FOI Officer

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; Burnley; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is recruiting an experienced Freedom of Information/Subject Access Request Officer to oversee FOI processing and information rights requests. You will ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, leading a small team in a busy Trust environment.

The role requires a degree-level qualification with data protection/FOI knowledge, strong leadership, and excellent written and verbal communication.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent).
• Data protection or Freedom of Information qualification or equivalent work experience.
• Experience dealing with difficult situations, including conflict resolution and influencing others.

Responsibilities

• Oversee processing of Freedom of Information requests in line with data protection laws.
• Develop and implement best practices for data management and protection.
• Lead and manage a team handling access to health records requests.
• Collaborate with departments to improve data handling and ensure compliance.

Skills

IT skills

Communication skills

Report writing

Data protection knowledge

NHS governance

Confidentiality handling

Education

Degree level or equivalent

Data protection or FOI qualification

Tools

Word

Excel

Adobe

PowerPoint

Job description

Main area OneLSC Digital ELHT Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Permanent: one perm role and one 12 month secondment/fixed term Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 435-1LSC-ELHT-095-26

Site East Lancashire Town Blackburn Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 31/08/2026 23:59

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

One LSC is a new collaborative partnership shared service formed by the five NHS Trusts serving the Lancashire and South Cumbria population of 1.8 million people. We are a shared service run by the NHS, for the NHS and are hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust on behalf of the partner Trusts of the Lancashire and South Cumbria system.

One LSC stands for ‘One Lancashire and South Cumbria’ and reflects the Lancashire and South Cumbria System ambition to have one team serving Lancashire and South Cumbria in a joined-up way. It is jointly run by the five Trusts as a collaborative partnership.

The Trusts that make up One LSC are:

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

One LSC brings together the Digital, Data and Technology, Estates and Facilities, Finance, People Services and Procurement and Logistics services from each of the provider Trusts to create one central community of professionals. Under one leadership team, they will provide services for and on behalf of all Trusts.

The aim is to bring services more closely together so that we can deliver the best service possible to each of our partner organisations. At the core of One LSC delivery is eliminating duplication, removing unwarranted variation, realisation of the benefits of sharing common systems and processes and ensuring we deliver value for money for our partners, our system and, ultimately, for the communities we serve.

Job overview

Are you passionate about data protection and compliance? Do you have a keen eye for detail and a strong background in managing Freedom of Information/Subject Access requests ? If so, we would love to hear from you as we offer up a 12 month fixed term and a permanent role.

As an Freedom of Information/Subject Access Request Officer, you will be responsible for overseeing the processing of Freedom of Information Requests and supporting Information Rights Requests , ensuring compliance with the relevant laws, and leading a dedicated team to enhance the Trust’s data management practices. This role requires a proactive individual with excellent organisational and leadership skills, who can effectively manage and motivate a team.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the processing of Freedom of Information requests in compliance with data protection regulations, such as the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Develop and implement best practices for data management and protection.
• Lead and manage a team dedicated to handling access to health records requests.
• Collaborate with various departments to ensure compliance and improve data handling processes.
• Collaborate with various departments to ensure compliance and improve data handling processes.

Working for our organisation

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See the attached JD/PS. This is a joint role to ensure there is cross cover in place, however responsibility, day to day, will be FOI

• Extensive experience in data protection and compliance.
• Proven track record of managing access to health records and individuals information rights
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with different departments.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent)
• Data protection or Freedom of Information qualification or equivalent work experience

Experience

• Experience of dealing with difficult situationsincluding the resolution of conflict and influencing others to accept demanding outcomes

Knowledge and Skills

• Building and maintaining strong working relationships
• Strong IT skills incl use of Word, Excel, Adobe and PowerPoint
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills incl a good telephone manner
• Ability to produce reports that evaluate and present complex data in an understandable way
• Able to provide and receive complex, highly sensitive or contentious information, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or re‑assurance skills are required
• Able to work and communicate effectively with clinical and senior divisional staff to develop strong relationships
• Knowledge of data protection principles and standards relating to healthcare data
• Handling confidential and delicate information with sensitivity
• Understanding of the NHS and key issues affecting the service
• Excellent understanding of the NHS Governance agenda

Other

• Some flexibility in regards to working hours

If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro‑rata.

Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS)

If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained.

The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed.

The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.

This cost is not applicable for a Volunteer post

The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.

We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background.

We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under‑representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible. By telephone [phone] or email [e-mail] write to Employment Services, Parkview Offices, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH

Thanks for taking the time to view this advert; we look forward to receiving your application.

Please be aware that this vacancy may close earlier than the published date if sufficient applications are received. It is, therefore, recommended that you apply as soon as you can.

We will contact you by e-mail to update you on the progress of your application, so please check the e‑mail account that you applied from regularly (including spam/junk).

The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, is committed to improving the working lives of its colleagues and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy on aggression, violence, bullying and harassment.

As a recruitment service, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service in recruiting people into positions of trust.

It is important to us that we employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone - irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background.

We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that as an employer we are under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

We recognise that the recruitment process may present barriers for some and you may need personal adjustments to enable you to participate in our recruitment process. Please make contact with the recruitment team at the earliest opportunity to enable you to apply for this post.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

If the role you’ve applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one‑off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40, Standard DBS check £26.40, Enhanced DBS check £54.40 and Enhanced DBS check with Barred List(s) £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here .

In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working.

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