Ombudsman Association’s Casework Interest Group Meeting

Ombudsman Association’s Casework Interest Group Meeting – held in Cardiff on 12^th April 2019

A meeting of the Ombudsman Association’s Casework Interest Group was held in Cardiff on the 12th April 2019.

Over twenty delegates attended the meeting and the Gibraltar Public Services Ombudsman was represented by the Senior Investigating Officer, Karen Calamaro and Deputy Ombudsman Nicholas Caetano.

Casework Interest Group meetings provide a forum for discussion and networking for professionals in the Ombudsman field.  They also provide an excellent opportunity for delegates to advance on concepts and ideas which undoubtedly result in an improved service to the public.

At this meeting, a presentation on ‘Recommendations’ was delivered by Robin Harris from the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner and by Karen Calamaro from the Gibraltar Ombudsman’s Office.

The objective of this exercise, which is still work-in-progress, is to obtain information from both the public and private sector Ombudsman organisations on how they make effective recommendations by ensuring that these are proportionate, appropriate and SMART (an acronym for the 5 elements of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based goals). 

The feedback and results of this project were put to members at a presentation in the Ombudsman Association’s Conference held in Belfast on the 21st May 2019.

Presentations on GDPR and Compliance were delivered at this meeting as well as an update provided by the Ombudsman Association’s Director, Donal Galligan.