Information Rights Officer

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; St Albans; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is seeking an Information Governance professional to guide staff on data protection, access to records, and information management. The role involves responding to requests under Data Protection laws, managing FOI processes, and ensuring confidentiality across care settings.

The post requires experience with information governance frameworks, strong IT skills, and the ability to work with staff at all levels.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years' experience in a relevant field.
• Knowledge of UK Information Rights Law and healthcare data.
• Ability to advise staff on access to information processes.

Responsibilities

• Respond to information requests under Data Protection laws in relation to a person’s care and treatment.
• Manage and respond to Freedom of Information requests from receipt to closure.
• Answer telephone and email queries in relation to information management and confidentiality issues.
• Ensure police requests are accompanied with appropriate paperwork (e.g. consent, exemptions or court orders).
• Maintain and manage the Trust’s hard copy archive under direction of the Information Governance Manager.
• Provide guidance to all staff on access to information processes (Data Protection, FOI, Environmental Information Regulations).
• Identify and flag changes required due to legislation changes and update standard documents.

Skills

Data protection

Freedom of Information

Confidentiality

Information governance

Archive management

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Access

Job description

Provide advice to members of the public who may need assistance with an information request. This includes advice on the following Information Rights Law: Data Protection Act, UK General Data Protection Regulation, Access to Health Records, Freedom of Information, Environmental Information Regulations. Provide advice and guidance to all levels of staff on access to information processes e.g. the formal access to service user records process, Freedom of Information Act 2000, and Environmental Information Regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• To be responsible for responding to requests under Data Protection laws in relation to a person's care and treatment.
• To be responsible for the management of Freedom of Information requests, from receipt to closure.
• Answer telephone and email queries in relation to information management and confidentiality issues.
• Ensure requests from police are accompanied with appropriate paperwork e.g. consent from the service user, Section 212 exemption under the Data Protection Act 2018 or a Sealed Court Order.
• Manage and maintain the Trust's hard copy archive, under instruction from the Information Governance Manager.
• Provide advice and guidance to all levels of staff on access to information processes e.g. the formal access to service user records process, Freedom of Information Act 2000, and Environmental Information Regulations.
• To be responsible for responding to requests under Data Protection laws in relation to a person's care and treatment.
• To be responsible for the management of Freedom of Information requests, from receipt to closure.
• Identify and flag any issues that may arise through changes in legislation e.g. changes required to standard documents.
• Answer telephone and email queries in relation to information management and confidentiality issues.
• Update knowledge of new developments in legislation surrounding care records management systems technologies, Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2000, Data protection legislation, and associated topics.
• Ensure requests from police are accompanied with appropriate paperwork e.g. consent from the service user, Section 212 exemption under the Data Protection Act 2018 or a Sealed Court Order.
• Manage and maintain the Trust's hard copy archive, under instruction from the Information Governance Manager., 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.
• Knowledge of administrative procedures and information analysis.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years' experience in relevant field.

Desirable Criteria

• Previously worked in similar position within the public sector, High standard of IT skills including working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access packages
• Experience of working with staff at all levels including clinicians
• Self-disciplined, proven ability to work with minimal supervision
• Excellent organisational and prioritising skills
• Able to work under pressure and complete tasks within agreed deadlines
• Knowledge of audit and research
• Evidence of training individuals and groups
• Specialist knowledge of the: Data Protection legislation
• Specialist knowledge of the: Access to Health Records Act 1990
• Specialist knowledge of the: Freedom of Information Act 2000
• Specialist knowledge of the: Environmental Information Regulations 2005

About HPFT

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services. The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Our Trust values are: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional. These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it! Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?