Dear Mr Paul

RE: FLEXIBLE WORKING AT NEWHAM PCT

REF: 08/FOI/126

Further to your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act I am providing the information we hold.

During the implementation of the NHS `Improving Working Lives' initiative in 2004/5 the Trust - led by HR - ran a series of road shows for our staff regarding IWL initiatives and the right to request flexible working.

There is evidence across the Trust of many and varied flexible working patterns within teams - however we are unable to quote numbers of staff who have requested flexible working since this happens at a local departmental level and it's administration is at devolved level.

We are able to tell you that we employ 1209 employees (headcount) in 1070 established posts indicating that we have many employees working part-time, alternating shift patterns etc.

We also have many Bank (casual) workers who work a variety of hours.

On payroll we have a variety of hours worked by staff ranging from 6 hours per week to the maximum of 37.5 hours per week.

HR are not aware of any parents or carers who have been refused their right to apply for and be granted flexible working to enable them to balance their work and home responsibilities. We regularly advise managers regarding employee rights and their line management responsibilities to consider flexible working requests.

I trust that this will be helpful to you in your research.

Yours sincerely

Wendy Thomas

Director of Nursing & Corporate Services