Consultation on Proposed Guidance

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales (PSOW) is seeking views on proposed changes to the Ombudsman’s Guidance on Good Administrative practice.  Section 34 of the Public Services Ombudsman Wales Act 2019 empowers the PSOW to issue such guidance. Public bodies which fall within the PSOW’s remit must have regard to the PSOW’s Guidance when discharging their functions. When investigating complaints, the PSOW may consider the extent to which a public body has complied with the PSOW’s Guidance on Good Administrative practice when reaching decisions.

The current Guidance is in the Principles of Good Administration and Good Records Management.  We are proposing to split the Guidance into 2 separate publications; the “Principles of Good Administration” and “Good Records Management”.  By splitting the Guidance our aim is to provide public bodies and complainants with both clear general principles of good administrative practice and separate specific advice on good administrative practice in relation to records management.

We are seeking views on both sets of proposed guidance.  You can access the consultation documents and details on how to respond can be found in the links below.

• Principles of Good Administration consultation
• Good Records Management consultation

We will be holding an on-line surgery to discuss these changes with our stakeholders on Friday 15 October 2021 at 2pm.  Please email communications@ombudsman.wales to register.