Information Rights Policy Advisor

Information Rights Policy Advisor - Cardiff About the job
Job summary
Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it's really like to work at HMRC.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.
Are you passionate about transparency in government and ensuring public access to information?
Would you excel at balancing the public's right to information with the need to protect sensitive government data?
If so, continue reading to find out more about this fantastic opportunity to join HMRC.
About SOLS
The Information Rights Policy Adviser role sits within our Solicitor's Office and Legal Services (SOLS) team. SOLS provide legal services to the whole of HMRC. This includes:

• The conduct of independent reviews of decisions made by HMRC which are requested by customers under the legislative provisions.
• The conduct of tribunal and civil litigation on a full range of services.
• Work on new legislation.
• Drafting of statutory instruments and other legal documents.
• Legal advice to HMRC's Executive Committee and staff.

We also provide technical accountancy and forensic services to HMRC, are head of the Compliance Accountants' and Insolvency Professions as well as handling Ministerial Correspondence and Freedom of Information requests for HMRC.
Job description
The Team
HMRC's Information Rights Unit (IRU) oversees the department's obligations under the Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Regulations and Data Protection Act Subject Access Requests (SARs).
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 gives people a right of access to information held by public authorities. We aim to make the department more open and accountable. We also help the public understand better how we carry out our duties, why we make the decisions we do and how we spend public money.
The Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 regulates how HMRC processes information relating to individuals. The Act gives individuals the right to request personal information about themselves. This is known as a Subject Access Request.
The Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004 operate in a similar way to FOI although they relate specifically to official environmental information.
HMRC deals with large numbers of information requests each year. How we handle them can have a significant impact on the department's reputation and each has a strict deadline within which to respond.
This role sits within the Freedom of Information Team, which manages the departmental process for Freedom of Information Requests and provides advice to business areas across HMRC on handling this correspondence. The FOI and SAR teams work closely together and support each other when necessary.
In this role you will:

• Ensure the quality and timeliness of HMRC's FOI responses.
• Provide advice and guidance to drafters across HMRC.
• Act in an advisory role to support the FOI handling and assurance process.
• Attend across government events.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships across the FOI community.
• Build capability in the FOI community.
• Collaborate to achieve the IRU's wider aims as required.

Person specification
The FOI team is undergoing a period of change and expansion as it takes on additional data security responsibilities on behalf of the department.
You will work to achieve and, or develop the skills required to perform to a high standard.
Candidates should also demonstrate the following:

• Experience of providing advice on policy, legislation, or complaints.
• Experience of influencing/working stakeholders across a complex organisation to deliver results.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to produce clear, concise and effective correspondence, guidance and briefing documents.
• Delivering successful quality and performance improvements.
• Ability to work flexibly to challenging deadlines and manage competing priorities.

Other Information

• HMRC welcomes applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, taking into account our operational and customer service needs. We can't guarantee that we can meet all requests to work flexibly, as agreement will be subject to business ability to accommodate, and any request to work a more flexible arrangement should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer.
• Additional Security Information
  Please note that if you are appointed to 100 PS, as a condition of working in this location you will be required to obtain Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) level clearance. To obtain this level of clearance, you will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period, which for CTC is 3 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. You may not be able to start in the location until clearance is granted.
  If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
• This vacancy is only available at the specified locations, alternative locations are not available.
• Your office location is contractual so if you are successful, there is an expectation that you will attend that office location as required by the business. You need to consider how you will meet this requirement before you apply and discuss any concerns with the vacancy holder before accepting any role.
• There may be a need to travel across the UK with occasional overnight stays being required and there may be a need for occasional travel for business purposes.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits
Alongside your salary of £36,320, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £10,521 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.
We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues' Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it's really like to work for HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service
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.
SOLS use the Success Profiles framework for its recruitment. Your application will be assessed against the Experience element of the framework. The Behaviours and Strengths element of the framework will be tested at interview.
How to Apply
Your application will include:

• A CV, to include experience relevant to the specific duties of the role. The CV will be scored against the experience required outlined in the advert.
• A 1000-word Personal Statement to include why you are suitable for this role, paying careful attention to the job description.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
We acknowledge that AI can assist you in your application. Find our guidelines here.
Sift
At full sift your CV and your Personal Statement will be assessed, with the successful candidates being invited to interview.
We may also raise the score required at any stage of the process if we receive a high number of applications.
Interview
The interview process will include Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Making Effective Decisions and Delivering at Pace and Strength-based questions.
This is an example of a strengths-based question:
"It is often said that the customer's needs should come first. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?"
There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
Full details will be provided to those candidates invited to interview.
Interview will be held virtually via video link. Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.
Start dates may not be agreed straight away but this will be discussed further with successful candidates.
Eligibility
Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days(Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - 376641 & vacancy closing date (insert date).
To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for up to 6 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles - if this applies to you, we'll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Merit List
After interview, merit lists will be created for each location advertised within the vacancy. If you are successful at interview, you will be placed on the merit list for any locations you have expressed an interest for. Appointments from each merit list will be made in strict merit order.
Criminal Record Check
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact the UBS Recruitment team via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers
Please note that this role is unsuitable for contractual homeworkers due to the nature and/or requirements of the role.
Terms and Conditions
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.
Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.
Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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