Freedom of information (FOI) disclosure log

Date Sent: August 05, 2026

Conclusion: Released In Full

Description: I am writing to submit an FOI request for the below points, I suspect the majority of the below can be answered by HR/EDI teams. Please provide the following information for the period 1 January 2020 to the date of this request. 1. Please provide copies of all policies, procedures, guidance documents and protocols relating to the management of employees diagnosed with a terminal illness. 2. Please provide copies of all policies, procedures, guidance documents and protocols relating to employees who have suffered a catastrophic life-changing illness or injury, including (but not limited to) stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury and progressive neurological conditions. 3. Has the Council signed the Dying to Work Charter? If yes, please state the date it was adopted. 4. Please provide any audits, reviews, evaluations or reports relating to the Council’s implementation of the Dying to Work Charter. 5. Please provide any guidance issued to managers regarding the application of discretion for employees diagnosed with a terminal illness. 6. How many employees have notified the Council that they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness? 7. Of those employees, how many entered the Managing Attendance Procedure (or equivalent attendance management process)? 8. Of those employees, how many progressed to Stage 2? 9. Of those employees, how many progressed to Stage 3? 10. Of those employees, how many attended a capability hearing? 11. Of those employees, how many were dismissed on capability grounds? 12. Of those employees, how many retired on ill-health grounds? 13. Of those employees, how many remained in employment until their death? 14. What is the Council’s target timescale for referring an employee with a terminal illness to Occupational Health? 15. What was the average time between notification of a terminal illness and referral to Occupational Health? 16. What was the average time between referral to Occupational Health and completion of the Occupational Health assessment? 17. Does the Council operate a fast-track Occupational Health referral process for employees with a terminal illness? If yes, please provide details. 18. Does the Council have discretion to extend occupational sick pay beyond contractual entitlement for employees with a terminal illness? 19. If yes, how many employees with a terminal illness have received an extension to occupational sick pay? 20. Please provide any policy or guidance governing the exercise of this discretion. 21. Do managers receive mandatory training on supporting employees with a terminal illness? 22. If yes, please provide copies of the training materials. 23. Please state how many managers have completed this training. 24. Do managers receive training on supporting employees following a stroke or catastrophic life-changing illness? 25. If yes, please provide copies of the training materials. 26. Please provide any Equality Impact Assessments relating to the management of employees with terminal illnesses. 27. Please provide any Equality Impact Assessments relating to the Managing Attendance Procedure where terminal illness has been considered. 28. Please provide any guidance issued to managers regarding reasonable adjustments for employees with terminal illnesses. 29. Please list all support routinely offered to employees diagnosed with a terminal illness. 30. Please provide copies of any guidance relating to financial wellbeing, pension advice, welfare benefits advice or counselling for terminally ill employees. 31. Please provide copies of any guidance relating to support offered to the families of employees diagnosed with a terminal illness. 32. Does the Council have a policy or protocol relating to the death in service of an employee? 33. If yes, please provide a copy. 34. Please provide details of any support routinely offered to colleagues following the death in service of an employee. 35. Please provide details of any support routinely offered to the family of an employee who dies in service. 36. Please provide copies of any lessons learned reports, service reviews, audits or investigations relating to the management of employees diagnosed with a terminal illness. 37. Please provide copies of any reports presented to Corporate Leadership Team, Directorate Leadership Teams or elected Members concerning support for employees with terminal illnesses. 38. Please provide details of any planned review of policies relating to terminal illness or catastrophic life-changing conditions. 39. Does the Council have any specific policy for employees who have suffered a stroke? 40. Does the Council have any specific policy for employees with progressive neurological conditions? 41. Does the Council distinguish catastrophic life-changing conditions from ordinary sickness absence within its attendance management procedures? 42. If yes, please provide copies of the relevant policy or guidance. 43. How many employees diagnosed with a terminal illness have been required to attend a formal attendance review meeting, capability meeting or dismissal hearing after notifying the Council of their diagnosis? 44. How many employees diagnosed with a terminal illness died whilst still subject to the Managing Attendance Procedure or capability process? 45. How many employees diagnosed with a terminal illness had their occupational sick pay reduced or exhausted before their employment ended? 46. Has the Council ever exercised discretion to suspend or pause the Managing Attendance Procedure because an employee was terminally ill? If yes, on how many occasions? 47. Please provide any recorded guidance instructing managers not to progress attendance management procedures for employees with a terminal illness. 48. Please provide any recorded information setting out what constitutes a ‘terminal illness’ for the purposes of employment policies. 49. Please provide any recorded information showing whether the Council monitors outcomes for employees diagnosed with a terminal illness. 50. Please provide any recorded information relating to benchmarking or comparison with other employers regarding support for employees with terminal illnesses.

Attachments: FOI_Response_737.doc