Freedom of Information
About the Freedom of Information Act
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) came into force on 1 January 2005. It promotes openness, transparency and accountability by giving the public a general right of access to recorded information held by public authorities.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Synchronicity Care Limited (SCL) is committed to supporting these principles by making information available wherever possible and responding to requests in accordance with the Act.
The legislation also requires public authorities to maintain a Publication Scheme, setting out the information they routinely make available and how it can be accessed.
Our Commitment
We are commited to:
Being open and transparent in the way we conduct our business.
Providing information wherever possible unless a legal exemption applies.
Responding to Freedom of Information requests promptly and within the statutory timescales.
Publishing information proactively through our Publication Scheme and website where appropriate.
Anyone has the right to request recorded information that we hold. This may include information relating to our services, policies, governance, contracts and performance.
Making a Freedom of Information Request
To make a request under the Freedom of Information Act, you should:
Make your request in writing (email is acceptable).
Provide your name and a correspondence address (an email address is sufficient).
Clearly describe the information you are requesting so that we can identify and locate it.
Where possible, we will provide the information in your preferred format. Depending on the nature of the request, information may be supplied by:
Providing copies of documents.
Providing a summary of the information.
Arranging for you to inspect the information where appropriate.
We will normally respond within 20 working days of receiving your request, unless the Act permits an extension or a fee is applicable.
Where appropriate, anonymised responses to Freedom of Information requests may also be published on our website to promote openness and reduce duplicate requests.
How to Submit a Request
You can submit a Freedom of Information request by:
Emailing the Freedom of Information Team at cdda-tr.cddftfoi@nhs.net
Writing to the Freedom of Information Officer.
Sending your request to any member of Synchronicity Care Limited staff, who will ensure it is forwarded to the appropriate team.
Publication Scheme
Our Publication Scheme explains the information we routinely make available without the need for a formal Freedom of Information request. This includes information about our organisation, governance, policies, financial information, and the services we provide.
If the information you require is already available through our Publication Scheme or on our website, we will direct you to where it can be accessed.
