Children's Services

Human Resources

8^th Floor West Merrion House

110 Merrion Centre

Leeds LS2 8ET

Ms Charlotte Quinn

[FOI #13415 email]

Contact: Paul Harris

Tel: 0113 247 7195

Fax: 0113 2478414

[email address]

Our reference: 2-5A20CO

Date: 21^st August 2009

Dear Ms Quinn

I am responding to your request for an internal review of Leeds City Council's handling of your FOI request 'Recruitment of Social Workers'.

I am the Investigating Officer for your FOI complaint. I am the Deputy Head of HR in Children's Services and therefore have some familiarity with Leeds City Council's recruitment and selection policies and the recruitment of social workers.

In reviewing your request I have considered the following issues:

In relation to delay in receiving your original response I uphold your complaint on this issue. My understand for the delay was as a result of administrative shortcomings within the service area which have now been addressed and all staff have been re-issued the procedures for dealing with requests and reminded of their obligations under the Freedom of Information Act. I would hope future responses will be responded to in the appropriate timescales. An apology was given in your original response and I again apologise for the delay.

I have reviewed the content of the response you received to your original enquiry. The response accurately covers the processes for recruiting social workers. The authority does not have a specific policy for Social Workers and they are covered by its general Recruitment and Selection policy. Because of the nature of their work applicants are subject to some additional checks in relation to Criminal Records Bureau (CRBs) and registration and eligibility with the General Social Care Council. The Authority provides detailed advice about recruiting staff to managers and this outlines the principles in assessing candidates and the options available to staff for both shortlist and interviewing

The Authority does not issue specific guidelines on the timescales for interviewing staff following interviews. Interview files are generally for unsuccessful candidates are retained for 6 months.

You have raised in your complaint that other authorities have provided you with supporting documentation when responding to your FOI. I agree that this would have been helpful if this had been provided with your original response. I have attached to my response the full supporting documentation available to managers in Leeds City Council along with Authority's Recruitment and Selection policy. This includes the internal guidance to managers on various aspects of the recruitment process including shortlisting.

In summary I acknowledge that the response to your FOI was delayed for the reasons outlined. I also agree that you should have been provided with supporting information outlining Leeds City Council's Recruitment and Selection policy and I have provided this as a result of my investigation.

If you are not content with the outcome of this internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Paul Harris

Deputy Head of HR

www.leeds.gov.uk 0113 222 4444