Easter closure

Please note that we will be closed from 5pm Thursday 28 March until Tuesday 2 April 2024 for the Easter break. Complaints can still be made via our complaints form but they will not be received until we reopen. Wishing you a happy Easter! 

Technical issues:

The SPSO advice line is currently unavailable due to technical issues which we are working with our telephone provider to resolve.  We apologise for the inconvenience and hope to find a resolution as soon as possible. 

SPSO Policies

This page contains SPSO handbooks. Information below each link tells you the contents for each handbook.

Please contact us to request these documents in another format.

Information Governance (PDF, 988KB) 

  1. Records Management Plan
  2. Records Management Policy
  3. Business Classification Scheme
  4. Case File Management Guidance
  5. Retention and Disposal Policy
  6. Information Sharing Policy
  7. Electronic Information Sharing - eRDM Connect
  8. Records Management and Security Guidance: sharing information off-network and out-of-office
  9. Clear Desk and Screen Policy
  10. Protective Marking System
  11. Access to Information Legislation
  12. Data Protection Policy and Procedure
  13. Data Protection Legislation
  14. Subject Access Requests
  15. Data Protection Impact assessments:  process and supplementary guidance
  16. Protocol for data security incidents 
  17. SPSO Covert recording policy

Governance (PDF, 436KB)

  1. Governance Overview
  2. Scheme of Internal Control
  3. Governance Reporting Arrangements 
  4. Scheme of Delegation (PDF, 193KB)
  5. Code of Professional Conduct (incorporating the Register of Interests)
  6. Whistleblowing Policy
  7. Anti-Fraud Policy
  8. Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy (incorporating Gifts and Hospitality)
  9. Incident Reporting

Risk Management (PDF, 203KB)

  1. Risk Management and Incident Reporting Policy

Finance (PDF, 416KB)

  1. Procurement Policy - shared service
  2. Travel and expenses policy - SPSO
  3. Gifts and hospitality - SPSO
  4. Budgetary control and financial planning policy - SPSO
  5. Budgetary control and financial planning procedure - SPSO
  6. Finance policy on fixed assets - shared service

Business Continuity Plan (PDF, 651KB)

  1. Business Continuity Policy
  2. Incident Response Plan
  3. Disruption to work

Bridgeside House - Health, Safety and Security (PDF, 517KB)

  1. Health and Safety Policy 
  2. Personal Safety
  3. Hazardous products, PPE, Biohazards, Evidence Handling and Blood-Borne Viruses (BBVs)
  4. Accident Reporting and First Aid
  5. Security, Visitor Room and Panic Alarm Procedures
  6. Fire Procedure

Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework (PDF, 521KB)

  1. Introduction
  2. Mental Health in the Workplace
  3. Why do we need this framework?
  4. Framework Structue
  5. Strategic Action Plan
  6. Measuring, Reviewing and Reporting the Framework

Updated: March 19, 2024