known as ‘own initiative’ investigations. We can do this if we decide that something may have gone wrong with public services; the issue could have negative impact on a wide group of citizens (particularly if they may be vulnerable or disadvantaged); and it would be in the public interest to investigate.

If needed, any investigation or investigations would identify what social housing providers could do better to ensure that they respond to concerns of vulnerable tenants (including disabled people, older people, young people and children, people on a low income, people from diverse ethnic backgrounds) appropriately and in a timely manner.

The investigation would also share any good practice identified to drive improvement across public services in Wales.

Michelle Morris, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, said,

“Poor housing has a serious impact on people’s physical and mental health, yet too many tenants continue to live with disrepair, damp, and mould, causing daily anxiety which affects their wellbeing. In recent years, we have seen a rise in complaints about social housing, with just over 19% of new complaints in 2024-2025 relating to these issues.”

“In response, we published our thematic report, Living in Disrepair, in November last year. The report highlighted key themes and learning from our casework, including examples where vulnerable tenants waited longer than necessary for repair or maintenance work. It also emphasised that the impact of poor housing conditions is even greater for elderly or disabled residents.”

“More recently, we have received further complaints of this nature. During 2024 -2025, we intervened early in 79 cases relating to disrepair or damp and mould. In the past two months, we have issued four Public Interest reports against Cardiff Council, Flintshire County Council, and Trivallis about these issues.”

“This leads us to suspect that similar issues may affect tenants across other social housing providers, and reinforces the need for action to ensure tenants’ concerns are addressed promptly and effectively.”

The consultation will close on 8 December at mid-day.

A homeless Leicester family spent nearly 10 months too long in Bed and Breakfast accommodation, according to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

Following an investigation into the case, the council has rejected the Ombudsman’s recommendation to pay the family a financial remedy for the injustice they have been caused.

It is the second time this year the council has taken the rare step of refusing to accept one of the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

The family complained to the Ombudsman that Leicester City Council placed them in B&B accommodation in separate rooms because of the family’s size in August 2023. The family were also moved on a number of occasions.

The council eventually found a suitable property for the family in July 2024.

The Ombudsman’s investigation found fault with how the council handled the family’s case, including delays when reviewing their Personalised Housing Plan and not telling the family about their rights to appeal the suitability of accommodation offered.

The council also took too long to decide it owed the family the main housing duty, and for failing to move the family to self-contained accommodation after six weeks of living in the B&B, contrary to the law.

Mrs Amerdeep Clarke, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said:

“The council is not alone in experiencing increasing pressure and demands on its homelessness services. However, it is unique in repeatedly declining to agree to our recommendations to remedy the injustice caused to families impacted by its failings.  We cannot become apathetic to failings simply because we see these repeated across different parts of the country and we will continue to hold councils to their legal obligations.

“By refusing to acknowledge and remedy the injustice caused to the family – including splitting them up across separate rooms – for nearly 10 months, I am concerned Leicester City Council has yet again not fully accepted the personal impact of what has gone wrong.

“We hear the council’s concerns about wider impacts of paying a financial remedy to the family. Our report recognises the service improvements the council has made to address the use of B&B accommodation for homeless families. However, we have been clear that we have only recommend financial remedies for the two complaints brought to us and that these are based on the individual circumstances of each complaint. This is clearly reflected in the different remedies we have made in this and the previous case.

“I urge Leicester City to reflect on this case, and its responses to my office, and to put things right for this family.”

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman remedies injustice and shares learning from investigations to help improve public, and adult social care, services. In this case the council has agreed to apologise to the family for what has gone wrong in this case.

However, it has not agreed to pay £3,525 for the injustice of having to live in unsuitable B&B accommodation for 42 weeks longer than they should have done.

In line with the Ombudsman’s powers, the council now must consider the Ombudsman’s report at a full council meeting, or similarly senior decision-making level, and formally respond.

Un confronto tra istituzioni, professionisti e cittadini sul ruolo del Difensore civico nella tutela del diritto alla salute.

Si terrà lunedì 24 novembre 2025 alle ore 10:30, presso la Sala Mechelli del Consiglio regionale del Lazio (Via della Pisana, 1301 – Roma), l’incontro dal titolo:

“Il Difensore civico come Garante del Diritto alla Salute: quali scenari possibili”

L’iniziativa intende promuovere un momento di riflessione e confronto istituzionale sul ruolo del Difensore civico nella tutela del diritto fondamentale alla salute, con particolare attenzione:

• alle sfide e agli scenari futuri nel rapporto tra cittadini e sistema sanitario;
• alla funzione di garanzia, ascolto e mediazione a tutela dei diritti;
• al contributo delle istituzioni, delle professioni sanitarie e delle associazioni nella costruzione di un modello di sanità sempre più equo e inclusivo.

In tale contesto, appare rilevante richiamare la Legge Gelli-Bianco (Legge 24/2017), con la quale il Parlamento ha attribuito alle Regioni la possibilità di affidare al Difensore civico regionale le funzioni di Garante del diritto alla salute.
Questo riconoscimento sottolinea la responsabilità istituzionale e il valore di una figura capace di coniugare tutela dei cittadini e fiducia nel sistema sanitario.

L’ obiettivo dell’incontro è quello di favorire il dialogo tra attori istituzionali, esperti e società civile, individuando strumenti concreti per rendere più effettiva la protezione del diritto alla salute, riconosciuto come pilastro della dignità della persona.

Per partecipare si invita a compilare il modulo di iscrizione al seguente link:

👉 https://forms.gle/gJBpve2Ff5sZJnTd8

Programma 24 novembre 2025 – Difensore civico

L’incontro è aperto al pubblico fino ad esaurimento posti.

Per ulteriori informazioni:

📧 difensore.civico@regione.lazio.it

En 2010, inició su andadura el Consejo de Infancia y Adolescencia del Ararteko, una experiencia de participación, una expresión del derecho a ser escuchado que asiste a los niños, niñas y adolescentes.

Para celebrar este aniversario, en el marco de la conmemoración de la aprobación de la Convención sobre los Derechos del Niño por parte de la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas, la Oficina de Infancia y Adolescencia del Ararteko ha organizado un acto que combinará la celebración lúdica y el encuentro de las personas que han hecho realidad esta iniciativa. 

Al evento que se celebrará el jueves 13 de noviembre en Bilborock (Bilbao) acudirán jóvenes que fueron consejeros y consejeras del Ararteko, adolescentes que forman parte actualmente del Consejo, colaboradores y personal de la institución que impulsó la puesta en marcha de este órgano de participación que hoy, 15 años después, es una realidad.

El Consejo de Infancia y Adolescencia del Ararteko lo componen 24 chicos y chicas, de edades comprendidas entre 14 y 18 años, de diversos pueblos y ciudades de Euskadi. Se reúnen periódicamente para trabajar sobre el tema que han elegido ese año, siempre relacionado con sus derechos. 

También comparten sus reflexiones con chicos y chicas de otros países europeos dentro del proyecto ENYA (European Network of Young Advisors), en los consejos de adolescentes de la Red Europea de Defensorías de Infancia (ENOC) de la que forma parte la Oficina de Infancia y Adolescencia del Ararteko.

Y en ocasiones participan en iniciativas de otras organizaciones, o instituciones (ayuntamientos, Gobierno Vasco, etc.), aportando su punto de vista sobre cuestiones que afectan a niñas, niños y adolescentes.