1. Introduction
We always aim to provide a high standard of care in all our services.
Our service users’ views are important to us and help to ensure our services are consistently meeting people’s needs. If you are unhappy with any of our services it is important that you let us know.
If a complaint alerts us to possible abuse or neglect we will tell the Council’s adult safeguarding team. The safeguarding team will decide how to investigate and monitor outcomes.
2. Making a suggestion
Often people feel more comfortable about suggesting improvements rather than complaining formally. Anyone receiving services, and their friends/ family, may make a suggestion.
First you should speak to a Director.
Feedback leaflets are available if you would rather make your suggestion that way.
If the suggestion is something that Trans Pride Northern Ireland as a company needs to consider you can send it to:
The Secretary
Trans Pride NI
LGBT Centre
23-31 Waring Street
Belfast
BT1 2DX
Tel: 07577199752
Email: info@transprideni.com
3. Making a complaint
We aim to handle complaints quickly, effectively and in a fair and honest way. We take all complaints seriously and use valuable information from investigating to help us improve the service we provide. We treat all complaints in confidence.
Trans Pride NI assures service users and their families that it will not withdraw or reduce services because someone makes a complaint in good faith.
4. Who can complain
Anyone affected by the way Trans Pride Northern Ireland provides services can make a complaint.
A representative may complain for the affected person if they:
• have died
• cannot make a complaint themselves, or
• have given consent for the representative to act on their behalf
If you are not happy about making a complaint yourself and you do not know someone who can talk or write to us on your behalf, we will be happy to find someone from an independent organisation to act as an advocate for you.
5. How you can make a complaint
You can complain:
• in person
• by telephone
• through a member of our staff
• through an advocate or representative
where someone complains orally we will make a written record and provide a copy of it within 3 working days
• by letter
• by email
6. Anonymous complaints
We deal with anonymous complaints under the same procedure; however it is better if you can provide contact details so we can tell you the outcome of our investigation.
7. Responsibility
The Secretary has overall responsibility for dealing with all complaints made about their service.
We will provide as far as is reasonably practical:
• any help you need to understand the complaints procedure; or
• advice on where you may get that help.
8. How we handle complaints
The Secretary of Trans Pride Northern Ireland may ask one of the Directors to investigate the complaint. That person will have enough seniority and experience to deal with the issues raised by the complaint.
We will acknowledge a complaint within 3 working days and give you the name and contact details of the person investigating it.
We will keep you informed about the progress of the investigation. We aim to have all complaints finished within 28 working days unless we agree a different time scale with you.
When we have finished investigating, we will arrange to meet with you to discuss the outcome, and write to you with:
• details of the findings;
• any action we have taken; and
• our proposals to resolve your complaint.
9. Time limits
You should complain as soon as you can after the date on which the event occurred or came to your notice. If you complain more than twelve months later, we may not be able to investigate properly. But we shall also consider whether you had good reason for not making the complaint sooner and whether, despite the delay, it is still possible to investigate the complaint effectively and fairly.
10. Further steps
At any stage during the process, if you are not happy with the way the service is dealing with your complaint you can contact the Chairman at:
Trans Pride Northern Ireland
LGBT Centre
23-31 Waring Street
Belfast
BT1 2DX
Tel: 07577199752
Once we have dealt with your complaint, if you are not happy with the outcome you can refer your complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) and ask for it to be reviewed. The LGO provides a free independent service.
You can contact the LGO at:
Tel: 0300 061 0614
Website: http://www.lgo.org.uk
NB: The LGO will not normally investigate a complaint until the provider has had an opportunity to respond and resolve matters.
“Template complaint procedure” partly modified by Local Government Ombudsman
Trans Pride NI 