Monitoring arrangements for chaplaincy services 2009/10

The request was successful.

Dear Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust,

For 2009/10 I would be grateful if you could provide me with the following information about the way in which your chaplaincy service is monitored.

1. Does the Trust monitor the hours worked in return for payment? I would be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust holds on file for 2009/10 that shows this monitoring.

2. Does the Trust assure itself that the service provided is in line with S. 3b of the NHS Constitution in relation to equality legislation? I would be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust holds on file for 2009/10 or earlier, that shows how the Trust ensures that the service is delivered in line with the NHS Constitution commitment to equality (particularly gender and LGBT equality).

3. Does the Trust check whether patients are satisfied with the chaplaincy service? I would be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust holds on file for 2009/10, or any earlier period, that shows how patient satisfaction with chaplaincy services is measured.

4. Finally, I would also be grateful to know how the Trust is assured that all staff delivering chaplaincy services have CRB checks held on file.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter. It is very much appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

Robert Christian

FOI (RCD) FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ENQUIRIES, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

1 Attachment

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| | Freedom of|
| | Information Officer|
|Robert Christian | |
| | Strayside Wing|
| | |
| | Harrogate District|
|Response sent by email to: | Hospital|
|[1][FOI #46860 email] | |
| | Lancaster Park Road|
| | |
| | Harrogate HG2 7SX|
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |Direct Dial: (01423)|
| | 554429|
| | |
| | Direct Fax: (01423)|
| | 555806|
| | |
| | Email: |
| | [Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust request email]|
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Dear Mr Christian

Freedom of Information Request

Thank you for your recent request received under the Freedom of
Information Act to which I can provide the following response on behalf of
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

For the financial year 2009/10:

1. Does the Trust monitor the hours worked in return for payment? I would
be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust holds on file for
2009/10 that shows this monitoring.

The Trust's Chaplains are employed on the standard national contract
(Agenda for Change) which sets out their contractual hours of work. In
addition, our Chaplains provide an on-call service and there is a set
level of payment for the provision of the on-call service. Hours of work
and other contractual matters are regularly discussed at individual
meetings between our Chaplains and their Line Manager. No specific
records of hours' monitoring are kept. Individual claims for payment are
made for on-call purposes.

2. Does the Trust assure itself that the service provided is in line with
S. 3b of the NHS Constitution in relation to equality legislation? I would
be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust holds on file for
2009/10 or earlier, that shows how the Trust ensures that the service is
delivered in line with the NHS Constitution commitment to equality
(particularly gender and LGBT equality).

The Trust's Spiritual Care Policy sets outs that the Chaplains are
responsible for the spiritual care of patients and staff of all faiths and
none. The Chaplaincy Service also falls within the remit of the Trust's
Equality Schemes (which includes gender and LGBT equality). These are
available on the Trust's website www hdft.nhs.uk

In line with the requirements set out in these, the Chaplaincy Service
maintains a list of local faith leaders of all major world religions and a
local Humanist leader, who can be called upon at any time their services
are required.

3. Does the Trust check whether patients are satisfied with the chaplaincy
service? I would be grateful for a copy of any information that the Trust
holds on file for 2009/10, or any earlier period, that shows how patient
satisfaction with chaplaincy services is measured.

The Trust has not carried out a recent patient satisfaction survey
specifically on the Chaplaincy service, though patients are free to make
comments about any aspect of our services in a range of patient surveys
that the Trust carries out and takes part in.

Individual patient feedback (i.e. that received separately to formal
surveys in the form of letters, emails etc) has been overwhelmingly
positive about our Chaplaincy survey.

4. Finally, I would also be grateful to know how the Trust is assured that
all staff delivering chaplaincy services have CRB checks held on file.

Yes, all current CRB checks on the Trust's Chaplains are current and these
are monitored and updated in the same way as for all other staff. The
Trust did a full CRB re-check of staff last year.

Should you be dissatisfied with this response you are welcome to contact
me again for further information. In addition, under the terms of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 you are also able to make a formal
complaint regarding the handling of this information request. Your
complaint will be handled in accordance with the Foundation Trust's policy
on handling complaints. Your complaint should be put in writing and
addressed to the Chief Executive of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation
Trust at Harrogate District Hospital, Lancaster Park Road, Harrogate, HG2
7SX.

In addition, if you do not believe Harrogate and District NHS Foundation
Trust has dealt with your complaint properly, you may contact the
Information Commissioner. You should do this as soon as possible, or in
any case within two months following the final response of the Foundation
Trust. This can be done online at [2]www.ico.gov.uk or in writing to
FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution, Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe
House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Officer

show quoted sections

Robert Christian

Dear FOI,

Many thanks for your helpful response

Yours sincerely,

Robert Christian