Data Protection Officer

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Quarrington; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an experienced Data Protection Officer to lead on data protection, privacy and information governance across the organisation. This senior role acts as the statutory DPO, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and serving as the primary contact with regulators.

You will work with the Board, SIRO and Caldicott Guardian, shaping information governance strategy, providing expert guidance on complex issues, and

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of data protection and information governance.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and explain complex concepts.
• Experience delivering DSPT compliance.
• Able to work autonomously in advisory role.
• Leads Information Governance and Records Team.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Trust’s statutory Data Protection Officer, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR and relevant legislation.
• Provide independent, expert advice to the Board, SIRO, and Caldicott Guardian on data protection risks and requirements.
• Serve as the primary contact for the ICO and data subjects.
• Lead development and assurance of Information Governance policies, procedures, and strategies.
• Oversee delivery of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit and wider compliance activities.
• Advise on Data Protection Impact Assessments, information sharing agreements, and contracts.
• Lead or support investigations into data breaches and complex IG incidents.
• Provide assurance on data protection aspects of cybersecurity and digital initiatives.
• Produce reports and briefings for Board and governance committees.
• Line manage and develop the Information Governance and Records Management team.

Skills

Data protection

Information governance

Stakeholder communication

Autonomous working

Education

Masters in IG/InfoSec

Ongoing professional development

Job description

Main area Digital and Data Services Grade NHS AfC: Band 8a Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Flexible working options available) Job ref 274-12122-COR-A

Employer Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Unit 9, The Point Town Sleaford Salary £57,528 - £64,750 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 13/09/2026 23:59 Interview date 24/09/2026

Data Protection Officer

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Data Protection Officer (DPO) to join Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. This is a key senior role providing independent expert advice and assurance on all aspects of data protection, privacy, and information governance across the organisation.

As the Trust’s statutory DPO, you will play a critical role in ensuring compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, acting as the primary contact with regulators and supporting a strong culture of safe and lawful data use.

Working closely with the Board, SIRO, and Caldicott Guardian, you will lead on strategic information governance, provide expert guidance on complex issues, and support delivery of the Trust’s Digital & Data agenda.

This role offers the opportunity to shape data protection practice at system level, working across the Trust and with Integrated Care System partners.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has expert knowledge of data protection and information governance.


• Can influence at senior level and communicate complex concepts clearly.


• Has experience delivering compliance frameworks such as the DSPT.


• Is confident working autonomously in a specialist advisory role.


• Can lead a busy IG and Records Team.

Previously interviewed applicants may not apply.

Main duties of the job

• Act as the Trust’s statutory Data Protection Officer, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR and relevant legislation.


• Provide independent, expert advice to the Board, SIRO, and Caldicott Guardian on data protection risks and requirements.


• Serve as the primary contact for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and data subjects.


• Lead development and assurance of Information Governance policies, procedures, and strategies.


• Oversee delivery of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit and wider compliance activities.


• Advise on Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), information sharing agreements, and contracts.


• Lead or support investigations into data breaches and complex IG incidents.


• Provide assurance on data protection aspects of cybersecurity and digital initiatives.


• Produce reports and briefings for Board and governance committees.


• Line manage and develop the Information Governance and Records Management team.

Working for our organisation

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health services and a number of learning disability, autism and social care services in the county of Lincolnshire. Employing around 2,900 staff, and serving a population of over 768,400, our people lie at the heart of everything we do.

You could be part of a Trust rated by staff as one of the best mental health and learning disability trusts in England. We firmly believe the key to high quality care is a contented workforce. This is reflected in our Care Quality Commission rating of ‘outstanding’ for well-led and ‘good’ overall. In the most recent National NHS Staff Survey, our staff rated us as the number one trust nationally for staff morale and one of the top scoring NHS Trusts in the Midlands for being compassionate and inclusive. We’re really proud of this!

We offer options for flexible working and provide a wide range of training and promotion opportunities in all professions. We support and celebrate diversity, have active staff networks groups and are always looking at what more we can do to support our staff.

Whether you’re taking the first exciting steps in your career, itching for a new challenge or searching for a better place to raise a family, Lincolnshire has arange of rewarding health and social care careers in a county that’s friendly, fascinating, affordable and brimming with everything you need to live a happy life. Visit beinlincolnshire.com to find out more.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for complete details regarding this post.

When completing your application, please demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

We can also offer you many staff benefits to help support you which include:

• Early access to Psychological Therapies and Physiotherapy


• Competitive annual leave allowance


• Car leasing scheme


• Free eye tests


• Money saving options through our salary sacrifice scheme


• Discounts on major high street retailers and restaurants

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to Masters Degree level, studying towards a Masters level degree or demonstrable and relevant equivalent experience in Information Governance or Information Security or Records Management field


• On-going professional development in data protection and security management field


• Specialist project management qualification or demonstrable experience (e.g. Prince 2 accredited or an equivalent methodology)


• Evidence of ongoing training and development

Experience

• In depth knowledge and expertise in data security, information governance and information security preferably in an NHS or public sector environment


• Dynamic and confident at presentations and able to demonstrate ability Experienced delivery of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit


• Experience of achieving high levels of assurance at audit

Skills

• Clear demonstrable understanding of the Data Protection Act and GDPR Regulation, Records of Processing and the principles of Information Asset Management


• Highly developed knowledge of structured project management methodologies, gained through either formal training or practical experience


• Able to manage project and financial resources effectively, motivating staff to meet tight deadlines


• Highly developed organisational and planning skills, with the ability to co-ordinate a number of work streams across different functions


• Able to apply focused concentration for prolonged periods in developing complex strategies or legislation assessments, writing reports or analysing project status


• Able to introduce change, often requiring the need to overcome significant barriers in introducing new working practices


• Able to receive and assimilate complex and conflicting information from a variety of sources to bring together in an overall coherent and organised project plan


• Ability to communicate complex plans and concepts in simple terms to non-technical audiences


• Analytical thinker and problem solver, able to analyse complex, cross-functional/external dependencies to factor into achievable plans


• Able to receive and understand complex and often conflicting information in national initiatives or legislation


• Able to articulate complex data protection or technical (IT) issues simply to any involved parties


• Excellent ability to communicate verbally and in writing to audiences at all levels. Comfortable in presenting complex ideas to large mixed audiences, with ability to effectively present to a live audience of 200 or more, for training purposes


• Someone who can motivate and lead

As an ethical recruiter we will not pursue applications from red list countries as defined by the World Health Organisation. In order to pursue and apply for this role you must have UK NHS experience.

We reserve the right to withdraw or close a vacancy at any time. We will give priority to employees who are at risk.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.