An ombudsman is an official who investigates complaints against businesses, public entities, or officials, usually lodged by private citizens. They are appointed by the government or parliament and are in place across a wide variety of countries and organizations within those countries. Ombudsmen may focus exclusively on and deal with complaints regarding a particular organization or public office, or they may have wider ranges. There are different types of ombudsmen, including:
-
Organizational Ombuds: They provide confidential, informal, independent and impartial assistance to individuals through dispute resolution and problem-solving.
-
Long-term Care Ombudsmen: They are advocates for residents of nursing homes, board and care homes, and assisted living facilities. They provide information about long-term care and handle complaints related to these facilities.
-
University Ombuds: They help people to informally resolve conflict by facilitating communication to help all parties reach mutually satisfactory solutions. They operate independently and have no formal decision-making authority or disciplinary responsibilities.
Ombudsmen provide a channel for people to submit complaints against institutions (e.g., governments, businesses, organizations, news outlets, and schools) without influence from the accused. They conduct fair and unbiased investigations at no cost to the complainant, providing resolutions or mediation services.
