The Social Services Complaints Procedure (Wales) Regulations 2005

Persons who may make complaints

9.—(1) A complaint may be made by any person to whom the local authority has a power or duty to provide, or secure the provision of, a service which, if provided, would be provided as a social service function and whose need, or possible need for such a service has (by whatever means) come to the attention of the local authority.

(2) A complaint may be made by a person (a “representative”) acting on behalf of a person mentioned in paragraph (1) in any case where that person—

(a) is a child; or

(b) has requested the representative to act on his or her behalf; or

(c) is not capable of making the complaint personally.

(3) A complaint may be made by a person (a “representative”) in respect of a person who has died.

(4) Any representative making a complaint under paragraph (2)(a) or (c) or under paragraph (3) must, in the opinion of the local authority have, or have had, an interest in the person’s welfare and be a suitable person to act as representative.

(5) If in any case the local authority is of the opinion that any person making a complaint under paragraphs (2)(a) or (c) or (3) does not have sufficient interest in the person’s welfare or is not a suitable person to act as a representative, the authority must notify the person in writing immediately, stating the reasons for that opinion.

(6) Where notification is given under paragraph (5) and the person referred to in paragraph (1) in respect of whom the complaint has been made is alive the local authority must, if it considers it appropriate to do so having regard to the understanding of the person referred to in paragraph (1), provide that person with a copy of the notification.

(7) In these Regulations any reference to a complainant includes a reference to his or her representative.