The Role

We are excited to advertise a Freedom of Information Officer (FOI) on a six-month part-time secondment/fixed term opportunity within the Freedom of Information Team.  The role will be for 21 hours per week and open flexible working patterns can be considered. This is a fixed-term post for approximately six months.

The position offers a unique opportunity to work with all areas of the SSA (the Shared Staffing Arrangement serving Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) in coordinating FOI requests.  You will be liaising with requesters from the media, politicians and local residents, as well as gaining a detailed understanding of what each area of the SSA is responsible for.

Success in this role will require solid communication skills, teamwork, keen eye for detail and strong analytical skills.

You will be joining a small and friendly team of hard-working FOI & Data Protection Act (DPA) Officers, working collaboratively in managing the SSA’s shared FOI caseload.

FOI Officer will be responsible for:

• Acknowledging and responding to FOI requests
• Logging and updating cases in our case management system
• Liaising with key colleagues to obtain answers to FOIs requests
• Providing guidance on FOI best practice and quality checking responses prior to issuing
• Playing your part in coordinating the shared workload within the central FOI Team

At Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, we care more about how you work and what you achieve, rather than where you work on any given day. The difference you can make to our local communities is what really matters most to us, service delivery must always come first. We have carefully considered agile ways of working to provide the best experience for residents, stakeholders and our staff. Our agile working strategy actively supports and encourages a dynamic work environment and daily working experience. Agile working helps put the needs of our staff at the centre of everything we do, so if specific flexible working arrangements helps you with this, feel free to let us know.

Your wellbeing and the flexible way in which you can work is and will remain a key priority for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. We want you to thrive and feel empowered in your work!

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working including, working from home and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore. We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date: 7th December 2022

Shortlisting Date: 8th December 2022 

Interview Date: 14th December 2022

For an informal conversation please contact Adam White Information and Transparency Manager via adam.white@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk or 0208 831 6275

Useful Information:

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible.

Your health and wellbeing is our top priority. Should you become unwell due to Covid-19 during the recruitment process we would very much appreciate receiving an update from you as soon as possible.

We particularly welcome applications from sections of the community who are currently underrepresented within our teams.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

All internal applicants for this secondment must seek permission from their current line manager before applying. Failure to do so may result in the secondment not being authorised.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils