The aim of each FOI
Workshop is to provide delegates with an opportunity to
work through practical scenarios with respect to a
particular area of FOI compliance.
Each of the Workshops is run by a expert and will consider a practical and realistic case
study.
There will be considerable opportunity to put questions to the
Workshop leader during the session and and to discuss issues
with other delegates.
The
Speakers'
Presentations Day and the
Workshops may be
booked together or in any combination.
Attendance at the Workshops by Conference
delegates is
optional but it is anticipated that most
Conference delegates will wish to attend one
or more of the Workshops.
Lunch will be provided at
the venue starting at 12.45pm.
Each Workshop is accredited by the Law Society
with 3 CPD Points.
The Conference and the Workshop
sessions were enlightening and practical, giving one a solid
grounding to both assess and address the risks in one's own
organisation
John Burns,
Executive,
Association for Payment Clearing Services
A:
The FOI good practice guide 1: managing
requests
Workshop led
by
Susan Graham - Records Manager,
University of Edinburgh
Whatever the subject matter of freedom of information
requests, dealing with them efficiently and effectively
is a core competence for freedom of information
practitioners. This Workshop looks at the practical
issues associated with managing requests under freedom
of information legislation, including:
- advising and assisting requestors
- identifying and dealing with vexatious requests
- calculating costs
- managing time scales
- managing the redaction of information
- taking legal advice
- drafting responses, including fees and refusal
notices
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Workshop Leader - Biography:
Susan Graham
is the Records Manager at the University of Edinburgh. She leads a team
responsible for promoting records management best practice and freedom of
information and data protection compliance throughout the University, which
received the Records Management Society Team Award for 2005 in recognition of
its contribution to freedom of information in the Scottish higher education
sector. Before joining the University, Susan worked on freedom of
information, data protection and records management for the General Medical
Council. |
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She has also worked for The National
Archives, local government and business
archives. Susan is a registered member
of the Society of Archivists and chairs the
Society’s Records Management Group.
She also teaches data protection and freedom
of information at the University of Dundee
covering the laws of England, Scotland and
Wales.
B: Publication
schemes
Workshop led
by
Damien Welfare – Barrister, 2-3 Gray’s Inn
Square
Public authorities should have revised their
Publication Schemes from 1st January 2009. This
Workshop considers guidance from the Information
Commissioner, the ICO’s intention to produce more
routine disclosure, how the Publication Scheme can
simplify FOI responsibilities, and the scope for
charging. In addition, this Workshop covers:
- the Scheme as a key tool in managing FOI issues
- what should be included in your organisation’s
guide to information
- meeting the duty to disseminate environmental
information
- what charges can be made under the Scheme
- disclosing minutes and agendas
- operating the Scheme over time
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Workshop Leader - Biography:
Damien Welfare came to the
Bar in 2001 after a career in Local Government. He specialises in freedom
of information, data protection and the Environmental Information Regulations.
He appears in the Information Tribunal, advises on all aspects of information
law, and speaks and writes regularly on information law matters. He
is a member of the Editorial Board of
Freedom of Information journal. |
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C:
Information laws working together
Workshop led
by
Lynn Aglionby – Partner, Trowers & Hamlins
Understanding the interface between FOI, the
Environmental Information Regulations and data
protection is essential for information professionals in
the public sector. This Workshop explains how
these laws interrelate, and how to determine when data
should and should not be released. This Workshop
additionally covers:
- how to determine what is personal data
- a review of the available guidance
- practical pointers to determine which
legislation applies to a request
- how to apply relevant exemptions
- a review of relevant decisions
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Workshop Leader - Biography:
Lynn Aglionby is a Partner at
Trowers & Hamlins in the Dispute Resolution Department. She is a member of
the Care Group and has considerable experience of representing clients in the
full spectrum of court proceedings including inquests and alternative forms of
dispute resolution. She is the lead partner who advises private, public
and third sector clients on information management, the Data Protection Act, the
Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Regulations and the
duty of confidentiality. |
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Afternoon Sessions
( 2.00pm – 5.15pm )
D:
The FOI good practice guide 2: managing
reviews and appeals
Workshop led
by Dawn Monaghan – Senior Manager ICO
Good FOI practice requires information professionals
to be efficient at managing the process when an FOI
requester is dissatisfied with the response he / she
receives. This Workshop considers key points to
address in the internal reviews process, as well as when
a case goes to the ICO or the Information Tribunal,
including:
- preparing for reviews and appeals
- choosing reviewers and conducting the internal
review
- preparing the written results from an internal
review
- handling new facts that emerge and putting
forward new exemptions
- managing time scales
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Workshop Leader - Biography:
Dawn Monaghan - A graduate of
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Dawn spent 20 years with the BBC; she joined the
Information Commissioners Office in 2002 as a Senior Policy Manager for Freedom
of Information. As Head of the FOI Good Practice Team she ensures the
promotion of FOI obligations to the UK public sector by developing and
maintaining key stakeholder relationships in the domestic and international
arena. Dawn also led the ICO’s initiative to raise compliance with
proactive dissemination by the development of the new model publication scheme.
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E:
Creating FOI policies for organisations
Workshop led
by
Bridget Treacy – Partner, Hunton & Williams
It is a challenge to get the entire staff of an
organisation to be aware of the FOI consequences of
their work. Good FOI practice requires effective
policies for the whole organisation, particularly those
outside the information department. This Workshop
looks at implementing and monitoring these policies,
including:
- educating all staff on good communication
practices, including personal communications, facts
versus opinions, and gossip
- creating FOI awareness amongst staff, including
recognising FOI requests and what to do with them
- creating polices for deletion of data
- advising the procurement department regarding
FOI issues with contracts, potential contractors and
confidentiality clauses
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Workshop Leader - Biography:
Bridget Treacy is a Partner
at Hunton & Williams. Her practice focuses exclusively on information
management projects, including data protection, FOI, outsourcing and IT
procurement.
Having advised local and central government, as well as their vendors, on FOI
issues, Bridget has a wealth of practical experience to share. |
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F:
Commercial contracts and FOI
Workshop led
by Jackie Gray – Associate, Dickinson Dees LLP
FOI has had an impact on the public and private
sectors’ approach to confidentiality of procurement
information and contracts. There have been a
number of important decisions which provide guidance on
what can be considered confidential or commercially
sensitive and what should be disclosed. This
Workshop looks at:
- recent ICO and Tribunal decisions relating to
the disclosure of contractual and procurement
information
- working assumptions regarding what may, and may
not, be confidential or sensitive
- approaching confidentiality issues in contracts
including drafting confidentiality provisions and
negotiating confidential information lists
- practical steps to take during a procurement
exercise to mitigate the risks of disclosing
confidential and sensitive information
- how to deal with FOI requests for confidential
and sensitive information
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Workshop Leader - Biography:
Jackie Gray
is an Associate with
Dickinson Dees LLP in their Public Sector & Projects Team specialising in PPP
and PFI projects, public sector outsourcing contracts, IT, freedom of
information and data protection.
Jackie
has advised both the private and public sectors on a wide range of areas
including local government and health outsourcing projects, strategic
partnerships, joint ventures and Building Schools for the Future with particular
expertise in ICT. |
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