Ministry of Justice

ABOUT THE ROLE:

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The main responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Engaging with senior managers regarding the management and access to information requests including taking ownership of FOI’s, information requests and DPA compliance and reporting.

• Managing and monitoring the progress of requests under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act and Environmental Information Regulations to meet statutory deadlines

• Providing advice and guidance to business groups on requests, applications of exemptions and appeals.

• Briefing ministers and senior officials on complex information access requests involving public interest tests and restrictions on disclosure of sensitive information.

• Raising awareness within the NIO and the Wales Office, promoting information management, ensuring delivery of staff training in information access and personal and that staff awareness remains high.

• Ensuring a collaborative and joined up approach to managing requests for information that impact on the work of the Legacy team

• Assisting records and information management projects and providing input to overall departmental objectives, management, NIO Board and relevant external organisations.

• Collaborating with the Data Protection Officer (DPO) to ensure GDPR compliance.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

Thorough understanding of the Freedom of Information Act (2000); this will include but not be restricted to: 

• Strong understanding of the exemption provisions provided under the FOI Act and how they are applied and a good understanding of Public Interest Tests and when and how they should be applied

• Strong written and oral communication skills

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

• Certified Data Protection Practitioner qualification

• Demonstrable experience of managing electronic document and records management systems

• A sound understanding of the Data Protection Act (2018), in particular a good understanding of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

• Certified Data Protection Practitioner qualification

BEHAVIOURS:

We will assess you against the following Success Profiles behaviours at the SEO level during the application sift and interview process:

• Delivering at Pace (lead behaviour)

• Managing a Quality Service

• Communicating and Influencing

EXPERIENCE:

Please provide a statement of suitability no longer than 500 words outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria and a work history. Both will be used in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role. 

Your statement of suitability needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets the requirements set out above. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. One narrative example may cover the requirements needed. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why. What you can do, the skills you have that are transferable and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role. 

If you don’t have work-based examples then give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.  

You will also be asked to complete a CV with details of your education, professional qualifications, previous skills and full employment history. Your CV will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your CV will be used to add context to your personal statement. 

More information on behaviours and success profiles can be found here.

Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift on the lead Behaviour Delivering at Pace.

 NTERVIEW:

You will be assessed against the same behaviours at the interview stage and will be asked to provide examples of how you have demonstrated the behaviours. 

It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:    

• WHO- What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? or

• STAR- What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take?  What were the Results of your actions?

OFFER

Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first.

The successful candidate will be notified of a start date following successful security checks.

Additional information received after the closing date will not be considered.  Failure to provide sufficient information in support of an application prior to the closing date will not be considered as grounds for an appeal if an applicant is not shortlisted for interview.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: 

This role requires National Security Vetting given the access to sensitive information afforded by the job role.  You can find more information by reviewing the information held in the following links:

United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The vetting charter - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In addition, there is a minimum UK residency requirement set by the Cabinet Office which is dependent on the security level required for the role.

This role requires DV and to be eligible to apply for this role you should have been present in the UK continuously for the past 5 years

Neither Detached Duty terms nor relocation costs will apply to this post.

Further Information:

Further information about the post may be obtained from Mary Duggan via email to Mary.Duggan@NIO.gov.uk

All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment.

Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at the sift stage. Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following the interview.

COMPLAINTS:

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.  Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. 

Please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk) in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages:

http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/

https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/

RESERVE LISTS:

In the event that the advertised post following interview, identifies more appointable applicants than available posts, we may hold applicant details on a merit/reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further future appointments can be made. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact

MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com to be removed from the reserve list.

Additional Information  

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The NIO offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different NIO sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

Flexible working hours

The NIO offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. NIO welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the NIO’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits:

• Access to learning and development

• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance

• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity

• A Civil Service pension

• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after five years service.

• Public Holidays

• Season Ticket Advance