Offender Subject Access Request Team Caseworker (Ref: 81293)

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Offender Subject Access Request Team Caseworker

Number of jobs available:  2

Detail of reserve list:  12 Months

Grade:  AO

Organisation Grade for MoJ:  AO

Post Type:  Permanent

Working Pattern:  Full Time

Role Type:  Operational Delivery, Knowledge & Information Management

Region:  East Midlands

City/Town:  Burton-upon-Trent

Building/Site:  Branston Registry, Burton-upon-Trent, DE14 3EG

OR

Region:  North East

City/Town:  Jarrow

Building/Site:  JCC Unit B8 Berkley Way, Jarrow, NE31 1SF

About the Department

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK – including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

What we do

We work to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent, and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. We are also responsible for the following parts of the justice system:

• Courts
• Prisons
• Probation services
• Attendance centres.

We also work in partnership with other government departments and agencies to reform the criminal justice system, to serve the public and support the victims of crime. We are also responsible for making new laws, strengthening democracy, and safeguarding human rights.

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range. Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer/pay on promotion rules.

Background

The Offender Subject Access Request team sits within the MoJ’s Security, Services and Information Governance Group Directorate, which has a broad range of responsibilities including corporate communications through to information management and records compliance. As part of the Directorate’s Information Services Division, our aim is to ensure the MoJ holds information in compliance with legislation; that all information is correctly stored, accessible, and shared appropriately; and our information is protected, and the risks managed. We believe that knowing what information and records we have and having the right information available at the right time by those who need it or request it, is at the heart of an excellent justice system.

The Offender SAR team manage and process subject access requests (SARs) on behalf of the MoJ. The role involves liaising with its agencies to retrieve personal information held on the requestor and then prepare it for release in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). The team receives more than 6,000 requests per annum.

Role Purpose 

This is an exciting time for the team as we are seeking to make significant changes and improvements to many aspects of how we work and the service we provide, especially investigating new technology available and how this can increase efficiencies. You will also be joining the team as it prepares for an increase in work following the Probation Reform Programme.

You will be joining an expanding team who provide a dedicated and expert function in processing all offender SARs. The team have a strong customer service culture, providing a key service across His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) so the ability and expertise to build strong professional relationships on both an individual and team basis is very important. Close liaison with individual prison establishments and probation offices are vital to meeting our performance indicators and there will be opportunity to develop this further. The role is important as it ensures that offenders are supported through their sentence and rehabilitation by having access to the right information at the right time, by responding to requests in full and within statutory timescales.

The successful candidate will become a caseworker within the vetting team who are responsible for reading the information collated in response to the request and determining what information can be released. The role requires the consideration of the DPA against personal information being reviewed. This is a vital part of the function of the team and the Department’s compliance with the DPA.

Main Activities / Responsibilities

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

• Process personal information requested in a SAR and determine what information can be released and what is exempt from disclosure. This involves reading large volumes of sensitive information in hard copy and digital formats, carefully and accurately to ensure that information is released and/or withheld from disclosure in accordance with the DPA
• Update records on in-house computer system
• Answer queries (telephone and correspondence) from customers and colleagues across the Department
• General ad hoc office duties, including some manual handling
• You will demonstrate and encourage behaviours which support the MoJ and Civil Service values.

Essential experience

• Experience of delivering customer service excellence in a processing environment.

Desirable Experience

• Working knowledge of the DPA and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Experience of working in or with HMPPS
• Experience of using Microsoft computer package, i.e. Word, Excel, Outlook and Access.

Application Process

This vacancy will be using Success Profiles to assess Behaviours and Strengths. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview.

To apply for this role, please submit evidence of the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace 
• Working Together

Evidence should be provided against all behaviours listed. All applicants that progress to the interview will be assessed on all the behaviours and some strengths.

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
• Telephone : 0845 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com