Dear Mr Elliott,

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Request for Information

Thank you for your e-mail requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which we received on 25th March 2010. It is our intention to have the information delivered to you by 26th April 2010.

I would like to inform you that all requests submitted under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 might be subject to exemption(s), which the Authority is entitled to apply to refuse the request.

In some cases the Authority may also ask that a fee be paid for processing and delivering the information to you. Details of any fee to be charged, if applicable, will be notified to you as soon as possible.

Any future correspondence you may have in relation to this matter should be marked Private & Confidential and sent to the Freedom of Information Officer, Information Compliance Unit, County Hall, Wakefield WF1 2QW or e-mailed to [Wakefield City Council request email].

Yours sincerely
Galina Smithson
Freedom of Information Officer
Room 51, County Hall
Bond Street
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF1 2QW
Tel 01924 306112
e-mail: [email address]

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Dear Mr Elliott,

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Request for Information

I am writing in respect of your recent enquiry for information held by the Authority under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

I can confirm that the Council holds the information you require. However, the information is exempt under section 43(2) which relates to the information which, if released, would be likely to prejudice commercial interests of the Council and the third party. This is a qualified exemption and as such is subject to a public interest test. This is where the Authority needs to balance the public interest in withholding the information against the public interest in making it available.

It is sometimes necessary to extend consideration of the public interest test beyond the statutory 20 working days. I have to advise you that on this occasion the time limit for responding to your request must be extended. The decision will be taken by the Council's Exemptions Panel and assisted by the Council's Freedom of Information Officer. I will write to you again notifying you of the decision taken by the Panel along with the reasons for refusals if the information is not going to be released by no later than 25th May 2010.

If you have any queries regarding this letter please contact me on the above number or e-mail. Alternatively you can send your correspondence (marked Private & Confidential) to the Freedom of Information Officer, Room 51, County Hall, Wakefield WF1 2QW.

Yours sincerely
Galina Smithson
Freedom of Information Officer
Room 51, County Hall
Bond Street
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF1 2QW
Tel 01924 306112
e-mail: [email address]

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Dear Mr Elliott,

Freedom of Information Act 2000 - Request for Information

Thank you for your request for information about use of Agency Social Work
Professionals which we received on 24th March 2010.  Your request has been
considered under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Following careful consideration, I can inform you that we have decided not
to disclose some of the information.

I enclose a copy of the information which can be disclosed:

Question 1. A copy of the MATRIX, "Neutral Vendor", contract and fee
schedules for recruitment to Wakefield Council - Please see the PDF
document attached.

Questions 2. All agencies on the MATRIX contract for the supply of social 
workers, senior practitioners, assistant team managers, team managers and
service managers (referred to from now as "qualified social work
professionals") to Wakefield Council (see attached Social Care Qualified
Suppliers report)

Question 3. All agencies currently supplying Wakefield Council with agency
social work professionals - The attached report-Wakefield Council
suppliers Social Care Qualified, will cover this question as well.

Question 4 - there are currently 14 enabled placements for Qualified
Social Workers

Question 5 - the number and grade of qualified social work professionals
currently working on an agency basis at Wakefield Council by supplier -
Please note that there are no grades associated with these appointments,
but rate per hour.  (See attached Spreadsheet) 

Question 6. The number and grade of qualified social work professionals
currently working on an agency basis at Wakefield Council by department -
Please note that there are no grades associated with these appointments,
but rate per hour.   (See attached Spreadsheet) 

Question 7. The pay and agency charge rate of each qualified social work
professional currently working on an agency basis at Wakefield Council by
department (Job Title Rates report attached with council pay rates for
Social Care Qualified roles).

Please note that the information being withheld as it falls under the
exemption in section 43(2) which applies to prejudice to commercial
interests of the Council or another person under the Freedom of
Information Act.

Question 8. The fiscal budget for qualified social work professional
recruitment through agencies for 2009-2010 - (See attached Spreadsheet)  

Question 9. The fiscal budget for qualified social work professional -
(See attached Spreadsheet)  

Question 10. The total fiscal spend on agency qualified social work
professionals by department for the last 12 months - Data attached by
department for the period 6th April 2009 – 4th April 2010

Question 11. The total fiscal spend on agency qualified social work
professionals by agency for the last 12 months - (See attached
Spreadsheet) .   Please note that the breakdown of the information is
being withheld as it falls under the exemption in section 43(2) which
applies to prejudice to commercial interests of the Council or another
person under the Freedom of Information Act.

In applying this exemption we have had to balance the public interest in
withholding the information against the public interest in disclosure. 
The factors we considered in deciding where the public interest lay are
transparency, openness and accountability of the decision making. However,
the information contains the supplier charge and pricing, the release of
which (as well as any specific operational practices) would be likely to
prejudice the companies' commercial interests.

In all the circumstances of this case we have concluded that the public
interest in withholding the information is greater than disclosing it.

If you are unhappy with the way the authority has handled your request,
you may ask for an internal review.  Please contact Information Compliance
Officer, Room 51, County Hall, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 2QW or e-mail
on [email address] who will arrange an internal review of your case. 
Under Regulation 11(2) this needs to be done no later than 40 working days
after the date of this letter (insert time limit).

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

SK9 5AF.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me on the above
number / e-mail.  Alternatively you can direct your correspondence in
relation to this matter (marked Private & Confidential) to the Freedom of
Information Officer, Room 41, County Hall, Wakefield WF1 2QW.

Yours sincerely

Julian Rogan

Principal Information Officer
Information Compliance Services
Democratic Services
Legal and Democratic Services
City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
Room 50
County Hall
Wakefield
WF1 2QW
[email address]
Tel:   01924 305288
Fax:  01924 305383
[1]http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/

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