London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
Annual statistics ?Find out more about annual statistics
-
Complaints upheld
100% Complaints upheld by London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
100% of complaints we investigated were upheld.
This compares to an average of 85% in similar authorities.
11 upheld decisions
View upheld decisionsAdjusted for London Borough of Barking & Dagenham's population, this is
5 upheld decisions per 100,000 residents.The average for authorities of this type is
8.2 upheld decisions per 100,000 residents.Statistics are based on a total of 11 investigations for the period between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
-
Compliance with Ombudsman recommendations
100% of cases were successfully implemented by London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
100% of cases we were satisfied the Council had successfully implemented our recommendations.
This compares to an average of 99% in similar authorities.
Statistics are based on a total of 9 compliance outcomes for the period between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
-
Satisfactory remedies provided by the Council
27% Complaints with satisfactory remedy provided by London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
In 27% of upheld cases we found the Council had provided a satisfactory remedy before the complaint reached the Ombudsman.
This compares to an average of 12% in similar authorities.
3 satisfactory remedy decisions
Statistics are based on a total of 11 upheld decisions for the period between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
View all satisfactory remedy decisions
Annual letters
We write to councils each year to give a summary of the complaint statistics we record about them,
and their performance in responding to our investigations.
Reports ?Find out more about reports
In the last nine years, the Ombudsman has published the following reports against London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
Council fails to investigate cancer cluster concerns
Barking and Dagenham council is to investigate reports of a possible cancer cluster within the borough, after it previously failed to act on a woman’s concerns.
London council reviews Blue Badge assessment process following Ombudsman complaint
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has agreed to review the way it assesses applications for the disabled ‘Blue Badge’ parking scheme after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found numerous failings in the way the council was running the scheme.
London council and care home amend policies after giving confusing information about fees
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and Moreland House care home have agreed to change their charging policies after a resident paid too much for her care, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has said.
Service improvements ?Find out more about service improvements
Since April 2018, the Council has agreed to make the following improvements to its services following an Ombudsman investigation. We list up to 10 cases below – click ‘view all’ if there are more.
Case reference: 24 003 197
Category: Adult care services
Sub Category: Transport
- The Council will review its procedure in the event it experiences difficulties sourcing support in a care and support plan. We recommend it puts in place a clear process for escalating concerns when the Council receives reports that care and support services are not being provided.
Case reference: 24 002 773
Category: Education
Sub Category: Special educational needs
- The Council agreed that it would liaise with a school the complainant's child attended, to address flaws in how the school was approaching the annual review of children's Education, Health and Care Plans. It needed to ensure arrangements were in place that parents were properly consulted as part of a review, that it asked for reports from any third parties responsible for delivering provision identified in a Plan and that it convened meetings as part of the review.
- The Council agreed to provide an update on measures it said it had begun introducing since the events covered by this complaint to identify where the review of a child's Education, Health and Care Plan had become overdue and to monitor overall trends in its performance in meeting statutory timescales for holding reviews and decision making following reviews. It would also explain to us what measures it had put in place to expedite reviews or decision making, where it knew it had exceeded the statutory targets.
Case reference: 23 017 287
Category: Housing
Sub Category: Allocations
- The Council will makes its voids team aware that all necessary equipment must be in full working order before a property is allocated.
Case reference: 23 017 249
Category: Education
Sub Category: School transport
- The Council has agreed to review its school transport appeal procedure to ensure all those involved are aware of the differences in the guidance for post-16 transport and the need to record the decision-making process so it is clear how and why the decision was made.
Case reference: 23 015 529
Category: Transport and highways
Sub Category: Parking and other penalties
- The Council will also issue a reminder to Company A that itis required to respond to complaints in accordance with its complaints procedure.
Case reference: 23 011 975
Category: Transport and highways
Sub Category: Parking and other penalties
- The Council will remind officers dealing with dropped kerb appeals of the need to ensure each case is considered on its merits and that exceptional circumstances should not be limited to just the two options given in the guidance.
- The Council will consider amending its guidance on dropped kerbs to make clear when deciding whether exceptional circumstances apply it needs to consider the representations made by the applicant.
Case reference: 23 009 253
Category: Environment and regulation
Sub Category: Antisocial behaviour
- The Council will remind officers that decision letters issued in respect of ASB case reviews must notify individuals of their right to an appeal.
- The Council will remind relevant officers of the importance of keeping proper, suitable records relating to ASB case reviews. The Council should direct officers to review the Ombudsman’s “Guidance on Good Administrative Practice” when doing so.
Case reference: 23 005 243
Category: Housing
Sub Category: Homelessness
- The Council has agreed to remind its officers of the need to provide tailored benefit advice to applicants in their personalised housing plans.
Case reference: 23 004 665
Category: Housing
Sub Category: Homelessness
- The Council will remind staff dealing with homelessness applications of the Council’s statutory duties to assess the suitability of housing in homelessness applications.
Case reference: 23 018 689
Category: Children's care services
Sub Category: Other
- The Council will compile a database of Investigating Officers and Independent Persons it can ask to carry out stage two investigations under the children's statutory complaints procedure.
Last updated: 4 April 2015