Access to Information Officer

Aatom Recruitment is looking for Access to Information Officer on behalf of a Local Authority.

Job Title: Access to Information Officer Contract Duration: 3 Months Hours Per Week: 35

Work Pattern: Once per week in the Office.

ob Purpose:

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To work as part of the Information Governance Team supporting the Access to Information Manager to deliver a high-quality Access to Information function ensuring timely responses to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation (UKGDPR).

Access to Information

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To play an active role within the Information Governance Team, ensuring the council meets its obligations under FOIA, EIR, DP and UK GDPR and Local Government Transparency Code 2015.

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Using the council’s case management system, log and manage responding to requests for information in accordance with the council’s Access to Information Policy and statutory timescales.

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Provide expert advice to the council and members of the public on the correct handling of requests under legislation.

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Working with subject matter experts across the council, gather information required to respond to requests and provide expert advice on the engagement of legal exemptions of the FOIA, EIR and data protection legislations and to ensure that ‘qualified’ legal exemptions are applied using the public interest test.

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Provide high quality responses ensuring that information is appropriately redacted and that responses clearly explain where and why information has been withheld.

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Proactively escalate requests that are at risk of non-compliance to the Senior Information Governance Officer.

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Carry out thorough investigations and respond to information complaints and issues raised by the public relating to FOIA, EIR and data protection concerns.

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Liaise with the Information Commissioner’s Office when required.

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To manage team mailboxes, and promptly log requests and complaints in the relevant systems in accordance with team procedures.

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To be the first point of contact for staff and members of the public on the Access to Information legislations.

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Support the council’s ‘open data and transparency approach’ by identifying information that can be published.

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Deal with members of the public in a sensitive and professional manner at all times.

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Deliver the range of allocated tasks in an environment of frequent interruptions.

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Develop a working knowledge of service structures, responsibilities and contacts.

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The post will handle and access highly sensitive data about members of the public requested under the DPA. The post holder will need to champion secure handling processing of highly sensitive personal data.

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To assist with the maintenance of the council’s Freedom of Information Publication Scheme in accordance with statutory requirements.

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Undertake project work and ad hoc administrative tasks and duties commensurate to the grade of the post.

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Provide education, training and awareness to all members of staff on the requirements of information rights legislation and guidance in order to ensure that relevant business functions are made aware of their legal responsibilities and best practice and how to comply with them.

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Provide a proactive approach to policy implementation and keep up to date with legislative changes, including keeping up to date with any data protection and FOI/EIR related developments in the UK and Europe, ensuring that the necessary changes are implemented and that the information is shared.

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Promote best practice in the specialist area across the council and proactively work to identify and promote better service delivery, performance and efficiencies.

Additional

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Ensure service continuity at all times providing cover across the Access to Information team as required.

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To use and assist others in the use of information technology systems to carry out duties in the most efficient and effective manner.

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To achieve agreed service outcomes and outputs, and personal appraisal targets, as agreed by the line manager.

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To undertake training and constructively take part in meetings, supervision, seminars and other events designed to improve communication and assist with the effective development of the post and post holder.

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To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the council’s commitment to customer service excellence and ensure compliance with the customer care standards.

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To be committed to the Council’s core values of public service, quality, equality and empowerment and to demonstrate this commitment in the way duties are carried out.

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To ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act and other legislation