Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s Annual Review of Adult Social Care Complaints 2023-24, published in September 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing levels of awareness of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in privately funded and arranged care settings.

We are aware of both the Annual Review and Triennial Review from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) and support the work they do to ensure that those receiving care, whether self-funded or placed by their local authority, are aware of the options available to them if they wish to escalate their complaint. We are working across the Government on a response to the LGSCO’s recommendations, including on increasing awareness of the role of the LGSCO for those privately funding their care.