Statistics

Summary

The requester asked for statistics on the number of Department of Education, Sport and Culture staff who work from home, but the authority confirmed it does not hold this specific data. The subsequent internal review upheld the refusal, noting the diversity of working practices across the department and providing a link to general homeworking guidelines instead.

Key Facts

• The Department of Education, Sport and Culture does not hold statistics on how many staff work from home.
• The authority conducted a reasonable search but could not find the requested information.
• Working practices vary significantly across different areas of the department, including schools, UCM, and the Youth Service.
• The internal review outcome was 'Not upheld', confirming the initial refusal.
• The authority provided a link to the 'Homeworking Guidelines' as advice and assistance.

Data Disclosed

• 2024-06-18
• 2024-07-10
• 2024-08-13
• 3925925
• 1 day
• 5 days
• 5 pages
• 2 documents

Original Request

I would like to know how many people in Education in any role can or do work from home. So if someone works from home 1 day up to 5 days a week a week i would like them to be included in the statistics.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS

Telephone: (01624) 685808
Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im

Our ref: 3925925 13 August 2024

Dear ###

Information requested by: ###

Summary of Process 1. Request received: 18/06/2024 2. Response sent: 10/07/2024 2. Review requested:10/07/2024

Review of Response

In your communication to Department of Education, Sport and Culture dated 10 July 2024, you raised the following issues:

I would like to know how many people in Education in any role can or do work from home. So if someone works from home 1 day up to 5 days a week a week I would like them to be included in the statistics.

Statutory Considerations 1. Did the public authority respond to your request within the required timescales? 2. Did the public authority provide the information requested? 3. Did the public authority conduct a reasonable search for the information? 4. If the public authority did not provide the information because of the application of a practical refusal reason, was the refusal clear? 5. If the public authority applied an exemption was it correct and was it explained? 6. Did the public authority offer appropriate advice and assistance? 7. Did the public authority advise you of the internal review process and your right of appeal to the Information Commissioner?

Outcomes 1. Yes, the public authority answered your request within the statutory time limit.

1. No, the public authority did not provide the information requested and did not seek further clarification of what was required. Due to the information not being held.
2. Did the public authority conduct a reasonable search for the information? Yes
3. The application of a practical refusal reason was clear
4. The public authority applied exemption(s) correctly and they were explained: no exemption was necessary.
5. No, the public authority did not offer appropriate advice or seek to obtain further clarification of the uncertainty of what was requested.
6. Yes the public authority did advise the requester of the internal review process and their right of appeal to the Information Commissioner.

Specific Issues you raised “I would like to see if I can get any information on this at all, for instance can you tell me if anybody is allowed or has the option to work from home.”

Decision While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

By way of advice and assistance, areas across the Department of Education Sport and Culture have different working practices, it is so diverse from schools, UCM, Villa/Gaiety, NSC, Youth Service etc.

Please find a link below to the Homeworking Guidelines:
https://hr.gov.im/media/1860/homeworking-guidelines-august-2020-v2-w-pdf- formfinal.pdf

The final decision of this review is that it your complaint is not upheld.

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 2015; 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. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

Yours sincerely

Policy, Strategy and Governance Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Thie Slieau Whallian Foxdale Road St Johns IM4 3AS

Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im

Our ref: 3925925 10 July 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 18 June 2024, which states:

"I would like to know how many people in Education in any role can or do work from home. So if someone works from home 1 day up to 5 days a week a week i would like them to be included in the statistics."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

Please quote the reference number 3925925 in any future communications.

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.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. 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 2015; 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. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.