Use of predictive models in children's social care

The request was partially successful.

Dear Suffolk County Council,

In June 2019, researchers from the University of Essex's Catalyst Project presented on two predictive tools they were developing together with Suffolk County Council (see here: http://www.essex.ac.uk/-/media/documents...
-One tool was used to help assess safeguarding referrals
-The other tool was used to identify children in need who are at 'high risk' of going into care

I am seeking the following information in relation to these tools:
(1) Documents describing the current and planned future deployment of the tools: Are the tools still being trialled or developed? Has either tool been deployed in the Council's decision-making? If so, to what extent and in what ways? Are there plans to deploy these tools in the future?

(2) Any assessments or evaluations of either tool, in respect of development, trials or full deployment.

(3) Any policy, guidance, educational or training documents regarding the tools or how staff are to use the tools.

(4) Any equality impact assessments or data protection impact assessments in respect of the tools.

Yours faithfully,

Jack Maxwell

Freedom of Information, Suffolk County Council

INFORMATION REQUEST – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Thank you for your request. Please quote reference number 19929 in any future correspondence you may have with us.

We will process your request in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 as appropriate. We aim to answer your request within 20 working days from the date we received it.

While no charges are made for the submission of requests, the council is entitled to apply reasonable costs for disbursements (i.e. photocopying, postage etc.).  Where such costs are under £5.00 the council is pleased to make no charge, however, if costs exceed that limit then these additional costs are payable to the council.  Where charges will apply proper notice will be given to you prior to the information being released.  For more information on charges please use the following link to our website: http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/about/freedom-...

If you have any queries about this request do not hesitate to contact us.  Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Kind regards

Tanya
Information Governance
Governance, Legal and Assurance
Suffolk County Council
Constantine House
Ipswich
IP1 2DH

Email: [email address]
Phone: 01473 265138

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Freedom of Information, Suffolk County Council

1 Attachment

INFORMATION REQUEST RESPONSE

Thank you for your request for information, reference number 19929. Please quote this in any future correspondence you may have with us.

Please find attached a copy of our response to the information you requested.

Most information supplied by Suffolk County Council will have been produced within the Council and will continue to be protected by copyright.  You are free to use it for your own purposes, including for private study and non-commercial research, and for any other purpose authorised by an exception in current copyright law.  Documents (except photographs) can be also used in the UK without requiring permission for the purposes of news reporting.  Any other reuse, for example commercial publication, would require the permission of the copyright holder.

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If you are dissatisfied with the way your request has been handled, you have the right to ask for an internal review.  Under Regulation 11(2), internal review requests should be submitted within 40 working days of the date of this letter and should be sent to: Information Management Services, Constantine House, Constantine Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2DH or, alternatively, by email at [email address].

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

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

Kind regards
Becky

Information Governance
Governance, Legal and Assurance
Suffolk County Council
Constantine House
Ipswich
IP1 2DH

Email: [email address]
Phone: 01473 265960

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Dear Suffolk County Council,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Suffolk County Council's handling of my FOI request 'Use of predictive models in children's social care'.

I received some general information from the Council, but it did not provide all of the information I requested. Specifically:
(1) I requested any assessments or evaluations of the tools. The Council's response stated that '[t]here was assessment of the potential for the tool if it had been possible to develop a working model', but did not provide a copy of that assessment. Please provide a copy of that assessment.

(2) I requested any equality impact assessments or data protection impact assessments in respect of the tools. The Council's response state that '[a] DPIA was written to support the project work', but did not provide a copy of that DPIA. Please provide a copy of that DPIA.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/u...

Yours faithfully,

Jack Maxwell

Freedom of Information, Suffolk County Council

Dear Mr Maxwell
 
We are sorry that you are unhappy with the response to your access to information request 19929.
 
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) we will conduct an internal review of our response. As determined by the Information Commissioner as best practice we aim to complete your internal review within 20 working days.

Kind regards
Becky

Information Governance
Governance, Legal and Assurance
Suffolk County Council
Constantine House
Ipswich
IP1 2DH

Email: [email address]
Phone: 01473 265960

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Freedom of Information, Suffolk County Council

3 Attachments

Dear Mr Maxwell,

Thank you for your correspondence on 19 November, 2020 where you requested an Internal Review following your request for information about 19929.

Your concerns were:

“I received some general information from the Council, but it did not provide all of the information I requested. Specifically:
(1) I requested any assessments or evaluations of the tools. The Council's response stated that '[t]here was assessment of the potential for the tool if it had been possible to develop a working model', but did not provide a copy of that assessment. Please provide a copy of that assessment.

(2) I requested any equality impact assessments or data protection impact assessments in respect of the tools. The Council's response state that '[a] DPIA was written to support the project work', but did not provide a copy of that DPIA. Please provide a copy of that DPIA.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/u...

Having now conducted a formal review of your request, I can confirm that our response to your request (ref 19929) Is overturned.

Accordingly, I believe that the Council partially met the requirements of the legislation in response to your request and offer our apologies. Please find attached the remaining information that should have been sent to you.

Of necessity this response has to include reference to legislation. If anything is unclear please do not hesitate to contact us.

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

Kind regards

Gillian Carlton

Information Governance
Governance, Legal and Assurance
Suffolk County Council
Constantine House
Ipswich
IP1 2DH

Email: [email address]
Phone: 01473 265084

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