Guide to Information

1. Introduction

Under the FOI Act, the CCG must adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme and NHS Sheffield CCG follows the approved model for the health sector as set out in the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) Definition Document for Health Bodies in England, a copy can be found here.   Adoption of this model represents our commitment to publish information in seven classes of information described in the definition document.

Our website serves as our Publication Scheme and this section is designed to be a guide to finding the various types of information easily.  

This Publication Scheme covers information routinely published by the CCG, and is reviewed at regular intervals.

If you have any questions about the Publication Scheme or would like advice about making a Freedom of Information request, please email: sheccg.foi@nhs.net

2. Classes of information

• Class 1: Who we are and what we do 
• Class 2: What we spend and how we spend it 
• Class 3: Our priorities and how we are doing
• Class 4: How we make decisions
• Class 5: Our policies and procedures
• Class 6: Lists and registers
• Class 7: The services we offer

The classes of information will not generally include:

• Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure.
• Information that is in draft form.
• Information which would be impractical to prepare for routine release.
• emails and other correspondence or information relating to individuals

3.  The method by which information published under this scheme will be made available

NHS Sheffield CCG will indicate clearly to the public what information is covered by this scheme and how it can be obtained.

Where possible and within the capacity of the CCG, information will be provided on our website. In the instances where it is impractical to make information available on the website or when an individual does not wish to access the information by the website, information can usually be obtained by emailing: sheccg.foi@nhs.net. In exceptional circumstances some information may be available only by viewing in person.  An appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale.

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required. Where NHS Sheffield CCG is legally required to translate any information, it will do so.

Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with this scheme.

4. Charges which may be made for information published under this scheme

The purpose of this scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public. Charges made by the CCG for routinely published material will be explained in a clear manner and kept to a minimum.

Material which is published and accessed on a website will be provided free of charge.

Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament.

Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as: 

• photocopying
• postage and packaging
• the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information

Charges may also be made for information provided under this scheme where they are legally authorised, they are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public authorities, justified and are in accordance with a published schedule or schedules of fees which is readily available to the public.

If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information.

5. Copyright

The material available through this Publication Scheme is subject to the NHS Sheffield CCG’s copyright, unless otherwise indicated. Material may be reproduced free of charge unless explicitly and clearly indicated or stated on the material or document. Any reproduced material must be done accurately and not used in a misleading or contentious way.

Where any of the copyright items in this Scheme are being re-published or copied to others, you must identify the source of the material and acknowledge the copyright status. Permission to reproduce material does not extend to any material accessed through the Publication Scheme that is the copyright of third parties. You must obtain authorisation to reproduce such material from the copyright holders concerned. For guidance notes on a range of copyright issues, please refer to the National Archives website.

6. Written requests

We strongly encourage you to check our Publication Scheme first before you make a written request for information as you may be able to find it here.  Also please bear in mind that we can refuse a written Freedom of Information Act request if the information is readily available via our Publication Scheme.

Information held by the CCG that is not published under this scheme can be requested in writing. All written requests will be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

For more information about how to make or submit a request, please visit our FOI section here, or email, sheccg.foi@nhs.net

7. Compliance Statistics

The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (July 2018), recommends that public authorities with over 100FTE employees publish FOI compliance statistics as part of their publication schemes. The information below will be updated on a quarterly basis.

As at 26/01/2022		Q4 20/21		Q1 21/22		Q2 21/22	Q3 21/22
No. of requests received during the period		47		64		54	48
No. of the received requests that were processed in full:
on time/ within extended deadline		47		63		52	47
sent late		0		1		1	1
No. of requests where the information was granted in full		47		64		53	45
No. of requests where the information was refused in full		-		-		-	-
No. of requests where the information was granted in part and refused in part		0		0		0	3
No. of requests received that have been referred for internal review.		0		0		0	0
Overall percentage compliance		100%		98%		96%	98%

Notes:

Q1 - covers 1st April to 30th June. Q2 - covers 1st July to 30th September. Q3 - covers 1st October to 31st December. Q4 - covers 1st January to 31st March