About the role
The Information Requests Specialist role is part of the Information Requests Team, a small, but specialised team which provides a centralised service for the organisation, dealing with enquiries and requests under the Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Regulations, and the Data Protection Act. The Information Requests Specialist role reports to the Information Requests Manager.
The Information Requests Team is part of the Information Governance Team (IG Team), which supports the whole organisation in relation to all information management and information governance matters.
This role supports the delivery of the statutory obligations of the organisation under current information legislation.
What will you be doing?
You will support the Information Requests Manager in the delivery of an efficient and compliant Information Requests handling service on behalf of the organisation.
You will:
- Maintain effective working relationships across the organisation to ensure that all stakeholders understand and meet their responsibilities in the delivery of information requests
- Be responsible for your own caseload, responding to various request types under the Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Regulations, the Data Protection Act and UK GDPR
- Support the Information Requests Manager in ensuring the organisation meets its obligations under the Local Government Transparency Code
- Use your decision making skills to interpret data protection legislation and ensure data sharing is carried out lawfully
- Carry out the role in line with policies, procedures and training material
- Be working independently, with the ability to use your own initiative to produce work to high standard
- Support the Information Requests Manager in the production of performance data and contribute to strategies for improvement where necessary
- Attend Team Meetings and contribute ideas and intiatives
About you
You will:
- Have achieved a minimum of Grade 4 in GCSE Maths and English, or have practical experience in Information Governance disciplines
- Have excellent communication and organisation skills, and knowledge and understanding of Information Legislation. You will be confident in communicating and providing advice and guidance in all aspects of Information Governance to your colleagues across the organisation
- Be a methodical individual who enjoys team working. Equally you will be able to work with minimum supervision, be proactive and take a pragmatic approach in pressurised situations
- Be positive to new ideas and able to adapt to changes as the new unitary authority grows
- Be happy to work in a hybrid way which will enable you to balance face to face working with the flexibility to work remotely
- Able to travel to various sites across the organisation – this will be occasional eg. team meetings
Our benefits
We offer:
- a competitive salary
- a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
- opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
- generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
- agile and flexible working arrangements to help you with a healthy work-life balance.
About us
We are a new unitary council, established in April 2021; we are one of the largest unitary councils in the country. Our vision for North Northants is to be 'A place where everyone has the best opportunities and quality of life'.
Our priorities are:
- helping people live active fulfilled lives
- caring for our young people, providing them with high quality education and opportunities
- enabling a thriving and successful economy
- leading on a green and sustainable environment
- ensuring our communities are connected so they can shape their lives and where they live
- providing modern public services
Our values, as chosen by our staff, are - Customer-focused, Respectful, Efficient, Supportive and Trustworthy.
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