Where we find fault, as well as putting things right for the individual person, we want to try to prevent the same thing happening to someone else.  This why some of our decision letters and reports have recommendations.

This could include asking the organisation to:

• apologise
• change their procedures
• return the situation to how it would have been had they acted correctly in the first instance

If you want to know about our approach to looking at public authorities' decisions, please see the previous FAQ.

Compensation
Please note that the SPSO cannot award compensation.  However, if we decide that someone has suffered because of something an organisation has done wrong, we will ask that organisation to put that person in the position they would have been in had they been dealt with correctly in the first place. This may sometimes involve recommending payment. We will not award damages, since that is the function of the courts. See our leaflet Redress policy and guidance for more information.

Special Report
If an organisation fails to implement our recommendations, the Ombudsman can lay a `special report’ before the Scottish Parliament drawing attention to the matter.   See 'special report’ in the Glossary for more information on this.