Job Description
Service area Responsible to Assistant Director of Procurement & Corporate Services.
Responsible for The Head of Service will be responsible for developing and leading all aspects of the Information Governance service; including the provision of vital Data Protection Officer (DPO) services to over 1,000 schools. The Head of Service will also be responsible for performing the statutory DPO role for EA required under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The Head of Service will have responsibility for the development, implementation and management of a professional Information Governance function for EA regionally, performance of the statutory DPO role for EA and responsibility for leading a team of professionals providing a DPO service regionally for over 1,000 schools.
The Head of Service will be responsible for managing and leading all employees within the service regionally. The Head of Service will have direct line management responsibility for approximately 6 staff and overall leadership responsibility for a large, diverse and regionally dispersed team of approximately 30 staff carrying out work across all functions within the Education Authority (EA) and providing DPO services regionally to over 1,000 schools.
Job Purpose
The post holder will have overall responsibility for the development, implementation and management of a professional Information Governance function regionally across EA working closely with Senior Management Teams, Directorate Management Teams, the Corporate Leadership Team, the EA’s Senior Information Risk Owner, schools, Department of Education, the Information Commissioner’s Office and other relevant parties, e.g., NICS, education sector partner organisations, Health Trusts, Councils and others.
This role incorporates the statutory DPO role for EA required under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The role also incorporates the statutory DPO role for schools. The Head of Information Governance will therefore have overall responsibility for leading a team of professionals providing a DPO service regionally for over 1,000 schools.
The Head of Information Governance is accountable to the Assistant Director of Admissions, Financial Support and Procurement for the leadership and direction of all staff within the Information Governance service regionally.
The post holder has overall responsibility for the development, implementation and operation of a robust integrated Information Governance framework regionally across the EA and schools to ensure compliance with the relevant Information Governance related legislation in line with best practice standards, and to meet legal, risk and operational requirements.
The post holder has overall responsibility for leading a professional team regionally to establish a culture of effective Information Governance across EA and for ensuring appropriate systems, processes and procedures are in place to deliver a modern, professional and responsive information governance service with the highest standards of compliance with our statutory responsibilities.
The post holder will be responsible for the Information Governance Service budget, for delivering financial balance within their area of responsibility and the management of cost improvement programmes to support the achievement of a balanced budget.
The post holder will work in collaboration across all the Directorates to ensure a planned approach to Information Governance to ensure the highest standards of compliance with our statutory responsibilities.
The post holder will represent the EA and participate in collaborative regional and national information governance projects, working groups and advisory panels.
Leadership and management responsibilities
The Head of Service has the following leadership responsibilities for this portfolio of services:
Setting Vision and Strategy
1. Provide strategic leadership across the EA in the development of a culture that values, protects and uses information effectively.
2. Provide strategic leadership across the EA regionally in the development and implementation of an integrated Information Governance Framework including agreed organisational standards and a best practice approach to Information Governance to ensure the highest levels of compliance with the relevant Information Governance related legislation in EA and schools.
3. Work with the Assistant Director to establish, maintain and communicate a clear and compelling strategic direction for the service.
4. Contribute to the development of a strategic plan for the Assistant Directorate and lead on the development of the service-specific business plan.
5. Translate the Corporate vision into service-specific direction.
6. Lead the regionalisation and transformation of the service, and all related processes and procedures.
7. Contribute to the development and implementation of new policies in line with strategic direction.
8. Contribute to the management of the Assistant Directorate as part of the Senior Management Team, attending Directorate, Corporate, Committee and Board meetings as required by the Assistant Director.
9. Challenge conventional approaches, harness new approaches and technology and maximise efficiencies.
Managing the Organisation to Deliver
10. Manage service delivery effectively to ensure that the service achieves the highest possible standards of performance and focuses on the needs of internal and external customers.
11. Agree service performance targets with the Assistant Director and provide regular progress reports.
12. Develop, agree and implement a robust annual operational plan for the service.
13. Delegate responsibilities and deploy staff according to their skills and abilities to meet the needs of the service.
14. Regularly monitor and review plans and make adjustments as required.
15. Manage and continuously improve the service to ensure delivery against performance targets, and to ensure that best value for money is achieved.
16. Ensure that the service contributes to overall Directorate and Corporate performance as appropriate, and provide update reports as required.
17. Ensure that the Assistant Director receives high quality service-specific advice.
18. Ensure that EA’s Corporate Leadership Team and Board Members are aware of their statutory responsibilities and the organisational risks in relation to effective information governance.
19. Develop and maintain IG policies, procedures, processes and controls to ensure effective management of information assets to support business needs and meet legal, risk and operational requirements.
20. Apply resources effectively across the service to maximise the delivery of front-line services.
21. Consider the financial implications relating to effective models of service delivery, and contribute to the successful achievement of the Savings Delivery Plan.
22. Ensure compliance with relevant legal, regulatory and statutory performance requirements.
23. Manage the service budget in accordance with all relevant financial policy and procedures.
24. Monitor the financial position of the service and report regularly to the Assistant Director.
25. Follow agreed measures to deliver the service within budget, and take immediate corrective action as required.
26. Contribute effectively to governance, quality and performance management systems and ensure that the service is being managed as per the requirements of these systems.
27. Ensure that employees within the service team are provided with clear structure, roles and responsibilities and are supported to work in an integrated way.
28. Focus on addressing key workforce issues including recruitment, employee engagement, retention and training and development.
29. Investigate all complaints and adverse incidents where outcomes are below expected standards.
30. Establish effective and rigorous quality assurance systems to maintain high standards.
Leadership
31. Provide the service with leadership and direction ensuring that corporate, directorate and service performance standards are achieved, working closely with the Assistant Director in this respect.
32. Promote the ethos and values of the authority and ensure that the service is focused on customer needs.
33. Foster a culture that supports achievement of the authority’s Strategic Plan by role modelling core values and leadership behaviours to staff in the service.
34. Establish and lead cross‐directorate and education sector working groups to embed effective Information Governance practice into all areas of EA’s business.
35. Lead/manage and communicate change and improvement initiatives within the service.
36. Lead, manage and develop staff within the service.
37. Encourage staff involvement and engagement in the strategic development and operational delivery of the service.
38. Actively encourage teamwork and self-development, and create opportunities to maximise individuals’ potential, stimulate innovation and connection at all levels with front line services.
39. Promote a positive culture of performance management within the service through individual and small-team accountability. Foster a culture of constructive feedback and learning, and a genuine commitment to regular and effective appraisals.
40. Prepare and deliver reports on behalf of the Authority as required.
Building Relationships and Working with Others
41. Build and maintain effective, professional and respectful stakeholder relationships.
42. Ensure efficient and effective internal communication with staff in the service.
43. Work closely with partner organisations, the Assistant Director/Director and colleagues to benchmark services and lead/manage and monitor change.
44. Build and maintain effective working relationships and clear lines of communication with other Heads of Service within the Directorate and in other Directorates.
45. Develop and maintain clear lines of communication and effective working partnerships with relevant external stakeholders and service user groups.
46. Lead on/manage engagement with staff, schools and the public on strategic development and major changes in the service that may affect them.
47. Work with external agencies; for example, education sector partner organisations, to identify opportunities for joint working that might bring greater consistency across the sector, and/or improve efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.
Service-specific responsibilities
Information Governance Strategy and Framework
48. Ensure the Information Governance strategy and integrated Information Governance Framework supports the delivery of EA’s corporate objectives and achievement of its strategic goals.
49. Lead on the implementation the projects that make up the Information Governance strategy and integrated Information Governance Framework ensuring that effective governance and accountability processes are in place regionally.
50. Manage and provide strategic leadership for the Information Governance function with EA including benchmarking with other organisations and the use of innovation and technology where appropriate.
51. Ensure the Information Governance function supports the delivery of EA’s corporate objectives and achievement of its strategic goals.
52. Lead the development, implementation, monitoring and review of strategies, policies, standards and procedures for Information Governance consistent with statutory requirements and best practice.
53. Develop and implement robust systems to manage risk in areas of Information Governance regionally.
54. Represent EA at local, regional and national fora and develop links with other organisations in respect of the Information Governance agenda to ensure that EA adopts best practice.
55. Develop and maintain an Information Governance framework regionally which reflects Board priorities, corporate objects and corporate compliance and ensure appropriate engagement with operational staff in this process.
56. Lead the development and implementation of an integrated Information Governance Framework regionally including agreed organisational standards and a best practice approach to Information Governance to ensure the highest levels of compliance with the relevant Information Governance related legislation in EA and schools.
57. Lead and foster an Information Governance culture that values, protects and uses information effectively.
58. Ensure that EA Board Members and Corporate Leadership Team are aware of their statutory responsibilities and the organisational risks in relation to effective information governance.
59. Establish and lead cross‐directorate and education sector working groups to embed effective Information Governance practice into all areas of EA’s business regionally.
60. Develop and maintain Information Governance policies, procedures, processes and controls to ensure effective management of information assets to support business needs and meet legal, risk and operational requirements.
61. Act as lead contact with the Information Commissioner’s Office in relation to Information Governance matters and develop productive working relationships as Data Protection Officer (DPO) for EA.