Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Dear Madam

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information

Thank you for your information request dated 23 January 2022 and received on 24 January 2022. Our reference is FOI 2022-0063. This is being dealt with under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

We are considering your request. We may be in touch soon to ask for further clarification or to offer advice and assistance if we are not able to fulfil your request in its present form.

The legislation allows us up to 20 working days from the date that we receive a valid request, including any clarification we need to make a final response. We will be in touch within 20 working days of receipt of your initial request to provide our response or to seek clarification where necessary. We hope to give you the information you are looking for at an earlier date if possible.

The Council is under significant pressure to deliver only essential services whilst the current social isolation measures are in place within the UK. Whilst we have a legal obligation to respond to FOIs, EIRs and SARs, we are unlikely to be able to respond at present within the normal timescales and there will inevitably be some delays. We apologise for any inconvenience, although we are sure that you will fully understand the situation.

Regards

Katy Russell-Duff
Administrative Officer/FOI Co-ordinator
Corporate Services
Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY
Working from home on Tuesdays and Fridays

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Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Dear Madam

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information

I refer to your email dated 23 January 2022 and received on 24 January 2022, our reference is FOI 2022-0063.

I am pleased to give the information you requested and hope that it meets your requirements.

1. How many social workers have been working with children and families in your local authority over the last five years? Please provide total figures for 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/2022 to present. (These should be calculated as full-time equivalents).

Year Social Workers
2017-18 9
2018-19 9
2019-20 9
2020-21 10
2021-22 to date 8

2a. How many social workers working with children and families in your local authority have been absent due to long-term sickness – a period of sickness absence which lasts for 28 calendar days or more? Please provide figures for 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/2022 to present.

2b) How many of these long-term absences are due to stress?

Children and Families Social Workers with Long Term Sickness Absence
LTS/Stress
Year Long Term Sickness Stress Related LTS
2017-18 * *
2018-19 * *
2019-20 * *
2020-21 7 *
2021-22 * 0

As some of these figures are low, disclosure of this information would be unfair for the purpose of the first data protection principle and is exempt in terms of s.38(1)(b) read in conjunction with s.38(2A)(a) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. As such we have removed some of the answers to the questions asked. We hope you understand our position.

3. How many cases requiring the support of children and family social workers did deal with in your local authority over the last five years? Please provide total figures for 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/2022 to present.

Due to a technical error in the record system reporting function we are currently unable to answer this question. A resolution is being sought but this is unlikely to be resolved fully before June 2022.

This can be done manually but would involve manual counting and review of thousands of files. The timeframe for this would be at least 3 months, the cost for this would be 420 hours (35 hours x 12) x £15 per hour - £6,300) exceed the amount prescribed in Fee Regulations set out by Scottish Ministers (£600).

4. What has been the average caseload of children and family social workers for 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/2022 to present?

Due to a technical error in the record system reporting function we are currently unable to answer this question. A resolution is being sought but this is unlikely to be resolved fully before June 2022.

This can be done manually but would involve manual counting and review of thousands of files. The timeframe for this would be at least 3 months, the cost for this would be 420 hours (35 hours x 12) x £15 per hour - £6,300) exceed the amount prescribed in Fee Regulations set out by Scottish Ministers (£600).

Under FOISA, if you are dissatisfied with our response, you may ask the Council to review its handling of your request. If you wish to do this, you should make your request for review within 40 working days of receiving this email. Please make your request for review to Head of Legal Services, Council Offices, School Place, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY or email to [Orkney Islands Council request email]. Your request must be in permanent form (letter, email, audio tape etc) and should state:

That you are asking for a review of this decision, and
Why you are unhappy with the response you have received.

We will issue a full response to your request for review within 20 working days of our receiving it.

Where the outcome of the review fails to resolve the matter to your complete satisfaction, you then have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision. You have six months in which to do so following receipt of our review outcome – see www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal.

Regards

Sheila Tulloch
Solicitor
Chief Executive's Service
Orkney Islands Council, Council Offices, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1NY
Telephone: 01856 873535
www.orkney.gov.uk

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