Easter break office closure 

We will be closed from 5pm Thursday 17 April 2025 until 10am Tuesday 22 April 2025. You can still submit your complaint via our online form but we will not respond until we reopen.

New Customer Service Standards

We have updated our Customer Service Standards and are looking for feedback from customers. Please fill out our survey here by 12 May 2025: https://forms.office.com/e/ZDpjibqe8r 

Investigation Report 200501285

  • Report no:
    200501285
  • Date:
    November 2006
  • Body:
    West Lothian Council
  • Sector:
    Local Government

Overview

The complainant (Mr C) raised a number of issues involving the care of his late uncle.  Mr C complained about an inappropriate relationship and subsequent bequest of property to a social work employee.  He also complained about the employee's involvement in the purchase of a council house and the making of a Will.

Specific complaints and conclusions

The complaints which have been investigated are that:

  • (a) West Lothian Council (the Council) breached their policies and the Care Commission guidelines on caring for vulnerable clients in relation to the making of Wills, the purchase of a client's house and the acceptance of gifts (not upheld);
  • (b) the Council failed to adequately respond to Mr C's representations (not upheld); and
  • (c) the investigation carried out by the Council into the case was inadequate (not upheld).

Redress and Recommendation

The Ombudsman has no recommendations to make.

 

Updated: December 11, 2018