Today, SPSO is launching a consultation to help inform the way we will approach and manage reviews about welfare fund decisions. This is a new and different role for SPSO in relation to local authorities.

The Consultation sets out a draft statement of practice. This explains how we will approach decision-making, including some of the most important aspects of the process such as how we will decide when we can accept a review or how we will gather evidence. We are also consulting on draft rules for oral hearings, which will allow us to hold an oral hearing when that is the only fair way to resolve matters. In addition, we are in the process of undertaking an Equalities and Human Rights Assessment of this new role and of our approach to it. We have set out a proposed approach to ensure we fully comply and show best practice in fulfilling our equalities and human rights responsibilities.

We are committed to talking to users and potential users of the service. We hope to have direct contact with third sector groups who work with users. We also hope to have direct contact with users from the groups to explore their experience of the review process and to allow them to comment on this consultation and other documents we are producing.

This document is the full consultation (PDF 625KB)

This document is the print version of the consultation questions (PDF 243KB)

This document is the electronic version of the consultation questions (Word 524KB)

The consultation is open until 27 November 2015.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this with us direct please contact us at consultation@spso.org.uk (link sends e-mail)