A select committee has been told that Child, Youth and Family's complaints process is laborious, time-consuming and ultimately ineffective.
A complainant, Graeme Axford, says his complaint to the service's advisory panel in 2009 was upheld but no one was held responsible and still nothing has changed.
Currently people can complain to that panel, the Social Worker Registration Panel or the Ombudsman.
But Mr Axford says that is exhausting and usually fruitless.
Former police commissioner Howard Broad is currently leading an inquiry which is considering whether to set up an external independent body for complaints.
Mr Axford says that would be a good solution.
