About the job

Job summary

The Freedom of Information and Transparency Data Team (“the FOI Team”) sits within the Constitution, honours, Information and Major Events (CHIME) Directorate of the Cabinet Office. The FOI Team is responsible for the management of FOI requests to the Cabinet Office, the management of any resultant complaints and appeals (including to the Tribunals) and for HMG FOI policy.

Job description

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act is one of the pillars upon which open government operates, by providing public access to information held by public authorities. The FOI Team provides an essential departmental function in meeting our legislative requirements and responsibilities. The post will help support public access to information and provide an effective service which balances fulfilling statutory obligations with the need to protect sensitive information, including through litigation.

The role of Appeals and Litigation FOI Officer provides an excellent opportunity to further develop expert knowledge of the FOI Act and its practical application by assisting the Team leader in managing the department's complex live investigations from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and its domestic litigation cases at the tribunals and courts. It will also provide opportunities to build strong relationships with colleagues within CO Legal and across central government. This post is responsible for supporting the operational delivery of the Team (domestic appeals and litigation caseloads), including monitoring key FOIA litigation taking place across HMG, and supporting the management of a continuous improvement plan (between the FOI Team, CO Legal and GLD).  

Key responsibilities 

• Respond to specialist investigations by the regulator, working closely with policy colleagues and consulting CO Legal where necessary. 
• Daily monitoring and administration of dedicated mailboxes and casework management systems
• Acknowledging enquiries, and where possible, responding to those within 24 hours
• Producing regular reports on casework 
• Developing strong relationships with FOI practitioners across the Cabinet Office (including within Private Office and No.10) and the regulator’s office (the Information Commissioner’s Office) maintaining the FOI Team’s reputation as a trusted source of sound advice and engagement
• Ad hoc support for the wider Team’s business delivery and short term projects.
• Some light project management / support

Person specification

We are looking for someone who has experience with lawyers or within a legal field (a legal qualification is not necessary) or with a basic working knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act. You are able to understand the needs, and manage the expectations, of our broad customers. You will be able to identify who and what is required to ensure success, set clear goals, and continually assess workloads. You will be able to communicate confidently and clearly both in writing (particularly) and orally. You will have an eye for detail, work methodically and be able to make well-judged recommendations to senior colleagues based on a sound analysis of the issues raised. 

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,000, Cabinet Office contributes £8,640 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and four 250 word behavioural Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, 'Managing a Quality Service'. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience and behaviours that are contained within this advert. 

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 19 February
Expected interview date/s – w/c 26 February
Interview location - Online 

Further information

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 
• Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.