Freedom of Information Officer

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The Information Governance Team is responsible for the Trust-wide provision of Information Governance support and assistance in line with Trust policies and procedures and national legislation and requirements. We are seeking applications from enthusiastic, conscientious and highly motivated individuals to join the team as a Freedom of Information Officer.

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced individual to support the Information Access Manager in a varied, fast-moving and challenging role to ensure the efficient and effective use of resources to deliver a high quality Freedom of Information service. The post-holder will liaise with all levels of staff within the Trust, both clinical and non-clinical, and external stakeholders where required. The post-holder will need to have good communication skills and the ability to present information and training to all levels of staff. A good understanding of the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act is desirable.

Main duties of the job

The post holder's main duties will be to provide a comprehensive and effective Freedom of Information (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) service ensuring compliance with Trust policies, procedures and national legislation, including the processing of requestsunder the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. This will include planning, organising, directing and co-ordinating the work of the identified service. The post holder will be expected to work with the minimum of supervision.They will be able to demonstrate flexibility and use own initiative to carry out duties in such a way as to make a direct and positive contribution to the organisation. The post holder will provide a professional service to the general public and any other parties who may contact the team.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.

At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

Date posted

01 May 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£22,816 to £24,336 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

350-TWS6236286

Job locations

Hollins Park House

Hollins Park, Hollins Lane

Winwick, Warrington

WA2 8WA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Communicate professionally and effectively with the general public, service users, staff and all internal and external agencies both verbally and non-verbally in a timely manner.

Proactively manage emails and written requests from the general public, service users, staff and or from other individuals, which may require a level of confidentiality and sensitivity.

To provide advice and guidance to other members of staff across the site relating to FOI and EIR processes and practice with the Trust and the national legislation.

To be responsible for providing accurate, up to date advice relating to queries into the team.

Ensure professionalism, diplomacy, empathy and confidentiality when dealing with individuals.

Liaise with staff at all levels, both clinical and non-clinical, to resolve any issues that may arise, to the mutual benefit of all concerned.

Attend and contribute to departmental/team meetings.

Please refer to attached Job Description for full list of duties and responsibilities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communicate professionally and effectively with the general public, service users, staff and all internal and external agencies both verbally and non-verbally in a timely manner.

Proactively manage emails and written requests from the general public, service users, staff and or from other individuals, which may require a level of confidentiality and sensitivity.

To provide advice and guidance to other members of staff across the site relating to FOI and EIR processes and practice with the Trust and the national legislation.

To be responsible for providing accurate, up to date advice relating to queries into the team.

Ensure professionalism, diplomacy, empathy and confidentiality when dealing with individuals.

Liaise with staff at all levels, both clinical and non-clinical, to resolve any issues that may arise, to the mutual benefit of all concerned.

Attend and contribute to departmental/team meetings.

Please refer to attached Job Description for full list of duties and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Three GCSEs or equivalent (including English and Maths), grades 9-5 or A-C
  • NVQ level 3 in Business Administration or equivalent experience

Knowledge/ Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a health care setting
  • Experience of working in a public authority
  • Freedom of Information Act legislation and its requirements
  • Experience of using databases and manipulating spreadsheets
  • Experience of filing systems
  • Microsoft Office 365
  • Willingness to gain understanding of local targets in order to take an active part in achieving targets relevant to the role

Desirable

  • Data Protection legislation and its requirements
  • The use of redaction software

Values

Essential

  • Continuous improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High professional standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change orientated

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills both verbally and non-verbally
  • Ability to demonstrate excellent customer service delivery
  • Ability to maintain administrative information systems efficiently and accurately
  • Demonstrate the ability to organise own duties and prioritise tasks within agreed timescales
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality
  • Ability to deal with difficult situations
  • Accurate attention to detail
  • Flexible working approach.
  • Self motivated
  • Professional attitude
  • Ability to adhere to strict deadlines
  • Possess a caring, compassionate and empathic attitude
  • Able to meet the Trust's professional standards e.g., dress code, customer care
  • Ability/willingness to undergo further training as necessary

Other

Essential

  • Flexible working approach
  • Self motivated
  • Professional attitude
  • Ability to adhere to strict deadlines
  • Possess a caring, compassionate and empathic attitude
  • Able to meet the Trust's professional standards e.g., dress code, customer care
  • Ability/willingness to undergo further training as necessary
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Three GCSEs or equivalent (including English and Maths), grades 9-5 or A-C
  • NVQ level 3 in Business Administration or equivalent experience

Knowledge/ Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a health care setting
  • Experience of working in a public authority
  • Freedom of Information Act legislation and its requirements
  • Experience of using databases and manipulating spreadsheets
  • Experience of filing systems
  • Microsoft Office 365
  • Willingness to gain understanding of local targets in order to take an active part in achieving targets relevant to the role

Desirable

  • Data Protection legislation and its requirements
  • The use of redaction software

Values

Essential

  • Continuous improvement
  • Accountability
  • Respectfulness
  • Enthusiasm
  • Support
  • High professional standards
  • Responsive to service users
  • Engaging leadership style
  • Strong customer service belief
  • Transparency and honesty
  • Discreet
  • Change orientated

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills both verbally and non-verbally
  • Ability to demonstrate excellent customer service delivery
  • Ability to maintain administrative information systems efficiently and accurately
  • Demonstrate the ability to organise own duties and prioritise tasks within agreed timescales
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality
  • Ability to deal with difficult situations
  • Accurate attention to detail
  • Flexible working approach.
  • Self motivated
  • Professional attitude
  • Ability to adhere to strict deadlines
  • Possess a caring, compassionate and empathic attitude
  • Able to meet the Trust's professional standards e.g., dress code, customer care
  • Ability/willingness to undergo further training as necessary

Other

Essential

  • Flexible working approach
  • Self motivated
  • Professional attitude
  • Ability to adhere to strict deadlines
  • Possess a caring, compassionate and empathic attitude
  • Able to meet the Trust's professional standards e.g., dress code, customer care
  • Ability/willingness to undergo further training as necessary

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Hollins Park House

Hollins Park, Hollins Lane

Winwick, Warrington

WA2 8WA


Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Hollins Park House

Hollins Park, Hollins Lane

Winwick, Warrington

WA2 8WA


Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Information Access Manager

Giovanni Cerisola

gio.cerisola@imerseyside.nhs.uk

Date posted

01 May 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£22,816 to £24,336 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

350-TWS6236286

Job locations

Hollins Park House

Hollins Park, Hollins Lane

Winwick, Warrington

WA2 8WA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)