Career Transition Support

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.021913

I note you seek access to the following information:

I would really appreciate it if you could please help me with these questions. The intention behind them is to enable us to deliver a far higher quality and more comprehensive level of support to officers and staff leaving policing than is currently available.

1. For those leaving the service, do you currently provide career transition or resettlement support? For example, a day of content including topics like CV writing, financial planning, job prospects etc…

2. If yes, what content/subject matter is covered?

3. Is this support provided in-house or by an external provider (please name them if applicable)?

4. What is the cost of this support?

5. Is this support delivered in-person or virtually?

6. If provided by an external supplier, is this provided ad hoc or as part of an existing contract?

7. If contracted, when does the current contract expire and when will the new tendering process begin?

8. Who within the organisation is the key decision maker regarding this support? May I please have their contact details and job title?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 40 - Personal Information

Reason for decision

Section 40 Personal Information - Section 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018 confirms that information which relates to an identified or identifiable living individual is Personal Data.

The Freedom of Information Act provides an exemption for Personal Data and this is known as the section 40 exemption.

The information sought under your Freedom of Information request includes the following which we consider to be Personal Data

• The contact details for question 8

Where the request is seeking access to third party personal data the section 40(2) exemption may be engaged.

In order to apply the Section 40(2) exemption the disclosure of the requested information must satisfy either the first, second or third conditions as defined by subsections 3A, 3B and 4A of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (as amended by Schedule 19 of the Data Protection Act 2018, specifically Section 58 of that schedule).

The first condition ensures that the exemption would apply in circumstances where the disclosure of the information would breach any of the Data Protection Act 2018 principles.

There are six Data Protection principles set out in the 2018 act and these can be found at section 34.

In this instance I have decided that the disclosure of the Personal Data would be incompatible with the first Data Protection principle which states that the processing (in this case the disclosure) of the data must be both lawful and fair.

Disclosure

Q1 - For those leaving the service, do you currently provide career transition or resettlement support? For example, a day of content including topics like CV writing, financial planning, job prospects etc.

Yes there is outplacement support which covers career transition for those leaving the MPS and preparing to transition into another role or prepare for retirement with an additional service - pre retirement workshops.

Q2 - If yes, what content/subject matter is covered?

Career transition highlights the importance to keep your CV updated, how to best present your skills and experiences on paper and in an interview. The session also prepares the individual to enter this new chapter of their life as leaving the MPS could result in being without a role for a short while or moving straight into another role that could be quite different from the role they have done for a number of years.
Pre-retirement prepares the individual how to best manage money, how to best budget, save and help their money go further.

Q3 - Is this support provided in-house or by an external provider (please name them if applicable)?

Both types of support are provided by an external partner as part of a larger contract.

Q4 - What is the cost of this support?

There is no cost to the individual, Workforce Deployment pay for these services out of an agreed budget however if individuals wish to have a one to one or something more specific than the general workshop/seminars, the outplacement support provider would make the individual aware of an additional charge.

Q5 - Is this support delivered in-person or virtually?

All workshops and are run virtually as a result of COVID-19 and accessibility to reach more employees. We will continue to have all sessions online for ease and the success of them currently.

Q6 - If provided by an external supplier, is this provided ad hoc or as part of an existing contract?

Both services are provided as part of an existing contract.

Q7 - If contracted, when does the current contract expire and when will the new tendering process begin?

We have a rolling contract at present, the end date has not yet been agreed - should be confirmed in the new financial year.

Q8 - Who within the organisation is the key decision maker regarding this support? May I please have their contact details and job title?

The workforce deployment manager is responsible for managing this support and deciding what services are offered in house and externally.