Detailed workforce plans completed by Integration Authorities: FOI release

Information requested

• “Further to discussions with Chief Officers of Integration Joint Boards on the development of Action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy, as referred to in this letter: https://www.parliament.scot/S5_HealthandSportCommittee/Inquiries/20190225_Ltr_IN_from_MinisterPHSW.pdf how many boards have completed detailed workforce plans
• Of those plans, how many and which included (a) information on workforce allocation location, and (b) the trajectory towards the 800 total by 2021-22.

Please also send me all correspondence with Chief Officers (or the relevant person from the Board) with the Scottish Government relating to this target”. 

Response

• All 31 Integration Authorities (IAs) have provided their plans, via quarterly reporting templates, to the Scottish Government. 
• These templates include information on how the IAs will meet their minimum allocation (from the 800 total) by 2021/22, together with the settings the additional mental health workers will be based in.

For your request for all correspondence with Chief Officers (or relevant person from the Board) with the Scottish Government in relation to this target, you confirmed on 6 September that the information you seek would be contained in the most recent 31 plans from IAs around this commitment.  For this information and while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide all of the information you have requested because an exemption under section 29(1)(a) (policy formulation) of FOISA applies to that information. 

REASONS FOR NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION
An Exemption applies, subject to the public interest test

• An exemption under section s.29(1)(a) of FOISA applies to the information you have requested, as it relates to the formulation of Scottish administration policy in conjunction with advice to Scottish Ministers.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’.  Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.  We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption.  We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. 
However there is greater public interest in high quality policy and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of policies and decisions.  This means that Ministers and officials need to be able to consider all available options and to debate those rigorously, to fully understand their possible implications.  Their candour in doing so will be affected by their assessment of whether further information regarding Action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy will be disclosed in the future, when it may undermine or constrain the Government’s view on that policy while it is still under discussion and development.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.