Freedom of Information Request – Ref: GHC-23022026-504493
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.
You asked:
I request the following information regarding recruitment and banding within the Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC), of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, specifically Hope House (Gloucester) and First Light (Swindon). Regarding Swindon I am referring to nursing recruitment by the Trust and not their crisis workers.
Section A: Senior Management Appointment
1. The job description and person specification for the role of SARC Service Manager, currently held at Band 8.
Our response:
Please click on link to access the job description and person specification – SARC Service Manager JD approved
You asked:
2. The dates between 2016 and 2023 on which this specific Band 8 role was advertised for recruitment and the platforms used for the advertisement (e.g., NHS Jobs, internal intranet).
Our response:
The Band 8a SARC Service Manager role was created in October 2023 following a business case with a proposal to uplift the SARC Band 7 Team Manager role to a Band 8a role temporarily to support with SARC accreditation processes and requirements.
Recruitment was via an expression of interest for the temporary Band 8a position.
You asked:
3. The total number of applicants and the number of candidates shortlisted for this specific Band 8 vacancy.
Our response:
With executive support the Band 8a SARC Service Manager position was made permanent in January 2024. There was not a recruitment process to the permanent position because the appointment was managed under the organisational change process.
You asked:
4. If the role was filled without a competitive external advertisement, please provide the specific Trust Policy or Standing Financial Instruction that permits a direct appointment from a Band 5 role to a Band 8 role.
Our response:
A Band 5 role was not appointed to the Band 8a role.
Please click on link to access the current Organisational Change Policy – Organisational Change Policy
You asked:
5. The date on which the incumbent was promoted from a Band 5 Crisis Worker role to their current Band 8 position.
Our response:
A Band 5 role was not appointed to the Band 8a role.
As stated above, the Band 8a SARC Service Manager role was created in October 2023 following a business case with a proposal to uplift the SARC Band 7 Team Manager role to a Band 8a role temporarily to support with SARC accreditation processes and progress.
Recruitment was via an expression of interest for the temporary Band 8a position. With executive support the Band 8a SARC Service Manager position was made permanent in January 2024. There was not a recruitment process to the permanent position because the appointment was managed under the organisational change process.
You asked:
Section B: Nursing Appointments (Management Remit)
6. Regarding the three nursing positions currently filled, please provide:
6a) The dates these roles were advertised and the recruitment platforms used.
Our response:
Roles were advertised via expression of interest, which took place before the start dates.
One role started in December 2025 and two roles started in January 2026.
You asked:
6b) The job descriptions and banding assessments for these roles.
Our response:
The Trust evaluates job roles via the job evaluation policy and procedure.
The nursing roles did not have new job descriptions. The current job description and person specification for the Band 6 SARC nursing roles remains in place.
Please click on the links to access the Lead Nurse SOE job description and person specification – SARC Sexual Offences Examiner Lead- Job Description & SARC Sexual Offences Examiner Lead- Person Specification
You asked:
6c) Confirm if these appointments were made as ‘acting’ positions, ‘internal redeployments’, or permanent substantive appointments.
Our response:
There was an internal and competitive recruitment process to the bank lead nurse role on a fixed term basis.
The two bank nursing roles were recruited to via an expression of interest on a fixed term basis.
You asked:
6d) If these appointments were filled without a competitive advertisement, please provide the specific governance or HR policy that authorised this.
Our response:
Please click on link to access the current recruitment policy – Recruitment Policy
You asked:
Section C: Policy and Governance
7. Please provide a copy of the Trust’s current Recruitment and Selection Policy and any policy relating to “Direct Appointments” or “Internal Promotions without Advertisement.”
Our response:
Please click on link to access the current recruitment policy – Recruitment Policy
Next steps:
Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:
Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk
If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.