About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

HEO recruitment:  Disclosure Specialist x2

Reports to:  Senior Disclosure Specialist (SEO)

Location & Length of appointment:  These are permanent posts based in 102 Petty France, London, although some flexible arrangements will be considered. The team are currently working in a hybrid manner, but with an expectation that the post holder will attend 102 Petty France at least two days a week, increasing to three.

Background:

Access to information and transparency is vital in government organisations, playing an integral role in delivering day to day business, safeguarding the corporate and historic record and providing assurance to stakeholders and the public.

At MoJ we believe that knowing what information and records we have and having the right information available at the right time by those who need it or request it is at the heart of providing a world-class justice system.  This is because handling information plays an integral role in delivering our day to day business functions, underpins our policy development and operational delivery, and ensures our legal obligations are met. 

These roles are key posts within MoJ Information Services Division that will play a fundamental part in the final stages of Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) and subject access requests before they are issued. 

Role type:  Knowledge and information management

Post type:  Permanent

Working pattern:  Full time and flexible working

Job description:

As a Disclosure Specialist you will be contributing towards the maintenance and continuous improvement of the Team’s important and varied functions.  The Team covers the whole of the Department in terms of FOI/EIR, UK GDPR and DPA; topics of requests for information include: the management of high-profile offenders, court cases, Legal Aid, security matters, and the work of Ministers.  You will need to work closely with External Communications, Private Office and the Senior Civil Service.

The main tasks include:

Leading the Advisory Service: As the post holder you will directly advise and case manage sensitive disclosure cases, assisting other members of the team in the same endeavour. You will be able to produce accurate, timely and succinct advice on disclosure matters in extremely short timeframes and to an excellent standard.

Client Support & Stakeholder Management: You will be responsible for building and maintaining our network of 500+ FOI and DPA response drafters – known as Knowledge and Information Liaison Officers (KILOs) across the MoJ and its agencies. You will target support to where it is required and create sustainable and productive relationships which promote the business ability to manage requests on time, lawfully and in line with our policies and procedures.

Communication: You will have experience of developing collaborative, effective working relations with our other key stakeholders including Private Office, External Communication, Senior civil Service, and the Information Commissioner’s Office.

You will have, or will quickly be able to develop, excellent written and verbal communication skills, alongside the ability to advise colleagues on the quality and content of their disclosure responses.

Guidance, training and development: You will support the delivery of guidance and training to staff across the Department on FOI and DPA matters, ensuring the department has the capability to meet obligations under the legislation.

Line Management & Team Involvement: You may line manage a small number of EO staff. If so, you will be responsible for the support and development of your staff and will actively manage their performance and promote their development. You will play an active role in team and corporate projects designed to boost our capability, learning and development, and performance.

Training and Development:

This is a stretching role that will allow the job holder to gain experience of leading a team and delivering a quality service. The role is an opportunity to gain an insight into the work of the MoJ as it cuts across all aspects of the department and provides visibility at senior levels through working with senior leaders. We are looking for someone with excellent leadership and collaboration skills, who is approachable, enthusiastic and wanting to deliver a quality service to the department.

Summary

• To maintain and improve our excellent reputation for over-all quality of responses and advice
• To work collaboratively to meet and exceed timeliness performance targets, set both externally and internally
• To assist in expanding knowledge and awareness of Information Rights across the MoJ

Essential experience:

• Collaborative approach, able to build strong relationships across boundaries, within team, across MoJ and with external stakeholders.
• Drafting and communications skills, with a demonstrable ability to deliver clear and persuasive arguments that are effective in reaching targeted audiences.
• A strong commitment to delivering a high-quality service and regularly reviewing processes.

Desirable experience

• Working knowledge of Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations 2004, Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation.

Personal Development:

The role is an opportunity to gain an insight into the work of the MOJ as it cuts across all aspects of the Department and provides visibility at senior levels.  We are looking for someone with excellent collaboration skills, who is approachable, enthusiastic and wanting to deliver a quality service to the Department and its customers.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,174, Ministry of Justice contributes £10,074 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 Strengths.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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 security 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.