Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2019

1 Overview E+W

(1) This Part of the Act is an overview of the main provisions of the Act.

(2) Part 2 provides for the continuation of the role of the Ombudsman.

(3) Part 3 makes provision for—

(a) the Ombudsman to investigate listed authorities;

(b) who can make and refer complaints to the Ombudsman;

(c) the matters that may be investigated by the Ombudsman;

(d) the procedures that apply to the Ombudsman's investigations;

(e) the Ombudsman's powers to deal with obstruction and contempt;

(f) the Ombudsman to prepare reports of investigations;

(g) the Ombudsman to issue guidance to listed authorities about good administrative practice;

(h) listed authorities to compensate persons aggrieved.

(4) Part 4 makes provision for—

(a) the Ombudsman to publish a statement of principles about the complaints-handling procedures of listed authorities, and the Assembly procedure that applies to the statement of principles;

(b) the Ombudsman to publish model complaints-handling procedures for listed authorities;

(c) requiring a listed authority to comply with a model complaints-handling procedure that applies to the listed authority;

(d) the Ombudsman to declare that the complaints-handling procedure of a listed authority does not comply with the model complaints-handling procedure;

(e) the Ombudsman to promote best practice in relation to complaints-handling.

(5) Part 5 makes provision for—

(a) the Ombudsman to investigate social care providers and palliative care providers;

(b) who can make and refer complaints to the Ombudsman about social care and palliative care;

(c) the social care and palliative care matters that may be investigated by the Ombudsman;

(d) the procedures that apply to the Ombudsman's investigations into social care and palliative care;

(e) the Ombudsman to prepare reports of investigations into social care and palliative care.

(6) Part 6 makes supplementary provision for—

(a) the Ombudsman to work with other ombudsmen and commissioners etc. in relation to investigations;

(b) the disclosure and protection of information and publications in relation to investigations.

(7) Part 7 makes miscellaneous provision, including adding the Ombudsman to Schedule 6 to the Welsh Language Standards (No. 2) Regulations 2016 and a requirement for the review of the operation of this Act by the Assembly.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 1 in force at 23.7.2019 by S.I. 2019/1096, reg. 2