FOI Officer

Job summary

Join our Digital team and play a key role in helping Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust remain open, transparent and accountable. As our FOI Officer, you will support the Trust's response to Freedom of Information requests, helping ensure the public, media, staff and partner organisations receive clear, accurate and timely information. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is organised, detail-focused and confident working with information, deadlines and colleagues across a busy NHS environment. You will need strong written communication skills, sound judgement, and the ability to handle sensitive or complex information professionally. In return, you will be part of a supportive Information Governance function where your work will make a real difference to public trust, good governance and the quality of information we provide. If you are motivated by accuracy, fairness, public service and continuous improvement, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will support the delivery of an effective Freedom of Information service for the Trust, ensuring requests are progressed efficiently, accurately and in line with statutory requirements. You will coordinate responses, liaise with teams across the organisation, gather and review information, draft correspondence and help maintain clear records and audit trails. You will be expected to manage a varied workload, monitor deadlines, follow up actions and escalate issues where appropriate. The role requires excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to communicate clearly and professionally with colleagues and external requesters. We are looking for someone who can work independently and as part of a team, use Microsoft Office and case management systems confidently, and apply discretion when handling confidential or sensitive information. An understanding of information governance, records management or statutory information requests would be helpful, but more important is a commitment to learning, accuracy, openness and delivering a high-quality service.

About us

Our vision is to provide outstanding care for every patient. Patient care is at the heart of what we do at our three sites: Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and Andover War Memorial Hospital. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides medical and surgical services to a population of approximately 600,000 people across Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire.

Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.

We provide specialist services to people across the UK and internationally. We are one of only two centres in the UK treating pseudomyxoma peritonei (a rare form of abdominal cancer) and we are leaders in the field of tertiary liver cancer and colorectal cancer.

The trust employs more than 9,000 staff and has a turnover of over £500 million a year. As a Foundation Trust, we are directly accountable to our members through the governors. The Council of Governors represent the interests of their constituencies and influence the future plans of the Foundation Trust.

Your Next Career Move Made Easier - Accommodation May Be Offered

We understand relocating can be a big step. Hampshire Hospitals may be able to provide accommodation options for successful candidates, depending on availability. If this something you would like to explore please contact Southern Housing on 02080 360017

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification document.

Person specification

Training and qualifications

Essential

• Educated to diploma level or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience in an administrative, governance or information role.

Desirable

• Relevant qualification or training in information governance, records management, data protection, business administration or a related subject.

Experience and knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working in an administrative, governance, information governance or customer-focused office environment.
• Able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of confidentiality, records handling and information governance principles.
• Experience of managing competing priorities and working to deadlines with a high level of accuracy.
• Experience of working with sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Desirable

• Experience of processing FOI, EIR, complaints, subject access or other statutory information requests.
• Knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations or NHS information governance requirements.
• Experience of working in the NHS

Skills & ability

Essential

• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to draft clear, accurate and professional correspondence.
• Good verbal communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise a demanding workload to meet statutory deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience of using website, intranet or publication systems to support disclosure and proactive publication.