Senior Freedom of Information Case Adviser
HM Treasury
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 5th May 2024
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Business Management and Improvement
Knowledge and Information Management
Operational Delivery
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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);
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| About the Team |
The Correspondence and Information Rights Team (CIRT) consists of:
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 |
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 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.
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Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
- 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)
- Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
- Generous parental and adoption leave package.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%
- Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room
- Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving
- Access to a retail discounts and cashback site
- A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes
- A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity (e.g. women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT* network, faith and belief network)
Flexible Working Arrangements
HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.
At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realize their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
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
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Joanna Hodgson
- Email : Joanna.Hodgson@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Further information
