Critics of the ombudsman system (N Creutzfeldt & C Gill)
Critics of the Ombudsman System: Understanding and Engaging Online Citizen Activists
December 2015 - by Naomi Creutzfeldt & Chris Gill
Executive Summary
- This policy brief presents the outcomes and recommendations from an ESRC IAA 1 funded knowledge exchange project on activist consumer groups (‘ombudsman watchers’).
Read more: Critics of the ombudsman system (N Creutzfeldt & C Gill)
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
The Impact and Legitimacy of Ombudsman and ADR Schemes in the UK
Naomi Creutzfeldt and Chris Gill
Key findings:
There is a lack of clarity in informal processes used by ombudsman and ADR schemes and a need to develop a more coherent way of explaining ombudsman and ADR models to the public. Lack of public understanding has the potential to undermine the legitimacy of ombudsman schemes.
Commission on Parliamentary Reform
The submissions made to the Commission have been sorted into order and are listed with comments.
In particular scroll down to "Other People", and select "Nigel Smith". He was one of the people who "designed the operational structure of the Scottish Parliament" [NOT, dare we say it, that he was involved in the design of the building]
About Us
Accountability Scotland is a democratic organization campaigning for transparent public accountability in Scottish governance. As of September 2011 we have a published constitution and an elected committee.
The membership of women and men, including those on the Committee are highly qualified in various fields including university scientists with research doctorates and many published research papers and books, a medical doctor, a researcher and co-coordinator in international public health projects across Europe and US, a civil engineer, electronics engineer, headteacher, contract advisor (construction, engineering, building), a voice dialogue facilitator, and specialists in estate management, law and legal practice.
Why Accountability Scotland
Have you attempted to hold a local authority or public service body to account over their failure to act appropriately?
- Are you getting nowhere with your complaints?
- Do you feel powerless?
- Are you one of the many who no longer trust government, local government etc?
- Have you been badly let down by any government funded body, or by any government organisations, including Local Authorities, Planning Departments, the National Health Service, the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman?
- Do you have bags full of correspondence all to no avail?
Our Objective
To improve [restore] Administrative Justice in Scotland
Introduction
Accountability Scotland was set up to improve the administrative justice system in Scotland. This is the overall system by which decisions of an administrative or executive nature are made in relation to particular persons, including: procedures for making such decisions; law under which such decisions are made; and systems for resolving disputes and airing grievances in relation to such decisions.
Anxiety about complaining
Many people find it hard to complain, whether to public bodies in general or to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) in particular in order to gain the ‘administrative justice’ that Accountability Scotland campaigns for.