Number of Staff - DHSC, Noble's, 0-Hours,

Summary

A Freedom of Information request to the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care sought staff numbers for the department, Noble's Hospital, and zero-hours contracts, as well as data on qualified nursing staff. The authority disclosed total staff figures and zero-hours contract details but refused to provide specific numbers for qualified nursing staff due to data limitations.

Key Facts

• The Department of Health and Social Care employs 2,857 staff members.
• Noble's Hospital has 798 staff members.
• 1,397 staff members are employed on zero-hours contracts, with 805 having additional contracted hours and 592 solely on zero-hours.
• Information on qualified nursing staff was refused because the HR system cannot distinguish nurses from allied health professionals or identify those not carrying out nursing duties.
• The response data is accurate as of 17 March 2017.

Data Disclosed

• 2,857
• 798
• 1,397
• 805
• 592
• 2017-02-23
• 2017-03-21
• 2017-03-17
• Section 11 (3)(a)

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11 (3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (practical refusal reason)

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Health and Social Care

Rheynn Slaynt as Kiarail y Theay

Page 3 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/rvsd/01

Freedom of Information Team Department of Health & Social Care Chief Executive’s Office Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 3QA Tel: Email: Website: Date: FOI Reference: (01624) 642621 foi.dhsc@gov.im www.gov.im/dhsc 21 March 2017 IM79-056i

Dear

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Thank you for your request to the Department of Health and Social Care, dated 23 Feb 2017. Your request You asked for: Question 01: “Can you please advise the number of staff employed by the Department” Question 02: “The number of full time staff at Nobles Hospital” Question 03: “The number of staff employed on a zero hours contract” Question 04: “The number of qualified staff employed by the Department”

Following supplementary communication with you we were able to clarify that this was to refer to any staff who may be “a nurse or carry out nursing duties” Question 05: “The number of qualified nursing staff on zero hours contracts”

Response to your request While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested; the reasons and statutory exemption sections are shown as part of the corresponding answers below. However, we are pleased to be able to provide a response to your request with three of the above questions. All three of these responses are correct as of 17 March 2017.

Question 01: Can you please advise the number of staff employed by the Department In response to Question 01, we can confirm that the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) employ 2,857 members of staff. Question 02: The number of full time staff at Nobles Hospital In response to Question 02, we can confirm that there are 798 members of staff at Noble’s Hospital. Question 03: The number of staff employed on a zero hours contract. In response to Question 03, we can confirm there are 1,397 members of staff employed on “zero hours contracts”; 805 of those also have additional contracted hours, and the remaining 592 are solely contracted on zero hours. Question 04: The number of qualified staff employed by the Department.
Supplementary communication with you clarified that Question 04 was to refer to any staff who may be “a nurse or carry out nursing duties”. Whilst our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the specific information to answer your question and we must refuse this request under Section 11 (3)(a) of the Act (practical refusal reason). We were unable to find this information for you as the group used by our HR system that would include “a nurse or carry out nursing duties” would also include allied health professionals. In addition, we identified that some nursing staff are not necessarily ‘qualified’ and that there may be managerial level nurses who, whilst qualified, are not carrying out nursing duties. Question 05: The number of qualified nursing staff on zero hours contracts For the same as in Question 04, whilst our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the specific information to answer your question and we must refuse this request under Section 11 (3)(a) of the Act (practical refusal reason).
Your right to request a review
If you are unhappy with this response to your Freedom of Information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post to the FOI Co-ordinator, Department of Health & Social Care, Chief Executive’s Officer, Crookall House, Demesne Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3QA. An electronic version and paper version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/how-to- make-a-freedom-of-information-request/ . Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on:

1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act; or
2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
   In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision.
   Further information about Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at: www.inforights.im/information-centre/freedom-of-information. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Yours Sincerely

Freedom of Information Team Department of Health and Social Care