About the job

Job summary

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

About the Group

Corporate Centre The Corporate Centre Group delivers a wide range of corporate services to enable people at HM Treasury and many of the other organisations who form part of the Treasury Group (including the Government Internal Audit Agency and the Debt Management Office) to operate effectively and efficiently. We are a diverse group, both in terms of our professions and in our ways of working. Our colleagues are based across 3 sites in London, Darlington and Norwich.  The Corporate Centre Group consists of a range of teams and is led by two directors (one of Finance and one of Operations);  Correspondence and Information Rights  Finance & Commercial  People & Capability  Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging  Treasury Business Solutions  Multisite Darlington Economic Campus team  Exchequer Funds & Accounts team

About the Team

The Correspondence and Information Rights Team (CIRT) consists of: The Information Rights Unit (IRU) – which consists of the Freedom of Information Team who deal with requests for recorded information and the Data Protection team who oversee all data subject access requests and advise on data protection across HMT. The Correspondence and Enquiries Unit (CEU), who handle correspondence from the public and Members of Parliament. The CIRT Technology Team oversee our technology improvement plans, run our case management system and provide day to day management information in relation to our casework performance.  This role sits in the Freedom of Information Team within the Information Rights Unit.  We’re a friendly team based across London, Norwich and Darlington, and we encourage people from different ages, experiences, and backgrounds.

About the role

We’re looking for a senior caseworker (subject matter expert) who has the experience and ability to deal with complex information requests, to be the Treasury lead contact to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) on cases they’re investigating and manage lawyers to coordinate HM Treasury’s responses to First Tier Tribunal (FTT) casework. This post offers a fantastic opportunity to work with and influence Senior Civil Servants, Ministerial and Perm Sec offices, No10 and Special Advisers and obtain the stretch and development for onward progression to Grade 7. Sitting at the heart of Government policymaking, the Treasury receives a diverse range of FOI requests. In addition to leading complex casework, you’ll have line management of 3 HEO caseworkers, overseeing their performance and ensuring their casework is of the highest quality. As the senior caseworker you’ll have the autonomy and flexibility to make business critical decisions on behalf of the Treasury, which impact its medium to long term goals. Acting as a FOI subject matter expert, you’ll establish and maintain confidence amongst senior stakeholders and the public in our FOI service, ensuring your team provides clear and persuasive advice that can be trusted and takes account of political sensitives. As part of our wider technology transformation programme, you’ll lead improvements to the FOI process, particularly improvements to the timeliness of our internal review responses. This is an exciting area of work – where the change you’ll deliver will have a significant impact and long-lasting benefits for the Treasury. Accountabilities: 1.    Provide visible leadership to motivate your casework team to achieve business priorities, ensuring they’re equipped to provide expert and trusted FOI handling advice. 2.    Improve HM Treasury’s timeliness performance for internal reviews. 3.    Transform and streamline processes and ensure new ways of working are successfully embedded in the team. 4.    Lead our most complex casework working with senior stakeholders and engaging directly with the ICO and lawyers acting for us at FTT stage. Candidate Drop-In Session    We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time.  23rd April 13:00 If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Anthony.Paine@hmtreasury.gov.uk or Joanna.Hodgson@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Person specification

About your application

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.   1.    Experience of complex FOI casework and internal reviews. (Experience) 2.    Ability to successfully lead a team. (Leadership) 3.    Ability to deliver a high quality, efficient and cost-effective service that balances legal requirements against the needs of stakeholders. (Managing a Quality Service) The lead criterion is: Experience of complex FOI casework and internal reviews. (Experience) If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,500, HM Treasury contributes £10,665 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, Strengths and Experience.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 5th May 2024

Shortlisting: w/c 6th May 2024

Interviews:  w/c 20th May 2024

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile. 

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Location-Based Reserve Lists 

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form. 

Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances. 

Eligibility Statement  

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information. 

Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.  

For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Security Check (SC)

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  

Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  

If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

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

Security

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.