Easter closure

Please note that we will be closed from 5pm Thursday 28 March until Tuesday 2 April 2024 for the Easter break. Complaints can still be made via our complaints form but they will not be received until we reopen. Wishing you a happy Easter! 

Technical issues:

The SPSO advice line is currently unavailable due to technical issues which we are working with our telephone provider to resolve.  We apologise for the inconvenience and hope to find a resolution as soon as possible. 

Support and Intervention Policy

Our Support and Intervention Policy has been in place since 1 April 2019. The policy sets out how we will use our statutory powers in a structured way to promote improvement by encouraging good practice or addressing poor performance by an organisation under our jurisdiction. It offers clarity to public bodies regarding what to expect from us, how and when. 

In short:

  • Support action under the policy, gives guidance and support to organisations to help them improve their practice or address poor performance.
  • Intervention action is more formal and usually requires the public body to take specific action to improve performance in relation to complaints or whistleblowing concerns handling, handling of Scottish Welfare Fund reviews or engagement with SPSO investigations and reviews.

This does not replace the advice and feedback we give as part of our handling of complaints, nor does the policy prevent public bodies asking us for help and advice. We still encourage organisations to contact us if they need help in relation to complaint handling. 

The leaflets below give more detail about the policy and what it means for organisations.



Contact us

If on behalf of a public sector organisation you have any questions about complaints handling, or if you require support or guidance, please contact us:

Phone:  0131 297 4863

Contact form 

Updated: July 6, 2023