See answers to previous information requests

I write to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. My request relates to Adult Social Care policies, training, and practice standards. I have kept the request focused and specific in order to minimise the burden of compliance. All four requests below concern information that I would expect to be held centrally by the Adult Social Care directorate and readily accessible.

1. Epilepsy and SUDEP Training — Requirements and Completion
Please provide the following in relation to Adult Social Care staff:
a) Whether training in epilepsy awareness and emergency response is mandatory or recommended for social workers and care coordinators;
b) Whether training in SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) risk management is mandatory or recommended;
c) The current completion rate for any such training, anonymised by role rather than by individual name;
d) The date on which any such training was introduced or last updated.

If no such training programme exists, please confirm that position.

Request 2: Complaints Policy — Independence and Co-authorship
Please provide a copy of the council's current complaints policy for Adult Social Care, and specifically:
a) The required response times at Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the complaints process;
b) Whether a social worker or officer who is the subject of a formal complaint is permitted to contribute to, review, or approve the response to that complaint at any stage;
c) What independent oversight or sign-off is required before a Stage 2 response is issued;
d) The actual average response times at Stage 1 and Stage 2 in each of the last three years.

3. Accessible Communication — Policy for Adults with Aphasia
Please provide all current policies, guidance, and training materials relating to communication with adults who have aphasia or other acquired communication impairments, and specifically:
a) Whether the council has a documented accessible communication protocol or framework for use with adults who have aphasia;
b) What training, if any, is provided to Adult Social Care social workers on communicating with adults who have aphasia;
c) Whether that training is mandatory or recommended, and the current completion rate anonymised by role.

If no such protocol or training exists, please confirm that position.

4. Care Plan Co-production — Policy and Timeliness
Please provide the council's current policy on care plan co-production and completion timescales under the Care Act 2014, specifically:
a) Whether the council has a written policy on co-production of care plans with service users;
b) The maximum timescale set by policy for completing and issuing a care plan following assessment;
c) The process where a service user disputes the content of a care plan;
d) The actual average time taken to complete care plans in each of the last three years.