Information Access Officer

Job summary

Closing date: 31 August 2026

Interview dates: 15 September 2026 (in person)

About us

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is a modern, vibrant organisation full of passionate, committed people. We make final decisions on complaints that have not been resolved by UK Government departments and the NHS in England. We work closely with people to understand where, how and why public services sometimes fall short and fail to put people first. And we find ways to put it right.

Based in the centre of Manchester, we employ over 600 individuals, collaboratively working together to make voices heard. We have created a diverse and inclusive culture, whilst offering flexibility to give you the autonomy to work in the best way suited to you.

Job description

The role

Join our Information Assurance team and help support our work on information rights, data protection and transparency. This role plays an important part in helping us meet our obligations under Freedom of Information and data protection legislation, while supporting colleagues across the organisation to handle information safely and responsibly.

The post combines administrative support, case handling and advice. Day-to-day work includes managing incoming information requests, maintaining records and disclosure logs, supporting the handling of security incidents and data breaches, and responding to Freedom of Information requests and less complex data rights requests.

Person specification

What we are looking for:

• experience of applying DPA or FOI or similarly complex legislation

• experience of working in a customer focused environment demonstrating empathy

• problem solving and analytical skills

• ability to understand legislation and to apply it to particular cases, and to understand the business of organisations across the public sector
• interest in information security, data protection and/or privacy.

We recognise the value of lived experience. If you have experience of complaining about any public body, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Benefits

Our benefits:

• Civil Service Pension scheme

• 32.5 days annual leave (plus bank holidays on top)

• hybrid working, 40% office based

• flexible working

• access to a free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 advice and support from professionals and counsellors

• one day paid volunteering leave per year

• comprehensive learning and development programme

• employee discount scheme across hundreds of retailers

• bicycle loan scheme

• season ticket loan

• gym membership subsidy

• paid for professional memberships

• eye test reimbursement.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

How to apply (and how to do well)

You will answer four scored questions at application stage. We use these to shortlist and longlist, so your answers matter.

• choose real examples (from professional settings)

• focus on what you did, not what “we” did as a group

• explain your thinking: what you looked at, what you decided, and why

• keep it clear and specific, avoid generic statements

Please do not use AI to write your answers. We need to assess your skills, and applications may be rejected if answers appear AI-generated.

If your examples are very short, mostly opinion-based, or don’t describe a specific situation and outcome, you are unlikely to score well.

Inclusion & Wellbeing

Equality, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing are vital to the way we work and our culture. We want our colleagues feel included, valued, and supported at work. It is essential that we are representative and accessible for the people who work here and those who use our service.

Actions we take to embed this include:

• an anonymised shortlisting process to make sure it is fair and unbiased

• monitoring the demographic trends in our workforce and making measured, sustained efforts to improve our diversity at all levels

• providing wellbeing support and opportunities for personal and professional development for all colleagues

• creating spaces for connection and engagement through our employee network groups and social clubs

• part of the disability confident scheme

• providing reasonable adjustments

• engaging in regular inclusion learning to enhance the cultural competency of our organisation.

We know the value of having diverse, representative teams across our organisation. Which is why we particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented within the team. These include people who are:

• Asian, Black, Mixed Ethnicity or another ethnic background

• disabled

• LGBTQ.

Contact and important information

If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact Michael Avery, Information Rights Manager, [email removed]

• Interviews: held onsite

• Feedback: we do not offer feedback at application stage

• Right to work: we can only consider candidates with the right to work in the UK.

• Sponsorship: we are unable to offer sponsorship (we do not have a licence).

• Applications: we do not accept CVs—please apply via the application form (‘apply now’).

• Agencies: no agencies; applications from individuals only.

• Early closure: we may close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.

• Salary: non negotiable

Important notice: fraudulent job postings

We have been made aware that some websites are falsely advertising job vacancies for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). We only advertise job vacancies through these official channels:

- our website

- LinkedIn

- Civil Service Jobs

- GOV.uk

- Indeed

- Ombudsman association

- BMEjobs.co.uk

- Disabilityjob.co.uk

- Neurodiversityjobs.co.uk

- LGBTjobs.co.uk

Do not share personal details with any other websites claiming to represent PHSO. Contact our recruitment team to report any concerns at [email removed]

We are changing our name

We are changing our name. Later this year we will become the Public Service Ombudsman