Job overview

The Freedom of Information Manager is a key member of the Group Corporate Governance team. Reporting to the Group Head of Corporate Governance, the post holder will be responsible for ensuring the Group champions and delivers best practice in the management of Freedom of Information (FOI), and is responsible for providing expert advice on the handling and management of FOIs, providing relevant and accessible FOI training to staff, and undertaking day-to-day management of FOI requests received across the Group, including triaging and allocating requests, providing guidance, advising on high profile and sensitive requests, and assessing and providing recommendations on the application of relevant exemptions. The post holder will also monitor FOI performance, identify areas of underperformance and develop improvement plans, and will draft performance and compliance reports to Board Committees, Group Executive, Site management and divisional management groups. They will be responsible for developing, updating and maintaining the Group’s FOI policy framework and for maintaining other relevant policies and procedures. The post holder will also manage the Group’s disclosure logs and will ensure that the Trusts’ websites and intranets contain accessible and informative information for the public and staff respectively. 

Main duties of the job

• Provision of expert advice to staff across the Group on all matters relating to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, including regarding the application of exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.
• Day-to-day management of all FOI requests across the Group.
• Liaise with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on all complaints regarding the Group’s handling of FOI requests.
• Monitor the Group’s compliance in responding to FOI requests.
• Manage the Group’s policies, processes and procedures relating to the management and handling of FOIs. 
• Provider and deliver appropriate and relevant training to staff in responding to FOI requests.
• Develop and manage the content of FOI resources on the Trusts’ intranet sites.
• Ensure that the Trusts’ websites contain relevant information for the public on their rights and expectations of the two Trusts in relation to FOI. 
• Manage the disclosure log and ensuring that responses to FOIs are routinely published on the website.
• Manage the publication schedule for both Trusts within the Group, ensuring these remain appropriate and up-to-date.

Working for our organisation

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC). 

 After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.