FOI Manager

NHS England; City Of London; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare organization in the UK seeks a Freedom of Information Advisor to manage and oversee FOI requests, ensuring statutory responsibilities are met while supporting a busy team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in FOI policy and excellent communication skills. This role involves leading ICO complaint cases and managing case officers. Competitive salary offered in a diverse work environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering Freedom of Information systems.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment managing competing priorities.
• Specialist knowledge in FOI processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead on Information Commissioner Office (ICO) complaint case work.
• Manage complex casework with case officers.
• Support senior management with Tribunal work.

Skills

Knowledge of Freedom of Information policy

Clear communication

Ability to manage workload

Education

Post-graduate degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Overview

We are looking for two candidates with excellent knowledge of Freedom of Information policy to perform this key role in the External Affairs team of the Communications Team (part of the Strategy Directorate). Working as part of a small but busy team, the Parliamentary Business and FOI Response team, the postholders will have an important role in delivering NHS England's statutory responsibility for delivery against FOI legislation. This is an opportunity to develop skills beyond the routine handling of FOI requests in a busy organisation, supporting both the senior managers and case officers within the team.

The postholders will:

• Lead on Information Commissioner Office (ICO) complaint case work and responding to ICO investigations.
• Oversee the Internal Review process.
• Manage complex casework, working with the Case Officers/Senior Case Officer.
• Support the Senior Management Team with work on Tribunals.
• Support the Senior FOI Manager with training, and cover for the Senior FOI Manager during leave.
• May be asked to process general FOIs as team capacity requires.

The postholders will report to the Senior FOI Manager. The posts are at any NHSE location, supporting a team that is based across the country.

Main duties of the job

As Freedom of Information Advisor, the post holder will work as part of a busy team in delivering an effective service supporting the management of all FOI requests submitted to NHSE and affiliated organisations. The post entails coordinating responses on sometimes very complex subjects and turning this information into effective and timely FOI responses.

The postholder will have management responsibility for case officers in the FOI team, and represent the team in liaison with senior leaders inside the organisation, including the Chief Executive's office.

About us

Our work supports the NHS to deliver high quality services for patients and best value for taxpayers.

Our staff bring expertise across hundreds of specialisms -- including clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

We lead the NHS in England by:

• Enabling local systems and providers to improve the health of their people and patients and reduce health inequalities
• Making the NHS a great place to work, where our people can make a difference and achieve their potential
• Working collaboratively to ensure our healthcare workforce has the right knowledge, skills, values and behaviours to deliver accessible, compassionate care
• Optimising the use of digital technology, research, and innovation

Earlier this year, the Government announced that NHS England will gradually merge with the Department of Health and Social Care, leading to full integration. The aim is to create a smaller, more strategic centre that reduces duplication and eliminates waste.

If successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the recruitment process.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will manage responses independently, liaising with colleagues when appropriate. Tasks include:

Networking effectively with all the Directorates of NHS England and Improvement, and the Chief Executives office.

Managing the FOI system

Ensuring that record-keeping and knowledge management within the area of work is effective.

Representing the area of work to others, internally.

Being an effective advocate for the importance of FOI.

Line Management of Senior Case Officers

Key Functional Responsibilities Project Management

Contribute to performance improvement, taking a lead for identified areas.

Provide coordination of and participate in relevant working groups and provide project advice, expertise and support where requested.

Provide relevant and timely specialist advice and guidance on own portfolio.

Work with members of the Team to investigate the causes of any variance from plan and proactively contribute to the implementation of solutions.

Management of a risk and issues tracking mechanism and the resolution and escalation processes.

Financial and Physical Resources

Provide regular reporting on the targeting of resources and monitoring their implementation from a value for money perspective.

Provide oversight and monitoring of all aspects of team budgets or manage budgets as required.

Ensure project expenditure is monitored accordingly.

People Management

Take a lead in the coordination of training, development and recruitment activity across the Team.

Manage staff, undertaking appraisals, and managing any employee relations issues.

Information Management

Devise and provide improvements to current management information, analysing, reporting and suggesting procedures to enhance decision making processes.

Ensure timely and accurate detailed information analysis and reporting to management on agreed areas of work.

Research and Development

Contribute to the development of key performance indicators.

Delegate aspects of research and development activities, collating information, analysing and reporting findings.

Planning and Organisation

Contribute to the strategic planning of team projects, identifying interdependencies, and potential impacts on wider organisation, resource requirements and building in contingency and adjustments as necessary.

Contribute to short, medium and long-term business plans.

Policy and Service Development

Develop policies and procedures in own work function with an impact on the wider organisation, as required.

Contribute to the development of an integrated approach to service management.

Key Working Relationships

The post holder will be required to maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.

Participate in relevant working groups/projects, services and initiatives to provide, information and analytical advice and expertise.

Develop and implement data collection systems that will provide accurate and timely data.

Present information and issues, explaining highly complex issues, to a wide range of stakeholders.

Secondments

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will manage responses independently, liaising with colleagues when appropriate. Tasks include:

Networking effectively with all the Directorates of NHS England and Improvement, and the Chief Executives office.

Managing the FOI system

Ensuring that record-keeping and knowledge management within the area of work is effective.

Representing the area of work to others, internally.

Being an effective advocate for the importance of FOI.

Line Management of Senior Case Officers

Key Functional Responsibilities Project Management

Contribute to performance improvement, taking a lead for identified areas.

Provide coordination of and participate in relevant working groups and provide project advice, expertise and support where requested.

Provide relevant and timely specialist advice and guidance on own portfolio.

Work with members of the Team to investigate the causes of any variance from plan and proactively contribute to the implementation of solutions.

Management of a risk and issues tracking mechanism and the resolution and escalation processes.

Financial and Physical Resources

Provide regular reporting on the targeting of resources and monitoring their implementation from a value for money perspective.

Provide oversight and monitoring of all aspects of team budgets or manage budgets as required.

Ensure project expenditure is monitored accordingly.

People Management

Take a lead in the coordination of training, development and recruitment activity across the Team.

Manage staff, undertaking appraisals, and managing any employee relations issues.

Information Management

Devise and provide improvements to current management information, analysing, reporting and suggesting procedures to enhance decision making processes.

Ensure timely and accurate detailed information analysis and reporting to management on agreed areas of work.

Research and Development

Contribute to the development of key performance indicators.

Delegate aspects of research and development activities, collating information, analysing and reporting findings.

Planning and Organisation

Contribute to the strategic planning of team projects, identifying interdependencies, and potential impacts on wider organisation, resource requirements and building in contingency and adjustments as necessary.

Contribute to short, medium and long-term business plans.

Policy and Service Development

Develop policies and procedures in own work function with an impact on the wider organisation, as required.

Contribute to the development of an integrated approach to service management.

Key Working Relationships

The post holder will be required to maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of stakeholders.

Participate in relevant working groups/projects, services and initiatives to provide, information and analytical advice and expertise.

Develop and implement data collection systems that will provide accurate and timely data.

Present information and issues, explaining highly complex issues, to a wide range of stakeholders.

Secondments

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to Post-graduate degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.

Knowledge and experience

• Good understanding of current healthcare policy and communications environment and the implications for NHS England and information management
• Demonstrable specialist knowledge in FOI processes
• Ability to deliver the Freedom of Information system and the organisation's statutory responsibilities for the FOI Act 2000.
• Experience of working in a fast paced environment, delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams/individuals.

Skills Capabilities and Aptitudes

• Demonstrate a good ability to deliver at pace in complex environments.
• Clear communicator with excellent written and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately to a diverse and varied range of audiences consisting of internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales.

£47,810 to £54,710 a year(exclusive of London Weighting)