Appointment of Professor Ashok Handa (FOI)Appointment of Professor Ashok Handa (FOI)
Produced by the Freedom of Information officeAuthored by Government of Jersey and published on
17 September 2020.Prepared internally, no external costs.
Request
My question concerns the appointment of Prof Ashok Handa as clinical lead for the 'Our Hospital' project. A media article at the time of his appointment states that "Public sector recruitment specialists, Gatenby Sanderson, conducted the search process during which eight candidates were identified. They were taken through a technical assessment by an independent assessor, and two were taken forward to interview by a panel led by the Clinical Director for Health and Community Services, John McInerney, in line with the Jersey Appointments Commission process for interim recruitment."
Can you please tell me:-
A
Where did these specialists advertise the position, when and for how long?
B
Who was the independent assessor? - Name, Position & employer please.
C
When was the position advertiser on the Channel Island Portal, in accordance with SOJ policy?
D
Was the job advertised anywhere else locally?
E
Who were the other members of the interview panel with John McInerney? Names, positions and employers please.
Response
A
The position was advertised on the Gatenby Sanderson recruitment website and via Linkedin on the 26 June 2019. All interim appointments are predominately search led meaning that the recruitment consultant will search through various on and off-island databases to identify suitably qualified candidates. The search lasted for a period of two weeks.
B
Kim Hodgson was the assessor for this assignment. She is an ex NHS Chief Executive.
Kim Hodgson undertook the role of Technical Assessor and was on the interview panel as an independent member for this assignment. No conflicts or concern were identified in the fair and open recruitment into this role.
C
The Government of Jersey has a framework in place for appointing executive search agencies for either permanent or interim hires. As this framework is in place there was no requirement for the position to be advertised on the Channel Island Portal.
D
Please see the response to question A.
Article applied
Article 23 Information accessible to applicant by other means
(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.
(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.