The Local Authority Social Services Complaints (England) Regulations 2006

Care standards complaints

6.—(1) Where a local authority receives a complaint which is in part about a relevant function and in part a care standards complaint, it must, as regards that part of the complaint which is the care standards complaint—

(a) within 10 working days of receipt of the complaint ask the complainant whether he wishes details of that part of the complaint to be sent to the registered person for the establishment or agency to which it relates; and

(b) if the complainant does so wish, send such details to the registered person as soon as reasonably practicable.

(2) Where paragraph (1) applies, the local authority must notify the complainant—

(a) which part of the complaint will be handled in accordance with the procedure described in these Regulations; and

(b) in a case where it has sent details of the care standards complaint to the registered person, that it has sent such details.

(3) Where the local authority has sent details to the registered person under paragraph (1)(b), it must cooperate insofar as is reasonable and practicable with the establishment or agency which is the subject of the care standards complaint with a view to ensuring that the complainant receives a coordinated response to his complaint.

(4) Where a local authority receives a complaint which is a care standards complaint and not in part about a relevant function, it must within 5 working days of its receipt—

(i) ask the complainant whether he wishes his complaint to be sent to the registered person for the establishment or agency to which it relates; and

(ii) if the complainant does so wish, send the complaint to the registered person as soon as reasonably practicable.