Amerdeep Somal to start as Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman from next month

The next Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) has been confirmed as Amerdeep Somal by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

She will start in post on 1 February 2024, having previously served as the Complaints Commissioner to the Financial Regulators and Chief Commissioner at the Data and Marketing Commission.

Somal has been appointed for a term of seven years. She will take over from Paul Najsarek, who has acted as interim Ombudsman since March 2023,

On 1 January 2024, Somal became the Board Chair of the Law Society of England and Wales, which will sit alongside her position as Ombudsman.

She also sits on the board of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and is a Judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. However, she has paused the latter role after acknowledging it represented a potential conflict of interest with the LGSCO position.

Somal said: “I am delighted to be taking on the hugely important role of Ombudsman, overseeing some of the most vital services provided to people across the country.

“The Ombudsman has a central role both in ensuring that individual complaints are investigated and as a key part of the wider system bringing about systemic change and improvement in local government and social care services. I look forward to taking up the role in February and to working to improve public services at a time of need for so many.”

Minister for Local Government Simon Hoare said: “The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman provides a vital role in holding our public services to account, ensuring the public has the power to challenge decisions on the issues that matter most to them.

“I am delighted Amerdeep Somal has been confirmed as the next Ombudsman and look forward to working with her in the future.”

Lottie Winson