Full job descriptionFOI OfficerNHS AfC: Band 5Main area

OneLSC Digital ELHT
Grade

NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract

Permanent: one perm role and one 12 month secondment/fixed term
Hours

Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref

435-1LSC-ELHT-095-26
Site

East Lancashire
Town

Blackburn
Salary

£32,073 - £39,043 per annum
Salary period

Yearly
Closing

31/08/2026 23:59
At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.
One LSC is a new collaborative partnership shared service formed by the five NHS Trusts serving the Lancashire and South Cumbria population of 1.8 million people. We are a shared service run by the NHS, for the NHS and are hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust on behalf of the partner Trusts of the Lancashire and South Cumbria system.
One LSC stands for ’One Lancashire and South Cumbria’ and reflects the Lancashire and South Cumbria System ambition to have one team serving Lancashire and South Cumbria in a joined-up way. It is jointly run by the five Trusts as a collaborative partnership.
The Trusts that make up One LSC are:
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
· East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
· Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
· Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
· University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
One LSC brings together the Digital, Data and Technology, Estates and Facilities, Finance, People Services and Procurement and Logistics services from each of the provider Trusts to create one central community of professionals. Under one leadership team, they will provide services for and on behalf of all Trusts.
The aim is to bring services more closely together so that we can deliver the best service possible to each of our partner organisations. At the core of One LSC delivery is eliminating duplication, removing unwarranted variation, realisation of the benefits of sharing common systems and processes and ensuring we deliver value for money for our partners, our system and, ultimately, for the communities we serve.
Job overviewAre you passionate about data protection and compliance? Do you have a keen eye for detail and a strong background in managing Freedom of Information/Subject Access requests ? If so, we would love to hear from you as we offer up a 12 month fixed term and a permanent role.
As an Freedom of Information/Subject Access Request Officer, you will be responsible for overseeing the processing of Freedom of Information Requests and supporting Information Rights Requests , ensuring compliance with the relevant laws, and leading a dedicated team to enhance the Trust’s data management practices. This role requires a proactive individual with excellent organisational and leadership skills, who can effectively manage and motivate a team.
Main duties of the jobKey Responsibilities: .
*Oversee the processing of Freedom of Information requests in compliance with data protection regulations, such as the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
*Develop and implement best practices for data management and protection.
*Lead and manage a team dedicated to handling access to health records requests.
*Collaborate with various departments to ensure compliance and improve data handling processes.
*Collaborate with various departments to ensure compliance and improve data handling processes.
Working for our organisationAt East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.
Detailed job description and main responsibilitiesSee the attached JD/PS. This is a joint role to ensure there is cross cover in place, however responsibility, day to day, will be FOI
*Extensive experience in data protection and compliance.
*Proven track record of managing access to health records and individuals information rights
*Strong leadership and team management skills.
*Excellent organisational and communication skills.
*Ability to work collaboratively with different departments.
Person specificationQualificationsEssential criteria*Educated to degree level (or equivalent)
*Data protection or Freedom of Information qualification or equivalent work experience
ExperienceEssential criteria*Experience of dealing with difficult situationsincluding the resolution of conflict and influencing others to accept demanding outcomes
Knowledge and SkillsEssential criteria*Building and maintaining strong working relationships
*Strong IT skills incl use of Word, Excel, Adobe and PowerPoint
*Excellent written and verbal communication skills incl a good telephone manner
*Well-developed listening skills
*Ability to produce reports that evaluate and present complex data in an understandable way
*Able to provide and receive complex, highly sensitive or contentious information, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or re-assurance skills are required
*Able to work and communicate effectively with clinical and senior divisional staff to develop strong relationships
*Knowledge of data protection principles and standards relating to healthcare data
*Handling confidential and delicate information with sensitivity
Desirable criteria*Understanding of the NHS and key issues affecting the service
*Excellent understanding of the NHS Governance agenda
OtherEssential criteria*Some flexibility in regards to working hours
Dear Potential Applicant,
It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
*Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
*This vacancymay close before the closing date i...