ANNEX B:: CURRENT LAW RELATING TO SOCIAL CARE Complaints
535.The current provisions relating to complaints against social services are set out in section 7B of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 and sections 24D and 26 of the Children Act 1989, and in the Complaints Procedure Directions 1990 and the Representations Procedure (Children) Regulations 1991. This Act repeals section 7B of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 and enables the Secretary of State to make regulations about the handling and consideration of complaints about social services provided to adults. Complaints will continue to be considered by the local authority whose actions are complained about, but the regulations may provide for a complaint to be further considered by the CSCI, an independent panel, or another person or body. The Act also provides that the Secretary of State may make regulations enabling complaints made under the Children Act procedure to be considered by the CSCI or an independent panel, and extends the duty to consider complaints under section 26 of the Children Act 1989 to complaints relating to special guardianship support services.