* Apologies for cross-posting *
ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
RECORDS POLICY AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
£29,500 - £39,900 per annum (incl. average PRP bonus)
18-month contract
Information is the Council's key asset and records management is fundamental for effective service provision, informed decision-making and to demonstrate accountability for the use of public funds. Good information management practices also help us to meet legal requirements and support our
relations with the public.
A contract vacancy exists in the Business Protection Team for an enthusiastic officer to work on two important projects involving elements of information management.
a) For the first 6 months, you will continue the work already begun on implementing a compliance strategy to ensure that the Council is meeting the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 in the way it manages requests for information. The FOIA comes fully into force from
January 2005.
b) For the following 12 months, you will undertake a discrete project to develop and implement policy relating to records retention and information management.
We are seeking an effective communicator with well-developed negotiation and presentation skills. Experience in the field of information/records management, record retention issues, and an awareness of regulatory compliance issues will be an advantage.
Experience in leading and influencing groups and time management skills will be needed. An affinity with IT and an ability to understand the Freedom of Information Act is desirable. Capable of prioritising a heavy workload, you will also be comfortable working both independently and as part of a
team.
We offer excellent staff benefits, including travel allowances and a final-salary pension-scheme. Full details in pack.
Please quote Ref: CS739 when completing your application.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 6 May 2004. Interviews will be held on Friday 14 May 2004. Shortlisted applicants will be expected to deliver a short presentation at interview.
Delivering Excellent Services. Please return your completed application form to:
Response Handling Unit (CS739)
Room B117
Kensington Town Hall
Hornton Street,
London
W8 7NX
-------------- JOB PROFILE & PERSON SPECIFICATION BELOW ------------------
ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
CORPORATE SERVICES BUSINESS GROUP
FINANCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
JOB PROFILE
RECORDS POLICY & FREEDOM OF INFORMATION OFFICER
Responsible to: Business Protection Manager
Main Purpose of Job
* For a 6-month period, to continue the work on implementation of a compliance strategy to ensure that the Council is meeting the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 in the way it manages requests for information.
* To undertake a discrete project to develop and implement policy relating to records retention and information management.
Dimensions
* The postholder will work across all Council departments
Duties and Responsibilities
* Continuing the compliance strategy for the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) including working with Business Groups on information management issues, reviewing processes and delivering training.
* Developing a corporate policy on records management, dealing specifically with record retention and management of e-mails
* Producing a set of standardised records retention/disposal schedules for corporate-wide records and supporting guidance on procedures for appraisal and disposal of documents
* Providing advice and guidance to Council Business Groups on the development of local retention schedules in line with the corporate framework and policy
* Identifying training needs of staff dealing with records management within their own departments
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Job Title : Records Policy and Freedom of Information Officer
Business Group : Corporate Services
Department : Finance & Information Systems
Range : HAY (£28,100 - 38,000) per annum
Listed below are the requirements needed to undertake this job. They will form a key part of the selection process.
In addition to these particular requirements, all jobs with the Royal Borough demand a satisfactory and reliable level of attendance and work performance, and good standards of conduct and personal behaviour. Evidence for these will be sought as part of the recruitment process.
Qualifications
* Educated to a degree standard
* Experience
* At least 2 years working in the information management field and awareness of regulatory compliance issues (essential)
* Experience of records management work and understanding of current professional practices particularly in relation to electronic records (desirable)
* Experience in devising and implementing retention schedules (desirable)
* Experience in conducting presentations to both large and small groups and in analysing staff training needs, designing and delivering training material (desirable)
* Knowledge/Skills
* Applied knowledge and understanding of the implications of Freedom of Information and/or Data Protection legislation and relevant records management issues and can interpret and apply relevant guidelines
* Project management skills (desirable)
* Communication Skills
* Capable of communicating clearly and confidently, both verbally and in writing across all levels of the organisation
* High level negotiation skills and able to influence senior management, individuals, teams and members.
* Ability to draft guidance and professional advice on complicated legislative issues (desirable)
* Qualities
* Excellent organisational, analytical skills and judgement
* Ability to identify solutions to problems
* Ability to effectively manage their own time and relate to the pressures on colleagues due to other projects/tasks
* Ability to change existing records policies and behaviours and manage change (desirable)
*
* Notes on pay and benefits
*
* 1 Salary Range
* The salary in the advert includes an average Performance Related Bonus of 5% for target achievement. The basic range without the bonus is quoted elsewhere in the application pack. There is also scope to earn a percentage increase for effective overall job performance.
*
* The Royal Borough introduced performance related pay for senior staff as long ago as 1988. Since then the scheme has been developed and extended, and now covers over 600 jobs.
*
* The current PRP scheme is designed to reflect two elements of performance:
*
* Achievement of agreed targets
* Overall job performance
The two elements are assessed separately each Spring. Achieving targets brings a bonus of 3, 5, or 10%. In practice, most staff receive 5%. For fully effective job performance, a percentage increase within the range is awarded.
Each senior job is evaluated into a salary range, which is revised each April in line with the central London market, as surveyed by the Hay Group Management Consultancy. Further details are available on request.
If you are a new starter with the Council, or for the first time are in a post which carries an entitlement to PRP, then on your first review you will almost certainly not have been in post for a full year. In such cases the following rules apply:
Start Date Entitlement
1st May - 31st August full year
1st September - 31st December half year
1st January - 30th April no entitlement
2 Holiday
The holiday entitlement for this job is six weeks a year. If you have been working in local government for ten consecutive years prior to the date of appointment the entitlement goes up to 33 days.
3 Health Insurance
Health Insurance with PPP is offered as an optional staff benefit with this job. Subscriptions are paid by the Council. The scheme can cover individuals or families. Further details will be made available at a later stage.
4 Other health programmes
The Council invests in staff health. We have an active occupational health service provided by Westminster NHS Primary Care Trust. Staff can access various health checkups. There is also a fast-track back pain clinic and an annual free flu vaccination programme.
5 Counselling
Staff have access to a free professional confidential counselling service, provided locally by Counselling in Companies, an independent organisation.
6 Flexible Working
The Council has also developed a new Family Friendly Framework covering maternity benefits; paternity, adoption and parental leave; time off for domestic emergencies and compassionate leave. The Framework also covers the right to request more flexible working arrangements by staff with children
aged under 6 years old.
7 Staff loan scheme for annual season tickets
The Council gives interest-free season ticket loans to staff who have completed their probationary period. Further information is available on request.
8 Travelcard Allowance
After one year of service with RBKC staff are entitled to a travel allowance, equal to the cost of the annual Zones 1&2 travelcard. Staff who prefer to cycle to work can convert the travel allowance into a grant to buy a new bicycle, up to the travelcard amount. Further information is available on
request
9 Childcare Vouchers
The Council has introduced a childcare voucher scheme, which operates on a salary exchange basis. The key to this is that the individual forgoes part of their salary.
What this means is that staff can elect to have their salary reduced by a certain amount and this amount will be used to pay for childcare. The advantage for the individual in this approach is that because childcare is not currently subject to NI contributions; there will be a saving on the current
level of national insurance paid for by the individual.
10 Mortgage Support
The Council has negotiated with the Chelsea Building Society a deal for its staff in relation to mortgage applications. Whilst the Council does not recommend or endorse that staff use the Chelsea Building Society, the Society is willing to offer a free legal service on all remortgages and will give
a £200 contribution to legal fees on all purchases. The offer is available on all of Chelsea's standard products. In addition they will provide a refund of their £245 administration fee on any case that completes, RBKC staff will also not incur a valuation fee. Although a valuation will be
conducted, the fee will be paid by the Chelsea Building Society
11 Payment of professional fees
Many staff are members of a professional association, and that benefits the Council as well as individual staff. Recognising this, the Council will meet the cost of annual subscriptions to many professional associations. Further information is available on request.
12 Pension scheme
As a local authority, the Council operates the contributory Local Government Pension Scheme, a final salary scheme with good benefits. Joining is optional. Further information is available on request.
13 Leisure facilities
The Council offers staff free swimming and discounted use of the Royal Borough's sports centres. There are also discount deals at some local private sports and health clubs. Further information is available on request.
14 Libraries Service
A variety of discounts are being made available to staff through the Libraries and Arts service. These include reduced loan rates for RBKC staff:
* Cassettes (talking books/some music) - HALF-PRICE
* Compact Discs - HALF-PRICE
* Videos/DVDs - £1 discount
* Older Videos - 50p off
* Children Videos - FREE
15 Relocation
The Council may help with relocation expenses, if a new employee has to move home to take up the appointment. Assistance may be given with the cost of removal of household furniture and effects, lodging allowances and legal and estate agent's fees for the sale/purchase of property. Further
information on eligibility for relocation is available on request.
16 Training and Development
Wherever you work, you will find we make extensive use of information technology. You will also find that training and development for staff at every level is central to our culture. Through a combination of on-the-job development and formal training programmes, we will encourage you to maximise
your potential.
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The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
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