Children’s services includes social care, education, early years and youth services.
If you are not happy about the care you or someone else is receiving it is your right to complain. It is better to complain than to say nothing because changes can be made and any problems addressed. We will always take your complaint seriously.
How to complain about children's services
This is what to do if you have a complaint about children's services. If your complaint relates to suspected abuse or to health services you have received for example in a hospital, see Other types of complaint further down this page.
1. Talk to the staff who provide the service you are not happy with
First of all, if you feel comfortable doing so you should tell the people providing the service about your concerns so they have a chance to put things right. For example, if you have a complaint about services at a residential care home speak to the care home manager or supervisor if you can.
But if you would rather not share your concerns with the people directly providing the service there are other options…
2. Contact a complaints officer in children's services
Ring the complaints service on 395 0310 or 247 5688, minicom 247 5963.
Or write to the complaints manager at:
Complaints Manager
Complaints Support Service
Leeds Children's Services
Merrion House
110 Merrion Centre
Leeds LS2 8QB
If you prefer, you can fill in the complaints form on the last page of the Children and Young People’s Complaints leaflet, which you can download from this page, and post it back.
3. Complain by email
You can email your complaint to us at complaints.children@leeds.gov.uk or fill in our online complaints form.
If you need help making a children’s services complaint
Do you feel worried or confused about making a complaint? There are people who can help.
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You can ask a relative, friend or carer to help you make a complaint, or make a complaint on your behalf.
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All children and young people are entitled to advocacy support that is independent and confidential. You can speak to Leeds Children’s Rights Service on 0113 239 5589.
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If you have a learning disability, speak to Leeds Advocacy on 0113 244 0606. They will listen to you and tell the Complaints Manager why you are not happy. They will treat your enquiry in confidence and take your concerns seriously.
More information about making a complaint
Further important details about making a complaint are available in the leaflets which you can download from this page, including:
- Complaints about children and young people’s social care
- Complaints leaflet for young children
We can also provide:
- complaints leaflet and video for deaf people who use British Sign Language, leaflets in Braille, large print and on audio tape
- leaflets in Hindi, Vietnamese, Chinese, Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu and Arabic.
For further information or to have a leaflet posted to you, call us on 0113 395 0310 drop us an email or write to:
Complaints Manager
Complaints Support Service
Leeds Children's Services
Merrion House
110 Merrion Centre
Leeds LS2 8QB
Other types of complaint
If your complaint is not about the social care services you or someone else is receiving, you will need to make your complaint in a different way. Here is some advice on making different types of complaints.
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Complaints relating to abuse or mistreatment - if urgent action is needed, or a crime has been committed, contact the police on 999. Otherwise, call our contact centre on 0113 222 4401 (adults) or 0113 222 4403 (children and young people). For further information, read our pages on adult protection or child protection.
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Complaints about other council services - if you have a complaint about another council service, visit the council’s general complaints procedure page or fill in the online complaints form.