Our policies and procedures

These include current written protocols, policies,procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities.

Policies and procedures relating to the conduct of business and the provision of services and human resources

These include Race, Disability, Age and Gender, Equal Opportunities), recruitment and employment.

If these are not available on our website you can ask for copies of specific documents. These will also include codes of practice, memoranda of understanding and similar information. Some policies e.g. equality and diversity, health and safety may cover both provision of services and the employment of staff. Documents available include procedures for handling requests for information. Details of current vacancies are advertised routinely on our website. Additional information, including recruitment policies, are available on request.

How to access: Online see Work For us. On request.

Standing financial procedures, standing orders, complaints and other customer service policies and procedures

All available on request; details of how to make a complaint and the NHS complaints procedure are already available on our website.

How to access: Online see Advise and Support or How to complain. On request.

Data protection / information governance / Caldicott Guardian

The Trust has policies and procedures covering data protection, information governance, freedom of information and patient confidentiality, all available on request. Plus related documents such as information security, retention schedules (for both clinical and nonclinical documentation), and procedures for processing subject access and freedom of information requests.

The Trust has a named Caldicott Guardian, Dr Ben Nereli, Medical Director, his role is to monitor and safeguard the confidentiality of patient and service user information. One aspect of the role is to ensure that data sharing with other organisations is done in an appropriate and secure manner and that patient data is only disclosed when absolutely necessary. To help facilitate this the Trust has a number of data sharing agreements / protocols in place.

How to access: On request.

Estate management

Copies of all disclosable policies and procedures relating to facilities and estates management are freely available on request, including related documentation such as contracts, details of suppliers and providers of services.

How to access: On request.

Charging regimes and policies

The Trust rarely charges for providing copies of information, even if entitled to do so by law e.g. disbursements relating to Freedom of Information requests such as copying charges and postage.

If we do charge for information, details of charges will be made available. One exception is subject access requests made under the Data Protection Act 1998 for copies of patient and/or staff records, for which a charge is usually made. Full details are provided automatically with each application form issued by the Trust. Copies are available on request.

How to access: On request.