Request
I would like copies of the Hay Job descriptions, rationales and any associated documentation for Health and Social Services Social Worker and Social Work Senior Practitioners prepared for the most recent evaluation together with the dates of submission and the results. Whilst I would like to see all the latest Social Work submissions, the priority is those for the Children's Service.
Response
Attached are the job descriptions for Social workers and Senior Social workers that were passed to the Hay team for review.
Social worker job description
Senior practitioner JIT
These job descriptions were submitted to the Hay team between 16 and 20 October 2017. Their evaluation was received on 1 November 2017 and communicated to the relevant department on 3 November 2017.
It is not appropriate to share the raw score of the evaluations and / or rationales, as to release them externally will compromise the wider Hay evaluation system. Article 39 (Employment) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has therefore been applied.
Article applied
Article 39 Employment
Information is qualified exempt information if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice pay or conditions negotiations that are being held between a public authority and –
(a) an employee or prospective employee of the authority; or
(b) representatives of the employees of the authority.
Justification
The Scheduled Public Authority (SPA) is withholding this information as it believes that to release it could prejudice ongoing evaluations which take place as part of the day to day management of employment conditions within the States of Jersey. The SPA would also be concerned that any future evaluations may be affected due to the release of information.
Article 39 is a qualified exemption, which means that a public interest test is required to be undertaken by the SPA. It is therefore necessary for the scheduled public authority to examine the circumstances of the case. Following assessment the SPA has to decide whether, on balance, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. Although there is a need for transparency, accountability, and good decision making by public authorities this information relates to negotiations between the States of Jersey and their employees. On balance, it is our view that the public interest does not outweigh the potential prejudice of release.
