Improving Performance Consultancy (FOI)

Request 

In a previous Freedom of Information request concerning the employment of Kim Hodgson and her company "Improving Performance Consultancy" it is stated that the Improving Performance Consultancy will not be engaged by the end of March 2022.

A

Can you please advise if this also applies to Kim Hodgson in her own name or the name of any other company she works for or owns or may set up in the future?

The Government have previously stated twice that her services were no longer needed and yet we have paid her (as at 21st Feb 2022) £506,192 and an additional £13,766 expenses which, I believe, should have been payable by her as part of the necessary expenses for fulfilling the contract she negotiated.

B

Can you please tell me what this lady and Improving Performance Consultancy have been paid in total for their services? If there is liability outstanding, please include this sum. Please split these sums between the individual and any company/consultancy she owns or works for.

C

As this is a contract delivered for the public of Jersey, please provide a copy of the contract(s) or terms of engagement awarded to this individual and/or company including information on who awarded the contracts (person specific please - not random department) and daily applicable rate or value of contract, including timescale permitted for completion. This is information which should be in the public domain as it is for other people under contract (I.E. Ashok Handa)

D

Please provide a summary of everything this person was employed to do on a case by case basis. I.E. Producing a report, conducting an analysis, serving as an independent interviewer etc.

E

Please advise how many times this lady has been on an interview panel for SOJ employees and which individuals were being interviewed?

F

Please advise how much this person is paid, per interview, to sit on an interview panel?

G

Please advise if travel and subsidence expenses are paid on top of the flat fee for sitting on

these panels?

H

Please advise the process under which 'independent' interviewers are selected. Who decides who should sit on a panel? Is the DG of any relevant department given any input.

Please be specific.

Response

A

This applies to both Improving Performance Consultancy and Kim Hodgson.

B

Total payments to Improving Performance Consultancy 2017 to date: £506,192

Other payments made on behalf of Improving Performance Consultancy for travel related costs of £13,766

• Flights £10,803
• Hotel £2,100
• Other £863

C

The contract of services is a commercial document and as such, Health and Community Services considers that its disclosure would likely prejudice the commercial interests of the department, or others. Therefore, Article 33 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied. 

D

A previous Freedom of Information response has provided detailed information in relation to the work undertaken by Improving Performance Consultancy, and as such Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

Use of Improving Performance Consultancy FOI (gov.je)

Please see Response E, relating to the interview panel membership.

E

Six.

All the interview panels that have included Kim Hodgson are in the public domain, but for clarity:

• Isobel Watson - Chief Social Worker
• Professor Ashok Handa – Our Hospital Clinical Lead
• Professor John McInerney – Group Medical Director
• Dr. Cheryl Power - Associate Chief for Allied Health
• James Mason – General Manager (Medical Services Care Group)
• Caroline Landon – Director General of Health and Community Services
  

F

Payment is based on activity and number of days worked. Interviews were part of the activity but payments were not made per interview.

G

Please see Response B. 

H

The policy for recruitment at senior roles requires a qualified person with relevant experience as an independent member of the recruitment panel.  This is overseen by the Jersey Appointments Commission. An independent member is a person not employed by the States Employment Board. 

Articles 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. 

Article 25 - Personal information 

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005.

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.

Article 33 - Commercial interests

Information is qualified exempt information if –

(a) it constitutes a trade secret; or

(b) its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of a person (including the scheduled public authority holding the information).

Public Interest Test

Disclosing information relating to contractual service arrangements is likely to prejudice the commercial interests of HCS and others. When considering the application of this exemption, HCS has determined that whilst it is in the public interest to disclose information, this is outweighed by the necessity to limit any impact on its commercial interests and as such Article 33 has been applied.