Use of Outsourcing within Social Services

The request was partially successful.

Dear Brent Borough Council,

1. Do you currently outsource any part of your social work / care management service to a private organisation, either in adult or childrens services? If so what part/s of the service are you outsourcing?

2. Are you currently considering outsourcing any part of your social work / care management service to a private organisation, either in adult or childrens services? If so what part/s of the service are you considering outsourcing?

3. Where do you advertise upcoming contract opportunities for social work recruitment and/or for the outsourcing of social work services?

4. If there is a contract in place, what is the end date for your current contract for social work recruitment? (this contract may also cover various additional job types depending on how it is managed) At the end date what are the extension options with the current provider (if any) or will there be a tender opportunity for additional suppliers?

Yours faithfully,

Olivia Pogson

Stephen F Williams, Brent Borough Council

Brent Council - INFORMATION REQUEST

Our Reference: 704160
====================================================

Dear Ms. Pogson

Thank you for your request for information received on 2 December 2010. We
aim to respond to your request within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely

Stephen F Williams,
for Brent ITU
[Brent Borough Council request email]

--
The use of Brent Council's e-mail system may be monitored and communications read in order to secure effective operation of the system and other lawful purposes.

Dear Stephen F Williams,

Sorry I forgot to include the below question;

What does it cost the Local Authority on average to advertise one Childrens Services social work vacancy?

Yours sincerely,

Olivia Pogson

Adrian Hobbs, Brent Borough Council

Brent Council - INFORMATION REQUEST

Our Reference: 705503
====================================================

Dear Ms. Pogson,

Your request for information has now been considered and the information
requested is enclosed.

Request summary:

(1. Do you currently outsource any part of your social work / care
management service to a private organisation, either in adult or
childrens services? If so what part/s of the service are you
outsourcing?

2. Are you currently considering outsourcing any part of your
social work / care management service to a private organisation,
either in adult or childrens services? If so what part/s of the
service are you considering outsourcing?

3. Where do you advertise upcoming contract opportunities for
social work recruitment and/or for the outsourcing of social work
services?

4. If there is a contract in place, what is the end date for your
current contract for social work recruitment? (this contract may
also cover various additional job types depending on how it is
managed) At the end date what are the extension options with the
current provider (if any) or will there be a tender opportunity for
additional suppliers?) Responded 06/12/2010

Sorry I forgot to include the below question;

What does it cost the Local Authority on average to advertise one
Childrens Services social work vacancy?

It depends where it is advertised: internet, intranet, local press,
national trade journals or national daily. It also depends on the size and
colours used in the advert. One single answer is not possible

Please note that the information provided may be subject to copyright and
you may require further permission from the Council to re-use it. If you
require further guidance please write to the IT Standards Manager (contact
details below).

If you are dissatisfied with the response or how the Council has handled
your request you can complain to the Council by writing to the following
address: IT Standards Manager at Brent Council,Floor 5, 349-357 High Road,
Wembley HA9 6BZ, telephone 020 8937 1402, e-mail [Brent Borough Council request email]. It is
the Council's policy to ensure that, where practicable, your complaint is
dealt with by someone who was not involved in the original decision.

You also have a right of appeal about our decision to the Information
Commissioner, however, the Information Commissioner will not normally
consider an appeal until you have exhausted your rights of redress and
complaint to the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted as
follows:
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire SK9 5AF; Telephone: 01625 545 700,
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
As part of our commitment to improve our service to our customers we would
welcome any feedback on the way that we have dealt with your request.

Yours sincerely

Adrian Hobbs,
Freedom of Information and Systems Support Officer

Phone: 020 8937 4597
[email address]

--
The use of Brent Council's e-mail system may be monitored and communications read in order to secure effective operation of the system and other lawful purposes.

Dear Adrian Hobbs,

We are still awaiting a response from the below request

Yours sincerely,

Olivia Pogson

Adrian Hobbs, Brent Borough Council

Brent Council - INFORMATION REQUEST

Our Reference: 705503
====================================================

Dear Ms. Pogson,

Your request for information has now been considered and the information
requested is enclosed.

Request summary:

1. Do you currently outsource any part of your social work / care

management service to a private organisation, either in adult or

childrens services? If so what part/s of the service are you

outsourcing?

There is a Barnardo's family support project.

2. Are you currently considering outsourcing any part of your

social work / care management service to a private organisation,

either in adult or childrens services? If so what part/s of the

service are you considering outsourcing?

No

3. Where do you advertise upcoming contract opportunities for

social work recruitment and/or for the outsourcing of social work

services?

Depends on type of post and type of contract- internet or trade journal or
Guardian

4. If there is a contract in place, what is the end date for your

current contract for social work recruitment? (this contract may

also cover various additional job types depending on how it is

managed) At the end date what are the extension options with the

current provider (if any) or will there be a tender opportunity for
additional suppliers?)

Barnardos - 10yr contract -8yr remaining

Sorry I forgot to include the below question;

What does it cost the Local Authority on average to advertise one
Childrens Services social work vacancy?

Response: It depends where it is advertised: internet, intranet, local
press, national trade journals or national daily. It also depends on
the size and colours used in the advert. One single answer is not
possible.

Please note that the information provided may be subject to copyright and
you may require further permission from the Council to re-use it. If you
require further guidance please write to the IT Standards Manager (contact
details below).

If you are dissatisfied with the response or how the Council has handled
your request you can complain to the Council by writing to the following
address: IT Standards Manager at Brent Council,Floor 5, 349-357 High Road,
Wembley HA9 6BZ, telephone 020 8937 1402, e-mail [Brent Borough Council request email]. It is
the Council's policy to ensure that, where practicable, your complaint is
dealt with by someone who was not involved in the original decision.

You also have a right of appeal about our decision to the Information
Commissioner, however, the Information Commissioner will not normally
consider an appeal until you have exhausted your rights of redress and
complaint to the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted as
follows:
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire SK9 5AF; Telephone: 01625 545 700,
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
As part of our commitment to improve our service to our customers we would
welcome any feedback on the way that we have dealt with your request.

Yours sincerely

Adrian Hobbs,
Freedom of Information and Systems Support Officer

Phone: 020 8937 4597
[email address]

--
The use of Brent Council's e-mail system may be monitored and communications read in order to secure effective operation of the system and other lawful purposes.

Stephen F Williams, Brent Borough Council

Brent Council - INFORMATION REQUEST

Our Reference: 704160
====================================================

Dear Ms. Pogson,

Your request for information has now been considered and the information
requested is below.

Please accepy mu apologies for the delayed response.

You asked:

1. Do you currently outsource any part of your social work / care
management service to a private organisation, either in adult or
childrens services? If so what part/s of the service are you
outsourcing?

We only outsource one aspect of our family assessment service through a
Barnardo's partnership

2. Are you currently considering outsourcing any part of your
social work / care management service to a private organisation,
either in adult or childrens services? If so what part/s of the
service are you considering outsourcing?

No

3. Where do you advertise upcoming contract opportunities for
social work recruitment and/or for the outsourcing of social work
services?

SW recruitment in professional journals or the Guardian

4. If there is a contract in place, what is the end date for your
current contract for social work recruitment? (this contract may
also cover various additional job types depending on how it is
managed) At the end date what are the extension options with the
current provider (if any) or will there be a tender opportunity for
additional suppliers?

N/A

Please note that the information provided may be subject to copyright and
you may require further permission from the Council to re-use it. If you
require further guidance please write to the IT Standards Manager (contact
details below).

If you are dissatisfied with the response or how the Council has handled
your request you can complain to the Council by writing to the following
address: IT Standards Manager at Brent Council,Floor 5, 349-357 High Road,
Wembley HA9 6BZ, telephone 020 8937 1402, e-mail [Brent Borough Council request email]. It is
the Council's policy to ensure that, where practicable, your complaint is
dealt with by someone who was not involved in the original decision.

You also have a right of appeal about our decision to the Information
Commissioner, however, the Information Commissioner will not normally
consider an appeal until you have exhausted your rights of redress and
complaint to the Council. The Information Commissioner can be contacted as
follows:
Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire SK9 5AF; Telephone: 01625 545 700,
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Stephen F Williams,
for Brent ITU
[Brent Borough Council request email]

--
The use of Brent Council's e-mail system may be monitored and communications read in order to secure effective operation of the system and other lawful purposes.