Freedom of Information and Compliance Officer

The Freedom of Information (FOI) and Compliance Officer will provide an effective and comprehensive support function ensuring compliance with the FOI Act.
Key aspects of this role will be to log and maintain a register of requests and to work with colleagues to ensure that requests are responded to within legislative timeframes.
The post holder will also provide a high standard of support to the Freedom of Information Manager and the Group Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs in managing policy compliance and declarations of interest compliance across the Group and will assist in the delivery of projects undertaken by the Group Corporate Governance team as required., + Supporting the day-to-day management of all FOI requests across the Group, escalating matters to the Freedom of Information Manager as needed. This will include:
+ Logging all incoming FOI requests on the Group's electronic FOI management system.
+ Monitor the FOI inbox, ensuring incoming messages are appropriately managed and responded to in a timely way.
+ Under the guidance of the Freedom of Information and Compliance Manager, reviewing new FOI requests, triaging and allocating requests to the appropriate and relevant managers and senior managers in line with the Group's FOI policy.
+ Under the guidance of the Freedom of Information and Compliance Manager, providing advice to staff regarding the application of FOI legislation and Information Commissioner's guidance.
+ Tracking the progress of FOI requests to ensure timely responses are sent to requestors, and that the Group (and the two sovereign Trusts within it) are compliant with the statutory deadlines for responding to FOIs and escalating non-engagement with FOI responses to the Freedom of Information and Compliance Manager in a timely way.
+ Drafting high quality, responses to FOIs, assessing the information being provided and any possible harm resulting from its release, and securing appropriate senior manager sign off in line with the Group's FOI policy., The following list of duties and responsibilities represents the broad range of tasks which the post holder will be required to undertake either routinely or periodically but does not represent an exhaustive list. Other duties and responsibilities may be reasonably be expected in line with the banding and seniority of the role and may include responsibilities not normally covered on a day-to-day basis.
Details and emphasis of duties and responsibilities may change in line with service needs after consultation with the postholder.
Management of Freedom of Information requests
+ Supporting the day-to-day management of all FOI requests across the Group, escalating matters to the Freedom of Information Manager as needed. This will include:
+ Logging all incoming FOI requests on the Group's electronic FOI management system.
+ Monitor the FOI inbox, ensuring incoming messages are appropriately managed and responded to in a timely way.
+ Under the guidance of the Freedom of Information and Compliance Manager, reviewing new FOI requests, triaging and allocating requests to the appropriate and relevant managers and senior managers in line with the Group's FOI policy, setting clear deadlines for receipt of information and / or contributions.
+ Under the guidance of the Freedom of Information and Compliance Manager, providing advice to staff regarding the application of FOI legislation and Information Commissioner's guidance.
+ Tracking the progress of FOI requests to ensure timely responses are sent to requestors, and that the Group (and the two sovereign Trusts within it) are compliant with the statutory deadlines for responding to FOIs and escalating non-engagement with FOI responses to the Freedom of Information and Compliance Manager in a timely way.
+ Drafting high quality, responses to FOIs, assessing the information being provided and any possible harm resulting from its release, and securing appropriate senior manager sign off in line with the Group's FOI policy.
+ Maintaining a log of FOI requests and responses and provide analytical information on request.
+ Providing FOI administrative tasks such as producing correspondence, reports and creating and maintaining spreadsheets.
+ Maintaining FOI disclosure logs on the websites.
+ Support the production of monthly activity reports on FOI performance.
Corporate compliance
+ Carry out web based and publications research to remain up to date with trends and changes within FOI, particularly in relation to the NHS.
+ Maintain an understanding of data protection regulations and Group Policy to ensure that information in only shared when it is appropriate to do so.
+ Support the Freedom of Information Manager with the delivery of training across the Group.
+ Support the Freedom of Information Manager and the Group Head of Governance in managing policy compliance and declarations of interest compliance across the Group.
General
+ Contribute to the development, implementation and review of corporate governance policies and procedures across the Group.
+ Promote excellent standards of corporate governance across the Group.
+ Support in key projects of the Group Corporate Governance team as required.
+ Provide cross cover to other members of the Group Corporate Governance team as required during busy periods or periods of leave by other team members.
+ Undertake other duties commensurate with the role as directed by the Group Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs.

Working for our organisation
The St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (GESH) is a recently-formed hospital group, comprising St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (SGUH) and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust (ESTH), which includes Sutton Health and Care Partnership and Surrey Downs Health and Care Partnership.
Sharing a single Chairman, Chief Executive and Executive team, the GESH Group is one of the largest healthcare providers in the country, with a combined annual turnover of around £1.7 billion, 16,000 staff, and serving a population of approximately 3.5 million people across South West London, Surrey, Sussex and beyond.
The GESH Group provides a full range of local hospital services across its sites at St George's Hospital in Tooting, Queen Mary Hospital in Roehampton, Epsom Hospital and St Helier Hospital, and provides a range of specialist services from St George's.