Advocacy Support
Dear The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman,
LGSCO internal guidance regarding Reasonable Adjustments ( NB an earlier FOI on WDTK here : https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r... ) )
states the LGSCO can "Arranging, paying or contributing towards the costs of an advocate ..... We may in exceptional circumstances consider funding advocacy for people who cannot obtain a free service. We would only consider funding to a level sufficient to enable proper consideration of a complaint."
An assistant ombudsman has since clarified to me "We would only do this in exceptional circumstances; for example, where someone lacks the capacity to engage with our processes." however Reasonable adjustments are an Equality Act duty not a Mental Capacity Act duty therefore please provide me with the following information:
1. No of advocates provided to service users during the years 2022 / 2023 / to date in 2024 broken down into a table (month by month) to show:
- the type of complaint (eg education / SEND / and adult / children social care etc etc )
- the "exceptional circumstance" as to why the advocate was provided
- if this was arranged and / or paid for or contributed towards by the LGSCO or another party (LA / service user)
2. Copy of all Risk assessments in the internal policy regarding reasonable adjustments (provided in aforementioned FOI)
3. All Equality Act Impact Assessment Statements (s149 Equality Act) in regards to this this policy and in particular about advocacy support.
Yours faithfully,
Jacqui Prentice
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[2]another test with borders
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Our ref: 24/137
Please quote reference 24/137 when contacting us about this request for
information.
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Email address: [1][LGSCO request email]
Dear Jacqui Prentice
INFORMATION ACCESS REQUEST – REFERENCE 24/137
Thank you for your request for information received on 31 July 2024.
Your request has been recorded as:
please provide me with the following information:
1. No of advocates provided to service users during the years 2022 /
2023 / to date in 2024 broken down into a table (month by month) to show:
- the type of complaint (eg education / SEND / and adult / children
social care etc etc )
- the "exceptional circumstance" as to why the advocate was provided
- if this was arranged and / or paid for or contributed towards by the
LGSCO or another party (LA / service user)
2. Copy of all Risk assessments in the internal policy regarding
reasonable adjustments (provided in aforementioned FOI)
3. All Equality Act Impact Assessment Statements (s149 Equality Act) in
regards to this this policy and in particular about advocacy support.
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Yours sincerely
[4]A picture containing text, clipart Description automatically generated
Lydia Barrow I Access to Information Assistant
Listen - Understand - Communicate - Learn
[5]www.lgo.org.uk
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Dear Jacqui Prentice
INFORMATION ACCESS REQUEST – REFERENCE 24/137
Please find attached our response to your request for information, which
we received on 31 July 2024.
Yours sincerely
A picture containing text, clipart Description automatically generated
Lydia Barrow I Access to Information Assistant
Listen - Understand - Communicate - Learn
[1]www.lgo.org.uk
NOTICE - This message contains information intended only for the use of
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