New public services ombudsman office established

The Office of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman was established on 1 April 2016.  This new office replaces the former offices of the Assembly Ombudsman and the Commissioner for Complaints.  

The new NI Public Services Ombudsman will have the power to investigate complaints about maladministration in public bodies and to provide remedy and redress for members of the public who have been adversely impacted by maladministration.   The organisations that are within the new ombudsman's jurisdiction are listed in Schedule 3 to the Public Services Ombudsman Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 (the 2016 Act). 

Powers of investigation

Currently, the new ombudsman can investigate complaints about public bodies involved int he provision of health, housing  and local government services.  This includes complaints against the Housing Executive and registered housing associations.  The ombudsman cannot investigate complaints about private companies or individuals so cannot assist with private tenants who wish to complain about their landlord or agent.   Find out more about making a complaint about housing services on our housingadviceNI website. 

From October the ombudsman will also begin to investigate complaints about universities and colleges and will have the power to investigate complaints about schools from April 2017.