Information Governance Manager

Local Government Ombudsman; Coventry, York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Work-life balance

Learning and development

Family-friendly policies

Season ticket loan

Wellbeing programme

Civil Service Sports Club

Eye-care benefits

Bike loan

Reasonable adjustments

Job summary

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman invites applications for an Information Governance Manager based in Coventry. You will lead the Information Governance Team and act as Deputy Data Protection Officer, ensuring responsible and transparent handling of information in the public interest.

This new role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the team, manage complex information requests, and contribute to governance and risk management while enjoying hybrid working arrangements and 35

Qualifications

• A qualification in data protection and/or Freedom of Information legislation.
• Ability to use redaction software or develop this skill quickly.
• Ability to understand and apply complex legislation and ICO guidance.
• Ability to identify and assess information risks and contribute to risk registers or governance documents.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, conveying complex information clearly and diplomatically.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Information Governance Team and manage performance.
• Act as Deputy Data Protection Officer under the Head of Policy and Communications.
• Handle some of the most complex information requests.
• Shape and deliver information governance services within the organisation.
• Maintain risk registers and governance documents related to information governance.

Skills

Redaction software

Legislation knowledge

Information risk assessment

Decision making

Communication skills

Education

Data protection/FOI qualification

Job description

Hybrid working – allocated to offices in Coventry

Location

Based in Coventry .

Role

The Information Governance Manager leads the Information Governance Team at the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), playing a central role in how the organisation handles information responsibly, transparently and in the public interest.

You will act as Deputy Data Protection Officer, working under the delegation of the Head of Policy and Communications. You will lead and support a small team, take ownership of information governance performance, and personally handle some of the most complex and sensitive information requests the organisation receives.

This is a new position within the organisation and an exciting opportunity to shape the role and work of the team to deliver an excellent service.

See the job pack for more details.

Details

Position Information Governance Manager

Hours 35

Salary £41,904 to £46,258 per annum

Holiday 25 days rising by 1 day with three years’ service and a further 2 days with five years’ service. Plus bank holidays and 3 concessionary days between Christmas and New Year.

Requirements

Education

A qualification in data protection and/or Freedom of Information legislation.

Skills

• Able to use redaction software, or willingness to develop this skill quickly.
• Able to understand and apply complex legislation and relevant ICO guidance.
• Able to identify and assess information risks and contribute to risk registers or similar governance documents.
• Good judgement and decision-making, particularly when handling sensitive or contentious requests or escalating information risks.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex or sensitive information clearly, accurately and diplomatically.

Experience

• Experience of handling FOI requests, Subject Access Requests or
• other information requests in a professional setting.
• Experience working in a role where compliance with legislation or regulation is required.
• Experience managing or supporting others, formally or informally.
• Experience of working on information risk or information assurance matters, or supporting a senior colleague in this capacity.
• Experience handling complex Subject Access Requests using electronic redaction.

At the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman we value our staff and work hard to reward them.

We are an ambitious, focused, inclusive and friendly organisation which is recognised for the important work we do. There are a range of benefits for all our staff enjoy. These include:

• Pension: You’ll be entitled to join the Local Government Pension Scheme which is a career average scheme.
• Work/life balance: We encourage all employees to have a healthy work/life balance and offer flexible working arrangements, such as agile working and flexi-time, together with a wide range of different working patterns. All are subject to business needs.
• Learning and development: We provide our staff with access to a learning and development programme to enable them to succeed in their role. Where membership is relevant to your role in the organisation, we will also pay the annual membership fee for you to be a member of your professional body.
• family-friendly:We offer generous maternity, adoption, paternity and parental leave, and provide for paid and unpaid special leave.
• Season ticket loan: We offer our staff the ability to have a loan for their annual travel season ticket.
• Wellbeing: We have a programme which includes an Occupational Health Service and access for you to an excellent, confidential Employee Assistance Scheme. This is a free 24-hour counselling service for advice about your work and personal life challenges
• You will be able to join the Civil Service Sports Club.
• As well as reimbursing the cost of your eye tests, we will subsidise your eye care where a prescription is for VDU usage and we will cover the cost of an annual flu jab.
• Bike loan:We run a Cycle to Work Scheme which allows you to pay for the cost of your bike (up to a limit) as a loan which is deducted from your salary.
• Reasonable adjustments: We recognise how important it is to make reasonable changes for staff where appropriate.

About the LGSCO

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) is an arms-length body sponsored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and is responsible for investigating complaints against local councils, social care providers and some other public organisations in England.

We provide a free service to the public, offering an accessible route for people to seek redress without needing legal action. Our focus is on resolving issues fairly, recommending appropriate remedies, and improving systemic practice so others are not affected in the same way.

One of our primary aims is to put people back in the position they would have been in had the mistake not occurred. We do this through remedies including apologies, practical actions to assist the person affected, and preventative measures to avoid the same thing happening to others.

Beyond individual cases, we work to foster long-term improvements by publishing reports and sharing best practice to councils and care providers. We monitor implementation of our recommendations to strengthen transparency and accountability in local governance and social care.