Decision Maker Corporate Information Branch in Newtownabbey

Hours of Work: Full-Time

Location: Greater Belfast

Closing Date/Time: 26th of May at 3pm

Reference Number: HRCIBDM1426

Job Background: The role holder will support the PSNI in ensuring it delivers against its statutory obligations under key legislation, including the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI), Environmental Information Regulation 2004 (EIR), and the right of access under Data Protection Legislation including the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA), and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The successful candidate will be part of a team and will take ownership for the processing of requests for information to ensure the PSNI provides accurate, timely responses in compliance with its legal obligations. This includes deciding what information can be released or withheld, applying legal exemptions where necessary, while maintaining high standards of transparency and integrity. The role also involves supporting continuous improvement, contributing to training and peer review, and providing advice to colleagues and members of the public.

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week.

Salary: £30,458 - £31,097 plus £1,422 environmental allowance.

Main Activities:

• Casework Management: Taking ownership for processing information requests made under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), and Data Protection legislation (DPA/UK GDPR/DUAA), ensuring responses are completed accurately, lawfully, and within statutory timeframes. Managing own workload, self-allocating requests to ensure caseload remains at/above the minimum level and requests continue to be processed in compliance with statutory deadlines. Applying sound knowledge as a subject matter expert for the relevant legislation to manage all stages of the request process from logging to final publication, including requestor contact, allocation, research, stakeholder engagement, assessing recorded information, the application of exemptions, and quality assurance to provide a clear, concise response. Maintaining a high standard of legal compliance and ensuring that all decisions are well-reasoned, clearly documented, and made with integrity and transparency.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Developing and maintaining strong professional relationships with teams and departments across the PSNI and providing advice and guidance, briefings, and assistance regarding the legislation and handling of requests. Liaising with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including but not limited to the public, the National Police Chiefs Council Central Referral Unit (NPCC CRU), the Public Records Office for Northern Ireland (PRONI), the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), and PSNI departments. Managing and responding to external queries and providing partners, external organisations, and members of the public with clear, expert advice and guidance regarding request handling and applicable legislation. This could be by phone, email, or paper/hard copy correspondence and includes verifying the identity of the individual and their entitlement to information as required. Collaborating with external colleagues and partner agencies, to share information and best practice.
• Research and Decision-Making: Determining under what legislation a request should be progressed and establishing the most appropriate avenues for progression. Conducting thorough research to locate and assess relevant records, including system-based searches and consultation with Record Owners. Consistently identifying and assessing the harm of disclosure, applying redactions and appropriate legal exemptions in line with the relevant legislation, and ensuring all decision making is fully audited, particularly with regard to the assessment of harm, public interest, prejudice and balancing tests, and the application of exemptions. Effectively prioritising and processing multiple requests governing the release and management of public service data, progressing each of these within tight legislative deadlines in order to respond to the requestor.
• Operational Support: Working effectively as part of the Corporate Information team in order to efficiently progress the requests and questions received by the PSNI under the identified legislations and deliver excellence for the public. Providing regular updates regarding casework, raising issues which may require guidance or intervention at an early stage, and complying with internal policies and processes. Monitoring unallocated cases, validating requests, and engaging with requestors to seek clarification where required. Managing relevant mailboxes, processing physical correspondence, and contributing to records management, reporting, and additional tasks required by the Branch. Supporting the handling of internal reviews and complaints from the ICO, escalating complex or sensitive issues to senior staff as appropriate.
• Continuous Improvement and Development: Using skills and experience to identify and report/address the root cause of problems arising with regard to request handling to ensure these are resolved. Undertaking regular training and professional development to maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and internal procedures. Supporting a culture of learning by contributing to peer reviews and briefings, mentoring colleagues, and sharing knowledge across the team and wider organisation.

The duties and responsibilities outlined reflect the main elements of those associated with this position. It is not intended to be exclusive or exhaustive.

Person Specification:

Essential Qualifications: 2 A-levels or equivalent level 3 qualification.

Essential Skills and Experience: Demonstrate 12 months experience of interpreting and processing information requests under Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulation (EIR) and/or Data Protection (DP) legislation in a work setting. Proven ability to simultaneously manage and prioritise multiple tasks, working effectively under pressure while meeting tight deadlines and maintaining high attention to detail. Demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage with a range of internal and external stakeholders. Experience in assessing information and applying sound judgement and decision-making to prepare accurate, structured, written responses or formal communications.

Essential Other: IT literate specifically in the use of Microsoft Office (including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Outlook). The successful candidate must have access to a form of transport which will enable them to fulfil the responsibilities of the job in full.

Desirable Skills and Experience: Law Degree/Degree with a Legal Component or experience of processing/applying law enforcement (LE) provisions and exemptions under Freedom of Information and/or Data Protection legislation. Experience of contributing to team learning or continuous improvement, such as peer review, mentoring, or sharing best practice.

Additional Information: Appointment will be dependent on the individual satisfying the vetting requirements for the post which will vary according to the work area appointed to. Vetting requirement for this role is SC. Please note that for all appointments there is a minimum requirement to have a three year checkable history immediately preceding the submission of a vetting questionnaire. Shortlisting will be carried out based on essential criteria. Please note in some instances, for example, where there is a high volume of applicants, desirable criteria may be assessed. Successful applicants will be retained on a merit list for future opportunities arising. We would encourage you to check the spam within your email system for any relevant correspondence.

Selection Methodology: PSNI uses the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) which sets out nationally recognised behaviours and values to support all policing professionals. You will be assessed against the values and at the competencies level as indicated below. This will include both past and future focused questions. Further guidance and information about the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) is available on our website. Please use the 2024 CVF for this role. Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria and essential qualifications, skills and experience will be required to demonstrate their experience for the following criteria:

Competency and Values Based Interview:

• Values: Courage and Integrity, Respect and Empathy
• Competencies Level 2: We Analyse Critically, We Take Ownership, We Collaborate