Guide to Information

You can locate information routinely published by Alder Hey by browsing this website; you may wish to enter a phrase or key word into the search facility to help with your search.  However, to help you find information we have also produced a guide to information which is in line with the Information Commissioner’s model publication scheme requirements.  It is intended that the guide will be updated when new information becomes available or is replaced with a newer version and is archived. 

Who we are and what we do

You will find key information about who we are and what we do by visiting the following pages:

• About Us – here you will find an overview of the Trust, the type of services provided, the population served and some key performance statistics. 
• About the Foundation Trust – the Trust achieved Foundation Trust status in August 2008 and this page will link you to the Terms of Authorisation, membership and the Council of Governors.
• Trust Publications – here you will find the Annual Report and Accounts, newsletters and other key publications such as the Corporate Brochure and Public Health Strategy.
• Children’s Health Park – there is a dedicated website where you can find out about the latest developments with this project http://www.ahchp.com/ .
• Board Biographies – here you can find out who the Board members are with further information about each member due to be available soon.
• Our Consultants & their specialties – find out more about the Consultants via this link.
• Contact Us – here you will find out how to contact the trust, or you can also send an email direct to key departments.

What we spend & how we spend it

You will find the main information about the finances of the Trust by visiting the following pages:

• Annual Report & Accounts – published every year in August.  Here you will find the financial accounts, activity and performance information plus salary and pension details for senior managers and are included.  Expenses claimed by senior managers are not currently published but may be requested and will be considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
• Trust Board – agendas, minutes and papers for meetings are not currently published on the website but are available on request.
• Standing financial instructions – are not currently published on the website but available on request.
• NHS Employers - represents trusts in England on workforce issues, details of pay structures and negotiations is on their website at the following link: http://www.nhsemployers.org/PayAndContracts/Pages/Pay-and-contracts.aspx
• Procurement & contracts - information relating to individual contracts awarded may be requested and will be considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Official Journal of the European Union is the publication in which all tenders from the public sector which are valued above a certain financial threshold must be published www.ojec.com

The North West Consortium is an association of NHS Trusts established in 1993. It maintains and manages on behalf of all its members approved lists of Contractors and Consultants for services related to both construction and maintenance works for the NHS and its associate members. The process to be considered for membership is on their website www.nwconsortium.com. 

What are our priorities

Information about our priorities can be found in the documents listed or by visiting the following pages:

• Annual Report & Accounts – published every year in August.  Here you will find the financial accounts, activity and performance information. 
• Vision & Values – the Trust’s strategic aims are provided on this page.
• Meeting Standards & Targets – Declarations against standards and targets will be published in this section of the website, currently this includes compliance with Standards for Better Health and links to the Care Quality Commission.
• Trust Declarations –  This part of the website will have declarations such as Safeguarding and MRSA Screening.

How we make decisions

• Trust Board – agendas, minutes and papers for meetings are not currently published on the website but are available on request.
• Foundation Trust Terms of Authorisation – the authorisation from Monitor includes important information about the membership, constituencies, Council of Governors, Standing Orders and Governance.
• Patient involvement – The Trust engages with patients and carers in many different ways including use of The national paediatric toolkit which was developed at Alder Hey.  This hand held computer based tool has been designed for engaging with children and young people to capture their opinions and experiences.
• Consultations – there are currently no live consultations, details of any future consultations will be published on the website.  The Children’s Health Park Consultation ran until 27^th July 2009, summary information is under Latest News on the home page of this website. 

Our policies & procedures

• Foundation Trust Terms of Authorisation – the authorisation from Monitor includes important information about the membership, constituencies, Council of Governors, Standing Orders and Governance.
• Standing financial instructions –  are not currently published on the website but  available on request.
• Making a Complaint – this leaflet explains how to make a complaint, who to send it to and how the Trust will try to put things right should something go wrong. 
• Looking after your records – this leaflet explains why the Trust requires information about patients, what it does with the information, who it may share information with and how it will protect the information.  It also includes contact details for requesting further details or for making a request to access a copy of your personal information.
• Policies & procedures – the Trust has policies in four broad areas; Clinical, Employee, Management and Risk Management.  They are not currently published on the website but may be requested and considered under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Lists and registers

• Foundation Trust membership – details of membership can be found on the Foundation Trust pages of this website.
• Disclosure Log – responses to freedom of information requests will be published here.

The Services we offer

• Parents & carers information – lots of helpful information for patients, parents and carers including links to leaflets, PALS and services.
• PALS – a free and confidential service provided by the Trust, it aims to help and support patients, parents and carers.  Further information about the service and how to make contact.
• Declaration of interests – this information is not currently published by is available on request.
• Welcome to Alder Hey – our facilities – designed to help you during your visit or stay at Alder Hey, you can access or download the full guide or smaller sections on these pages of the website.
• Services – information relating to our services will be published soon.
• Latest news – all the latest news will be published on the home page of the website.
• Maps – and directions to the Trust can be found here.  The Welcome to Alder Hey guide also contains transport, parking and public transport information.