Information Governance Officer, 37.5 Hours Per

Alternative Futures Group is the North West’s largest Mental Health and Learning Disability charity.

With a strong track record over 30 years, we work locally in the community and through our Treatment and Recovery Centres to provide a wide range of innovative and bespoke care services.

We have a vision to create _a world where people control their lives. _Here at AFG, we pride ourselves on helping the people we support to design, develop and ‘own’ the support they receive by planning this with them; we support people to make informed choices and increase their own independence; and we support people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and living environment. These principles are really important to us.

As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our AFG family. If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.

At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make. We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you

In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.

**Title**: Information Governance Officer

**Reports to**: Integrated Risk and Assurance Manager

Information is a vital asset and the governance of information is essential in order to provide ‘accountable’ evidence on the choices and decisions we take as a provider of health and social care services. Effective management of this information throughout its lifecycle requires processes and controls in place and leadership capacity that gives confidence to the people in receipt of our services, staff employed in the organisation and the agencies we are regulated by that AFG protects the security of information in ways that address both our business need and our legal and stakeholder obligations. This helps us to manage risk and defend and uphold our reputation. As we develop our approach to integrating systems and process underpinned by service and digital strategies we need to ensure we create the focus for strengthening accountability for the use, practice and processes, storage and archiving of all the information we are charged with keeping safe and secure.

**Job Purpose**

Leading Information Governance for AFG, developing the framework and systems to manage information, including those related to ‘person based’/care records information; Providing professional advice across the organisation on all matters relating to the creation, storage, sharing, use and security of records, both paper and electronic; ensuring the organisation meets all its compliance and legal obligations regarding information use and security.

**Dimensions**
- No direct line management responsibility or budgetary responsibility.
- Responsible for the management of the records store.
- Working at all levels across the organisation.

**Key Result Areas**
- Providing specialist expert advice and guidance to all staff and those in contact with services on matters relating to information governance, confidentiality, consent and disclosure.
- Monitoring compliance with Information Governance Legislation (including the Data Protection Act) development and monitoring of the information security systems.
- Promoting best practice in information governance with regard to the implementation of technological solutions, the development of robust record management processes and the move to digital recording.
- Working across the regions, all teams and all levels throughout AFG to develop and foster a culture of sound information governance for all records (paper and electronic)
- Supporting Regional Directors and their teams to create, manage and secure all records in line with legislation and best practice.
- Ensuring an auditable process is in place against AFG’s information governance, health records, data protection policy, confidentiality procedures and standards.
- Leading the drive from paper to electronic records, working with each local area and central services to develop and promote digital processes for recording information.
- Developing and delivering information governance training across the organisation.
- Working closely with the Infrastructure Team Leader/Senior Business Analyst to select appropriate technologies that ensure that the information assets are appropriate to meet statutory requirements and are kept secure at all times.
- Working with key external organisations such as the ICO, Regulators, Commissioners, Insurers, Internal audit and Suppliers as required on issues of compliance, security and governance.