Fraudulent references

The request was partially successful.

Dear Swindon Borough Council,

1. How many employees did your org appoint between 1 Jan 2014 – 31 Dec 2014?

2. How many of them are still being employed by your org?

3. Do you ask all referees to state their relationship with the applicants on the reference form?

4. If the answer to question 3 is yes, how many referees did not state their relationship in their references, of those who are still working with your org (question 2)?

5. Please provide a breakdown of these employees by department, division and pay grade.

6. Have you followed up why the information was missing? If so, what was the explanation?

7. If the answer to question 6 is negative, would you be investigating this matter further?

8. What actions are you going to take if you find that the information was deliberately omitted?

9. Do you have a section where an employee can explain extenuating circumstances (dismissal, sickness, etc) on the application form?

10. Is it possible to interview the employees identified under question 4 as part of the research?

11. If the answer to question 10 is negative, who should I speak to, to appeal against the decision. Please supply the name, the job title and email of this person.

Yours faithfully,

Anna Marsh

Dear Swindon Borough Council,

Reason for data request; I am about to start my CIPD dissertation on fraudulent reference in the local authorities in the South West region. My research will focus on the omission of information on work references submitted by the employees and/or their referees as part of their application to conceal information

Yours faithfully,

Anna Marsh

Customer Services, Swindon Borough Council

Thank you for your email which has been forwarded to the FOI office for response.

Kind regards

Customer Services
Swindon Borough Council
Wat Tyler House
Swindon SN1 2JG
Phone: 01793 445500

E-mail: [Swindon Borough Council request email]
Website: www.swindon.gov.uk

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Customer Services, Swindon Borough Council

Thank you for your email which has been forwarded to the FOI office for response.

Kind regards

Customer Services
Swindon Borough Council
Wat Tyler House
Swindon SN1 2JG
Phone: 01793 445500

E-mail: [Swindon Borough Council request email]
Website: www.swindon.gov.uk

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Dear Swindon Borough Council,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Swindon Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'Fraudulent references'.

You failed to respond within 20 days and I am requesting for an internal review for full answers and a review on the delay.

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

Yours faithfully,

Anna Marsh

Customer Services, Swindon Borough Council

Thank you for your email which has been forwarded to the FOI office for response.

Kind regards

Customer Services
Swindon Borough Council
Wat Tyler House
Swindon SN1 2JG
Phone: 01793 445500

E-mail: [Swindon Borough Council request email]
Website: www.swindon.gov.uk

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Sharon Druett, Swindon Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Marsh,

Ref: FOI Freedom of Information Request Complaint

 

Thank you for your reminder below, please find the attached response as
requested. The Council takes its responsibilities under the Freedom of
Information Act very seriously and we apologise for the delay in
responding to your request, that was due on 13th April, 2015.

 

The complaints / review procedure has two stages. Initially, it involves a
full review by me, to establish why the information was not sent to you
within the statutory 20-day period. I have been in contact with the
Officers concerned and I understand in this case, the reason for the delay
was caused by staff shortages and an increase in workload.

 

If this has not resolved this matter to your satisfaction, you also have
the option of referring it to the Council’s Monitoring Officer, Stephen
Taylor, Director of Law and Democratic Services. 

 

If you are not content with the outcome of our conclusion, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner's Office for a decision, before
we have completed our investigation. Generally, the ICO cannot make a
decision unless you have exhausted the Council's own complaints procedure.

 

The Information Officer can be contacted at:

 

The Information Commissioner's Office,

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Email: [email address]

Tel: 01625 545700 (ask for Freedom of Information)

 

If you require any further information concerning this matter, please
contact me as detailed.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Sharon Druett

Sharon Druett ([email address])
Freedom of Information Officer
Law and Democratic Services
Swindon Borough Council
Tel: 01793 463377
Fax: 01793 463405
Web: www.swindon.gov.uk

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

 

 

 

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