Information Governance Assistant

Coventry City Council; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job description

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, accepting of all, and free from discrimination and bias. The Information Governance Team plays a key role in the Council’s corporate governance arrangements, helping the Council to protect the personal data that the organisation holds and making sure it meets its legal obligations. The busy team supports the Council in meeting the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, and other legislation, protecting personal data and ensuring that information rights are upheld. The team works closely together providing support, advice, and guidance to the Council through working with services across the organisation and in partner organisations.

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled, and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

1. Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
2. Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
3. Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
4. Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
5. Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
6. Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

What is the job role?

This role plays an important part in helping the Council meet its statutory responsibilities for protecting data and meeting information rights. You will be the first point of contact for public access to information under the Freedom of Information Act, Environmental Information Regulations, and for individuals making requests about the personal data that the Council holds about them, primarily Subject Access Requests.

You will also be responsible for managing phone calls and emails received into the Information Governance. Meeting these fundamental rights and helping ensure openness and transparency is both rewarding and challenging. You will ensure appropriate processes are followed to log, validate, and follow up requests, working with colleagues in the Information Governance Team across the Council to provide advice and guidance and prepare information for disclosure. You will liaise with and provide advice to members of the public, colleagues, and partners on information rights and information sharing, ensuring requests are managed appropriately and dealt with within legal timescales.

Who are we looking for?

You will understand the requirements for managing and protecting information and the ability to maintain the confidentiality and security of data at all times. You will have experience of working to legislative requirements, ideally in information governance.

You will be able to follow processes accurately, reviewing and updating documents and spreadsheets. You will work closely with other team members and Council colleagues, organising your own workload to meet agreed timescales. You will be able to give clear advice and communicate effectively with members of the public, colleagues, and partners.

We are looking for someone who:

1. has strong customer service and IT skills
2. has good oral and written communication skills
3. has experience in handling data and presenting findings
4. is a good team player and also a self-starter

If you want to discuss this role, please contact Sue Gilbert on 024 7697 5408. This is a fixed-term role for 12 months.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

1. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
2. Are currently in care or have previously been in care
3. If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date: Thursday 8 May

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative, and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change. We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant, and diverse.

At Coventry, we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together, and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies.