Homelessness Assessments by NowMedical
Dear Lambeth Borough Council,
Please provide the following information:
1. Does Lambeth Borough Council have a relationship with NowMedical to provide medical assessments for homelessness/ housing assessments? Yes/ No
2. Does Lambeth Borough Council have a separate contract with NowMedical or are assessments commissioned on a case-to-case basis with NowMedical’s standard terms?
3. How many assessments per year have Lambeth Borough Council commissioned NowMedical to undertake in the last 5 financial years?
If possible, please provide a breakdown of whether such assessments were carried out to assess applications: (a) that a homeless individual was under priority need for accommodation under s189(1)(c) Housing Act 1996; (b) that it was unreasonable for an individual to continue occupying a property under s175(3) Housing Act 1996; (c) to assess the medical priority for re-housing under s166A (3) Housing Act 1996; or (d) other.
4. How much money did Lambeth Borough Council spend per year on assessments to NowMedical in the last 5 financial years?
5. If known, how many of those assessments were solely paper-based (i.e. the assessor did not speak directly to the individual concerned, either in person or through video/ telephone services)?
6. If known, how many initial decisions made by Lambeth Borough Council after a NowMedical assessment were found in favour of the individual who was assessed?
7. If known, how many individuals who had a NowMedical assessment subsequently successfully challenged that initial decision by Lambeth Borough Council (either by internal review or a legal challenge)?
Yours faithfully,
Philip Armitage
Information request
Our reference: IRN19764795
Your reference: [FOI #1014056 email]
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Dear Philip Armitage
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Thank you for your request for information that was received on 9 August
2023.
We are dealing with your request under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 and we aim to send a response by 7 September 2023.
In some case, a fee may be payable. If we decide a fee is payable, we will
send you a fee notice and we will require you to pay the fee before
proceeding with your request.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 may restrict the release of some or
all of the information you have requested. We will carry out an assessment
and if any exemptions apply to some or all of the information then we
might not provide that information to you. We will inform you if this is
the case and advise you of your rights to request an internal review and
to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
We will also advise you if we cannot provide you with the information
requested for any other reason together with the reason(s) why and details
of how you may appeal (if appropriate).
Yours faithfully
Ethan Buckland
Customer service advisor
FOI Team
London Borough of Lambeth
Tel. 02079269694
E-mail [1][email address]
Website: [2]www.lambeth.gov.uk
PO box 734
Winchester
SO235DX
Lambeth - a Co-operative Council
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Information request
Our reference: IRN19764795
Your reference: [FOI #1014056 email]
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Dear Sir/ Madam
Thank you for your request for information received on 9 August 2023.
Please find attached our response to your request.
Yours faithfully
Complaints and Information's Officer
FOI Team
London Borough of Lambeth
Website: [1]www.lambeth.gov.uk
P.O. Box 734
Winchester
S023 5DG
Lambeth - a Co-operative Council
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.
All Lambeth emails and attachments are private and intended solely for the
use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Unauthorised
use (disclosure, storage or copying) is not permitted. If you are not the
intended recipient please destroy all copies and inform the sender by
return email.
All Lambeth emails and attachments are confidential and intended solely
for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Some
emails may contain information that is legally-privileged or copyright
protected. Any views or opinions expressed in emails are solely those of
the author and do not necessarily represent those of Lambeth Council.
Unauthorised use (disclosure, storage or copying) of emails is not
permitted. If you are not the intended recipient please destroy all copies
and inform the sender by return email. Please note however, that
unencrypted emails sent to the council can be intercepted by an
unauthorised third party; as the information contained within is not
protected.
Lambeth Council reserves the right to monitor, record and retain any
incoming and outgoing emails for security reasons and for monitoring
internal compliance with the Council's policy on staff use. Although
software may be used to check, monitor and/or block the contents of emails
and attachments to identify the presence of malware; you are advised that
you open any attachments at your own risk.
As a public body, the Council may be required to disclose this email (or
any response to it) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 unless the
information in it is covered by an exemptions in the Act.
Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with
our [2]Privacy Notice.
Disclaimers apply - full details at [3]www.lambeth.gov.uk/email-disclaimer
References
Visible links
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2. https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/elections-and...
3. https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/email-disclai...
Dear Lambeth Borough Council,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Lambeth Borough Council's handling of my FOI request 'Homelessness Assessments by NowMedical'. This is on the following basis:
Response to Question 2 - please confirm that this means that Lambeth Borough Council instruct NowMedical on NowMedical's standard terms and conditions.
Response to Question 3 - it is not accepted that Lambeth Borough Council do not have any recorded information about how many assessments they have commissiond with NowMedical. In Lambeth Council's response to Question 2, the council confirm that NowMedical are commissioned on a "case-by-case basis" and, in response to Question 4, the council have provided the exact amount spent on assessments. it is therefore not accepted that Lambeth BC do not hold the information requested.
Response to Question 4 - it is queried that Lambeth Borough Council do not have this information on their system and therefore cannot respond to this question. This should be basic information to monitor the use of NowMedical. Please confirm if Lambeth Borough Council really do not have this information.
Response to Question 5 - it is not accepted that Lambeth Borough Council do not have this information. On their response to Question 2, the council are commissioning NowMedical on the company's standard terms which will confirm if the assessment is paper-based or if NowMedical are contacting the individual involved. Other councils using NowMedical have been able to provide this information.
Response to Question 6 - it is queried that Lambeth Borough Council do not have this information on their system and therefore cannot respond to this question. This should be basic information to monitor the performance of NowMedical. Please confirm if Lambeth Borough Council really do not have this information.
Response to Question 7 - it is queried that Lambeth Borough Council do not have this information on their system and therefore cannot respond to this question. This should be basic information to monitor the performance of NowMedical. Please confirm if Lambeth Borough Council really do not have this information.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...
Yours faithfully,
Philip Armitage
Information request
Our reference: IRN19764795
Your reference: [FOI #1014056 email]
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Dear Philip Armitage
Thank you for your request for a review received on 10 October 2023. I am
sorry that you are dissatisfied with our attempts to handle your request
under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
I can confirm that we are considering your concerns and we will aim to
provide you with a response by 7 November 2023.
Yours faithfully
Internal review team
London Borough of Lambeth
Website: [1]www.lambeth.gov.uk
P.O. Box 734 Winchester S023 5DG
Lambeth - a Co-operative Council
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.
All Lambeth emails and attachments are private and intended solely for the
use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Unauthorised
use (disclosure, storage or copying) is not permitted. If you are not the
intended recipient please destroy all copies and inform the sender by
return email.
All Lambeth emails and attachments are confidential and intended solely
for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Some
emails may contain information that is legally-privileged or copyright
protected. Any views or opinions expressed in emails are solely those of
the author and do not necessarily represent those of Lambeth Council.
Unauthorised use (disclosure, storage or copying) of emails is not
permitted. If you are not the intended recipient please destroy all copies
and inform the sender by return email. Please note however, that
unencrypted emails sent to the council can be intercepted by an
unauthorised third party; as the information contained within is not
protected.
Lambeth Council reserves the right to monitor, record and retain any
incoming and outgoing emails for security reasons and for monitoring
internal compliance with the Council's policy on staff use. Although
software may be used to check, monitor and/or block the contents of emails
and attachments to identify the presence of malware; you are advised that
you open any attachments at your own risk.
As a public body, the Council may be required to disclose this email (or
any response to it) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 unless the
information in it is covered by an exemptions in the Act.
Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with
our [2]Privacy Notice.
Disclaimers apply - full details at [3]www.lambeth.gov.uk/email-disclaimer
References
Visible links
1. http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/
2. https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/elections-and...
3. https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/email-disclai...
Information request
Our reference: IRN19764795
Your reference: [FOI #1014056 email]
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Dear Sir/Madam
Thank you for your Internal Review request. Please find attached our
response.
Yours faithfully
Internal review team
London Borough of Lambeth
Website: [1]www.lambeth.gov.uk
P.O. Box 734 Winchester S023 5DG
Lambeth - a Co-operative Council
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.
All Lambeth emails and attachments are private and intended solely for the
use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Unauthorised
use (disclosure, storage or copying) is not permitted. If you are not the
intended recipient please destroy all copies and inform the sender by
return email.
All Lambeth emails and attachments are confidential and intended solely
for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Some
emails may contain information that is legally-privileged or copyright
protected. Any views or opinions expressed in emails are solely those of
the author and do not necessarily represent those of Lambeth Council.
Unauthorised use (disclosure, storage or copying) of emails is not
permitted. If you are not the intended recipient please destroy all copies
and inform the sender by return email. Please note however, that
unencrypted emails sent to the council can be intercepted by an
unauthorised third party; as the information contained within is not
protected.
Lambeth Council reserves the right to monitor, record and retain any
incoming and outgoing emails for security reasons and for monitoring
internal compliance with the Council's policy on staff use. Although
software may be used to check, monitor and/or block the contents of emails
and attachments to identify the presence of malware; you are advised that
you open any attachments at your own risk.
As a public body, the Council may be required to disclose this email (or
any response to it) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 unless the
information in it is covered by an exemptions in the Act.
Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with
our [2]Privacy Notice.
Disclaimers apply - full details at [3]www.lambeth.gov.uk/email-disclaimer
References
Visible links
1. http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/
2. https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/elections-and...
3. https://www.lambeth.gov.uk/email-disclai...
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