Salary: Band 5, £28,689 - £29,859 Location: Agile, Bedlington Police Station and Home Working Hours/Contract: 37 hours per week, permanent Working for TeamNP Our purpose at Team NP is simple: to keep people safe and to fight crime. But it takes more than officers alone to do the job – and that’s where our 2,000-strong team of police staff and 200 volunteers come in. As one of the largest police forces in England we have a huge variety of departments and specialisms offering you endless opportunities. From mentoring and coaching schemes and online soft skills courses to leadership development programmes; we’ll give you the support, training and time to carve out the career you always wanted. As a disability confident employer, we promote a culture of respect in the workplace so everyone can feel seen, heard and valued. Whether you’re a member of staff or a volunteer, you can also expect first-rate support to manage your health and wellbeing. With year-round events, a 24/7 welfare support hotline and a leading approach to neurodiversity, our initiatives enable you to be at your best. Above all else, here at Team NP, we can offer you a career that is so much more than just a job, it’s a chance to be part of something that really matters. Learn about our full benefits package The role Here at Northumbria Police, we think our region is amazing! It takes a great deal of people from different backgrounds, with diverse skills and experience to serve our force area effectively, think you have what it takes to help us make a difference? This could be the perfect time for you to join us in our Information Management Department as a Disclosure Assistant. As a key member of our Information Management function, you will act as the central point of contact for all Data Protection matters across the Force and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC). This includes coordinating and processing Subject Access Requests, ensuring that all enquiries are managed efficiently, professionally and in line with legislative requirements. Your work will play a vital role in supporting staff, officers, partner agencies and members of the public by ensuring the highest standards of data handling and confidentiality. You will also provide a dedicated service for managing all Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received by the Force and the OPCC. Working as part of a cohesive and supportive team, you will help the organisation maintain compliance with Data Protection and FOI legislation. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to transparent policing, protect the rights of individuals and support the delivery of an excellent public service. What you’ll do Manage all Data Protection and Freedom of Information access requests from receipt to disclosure, ensuring full compliance with legislation, policies and regulatory guidance. Use specialist knowledge to identify and resolve straightforward requests efficiently without the need for escalation. Liaise effectively with Senior Managers and Commanders to progress applications in line with legal requirements. Provide clear advice and guidance on relevant legislation, identifying organisational risks and applying appropriate mitigations or exemptions. Support management by contributing to performance reporting and audits, highlighting key issues and recommending mitigations based on subject matter expertise. Sound interesting? For further information, and to support your application, please view the job description What you’ll bring Experience working in Data Protection and/or Freedom of Information environments, with strong risk awareness, proven collaboration with partner agencies, office-based working experience, and proficiency across Word, Excel and a range of national and local IT systems. Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently; self motivated with a willingness to learn, develop skills and adapt to organisational needs. Able to manage conflicting priorities while maintaining confidentiality, tact and discretion, and consistently delivering work to a high standard of accuracy. Able to use initiative and self motivation to identify internal and external information sources and develop effective strategies to overcome issues. Maintains a professional attitude and is able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team. We know it's important for you to feel that you're not only part of a great team, but part of a community. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Harnessing these differences creates a productive environment in which everyone feels valued, and their talents are fully utilised. Appointments are based on merit alone. Interested to learn more? For further information about the role please contact Michael Cleugh, Data Protection & Disclosure Adviser by email at Michael.cleugh@northumbria.police.uk. What we offer 26 days’ leave (increasing to 30 days for 5 years service) plus 8 bank holidays NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme Enhanced maternity, shared parental and adoption leave Flexi time - allowing you to fit your working hours around your individual needs Flexible working (we are happy to discuss options such as compressed hours) Agile working – option to work from home, your team zone, and spaces across the force Fantastic market-leading public sector pension scheme with up to 16% employer contribution Corporate travel schemes – local rail, bus services and metro discounts Access to private healthcare and eye test vouchers Discounts on shopping and eating out thanks to the Blue Light Card and Blue Light Tickets We’ve invested in extensive paid sick leave, trained mental health first aiders on-site, an employee advice service for the times you need that additional support. Access to gyms in some stations Sports & Social Club – join our thriving sports scene at Team NP and enjoy further exclusive discounts on days out and travel Cycle to work scheme Opportunity to volunteer in local community We are committed to building a dynamic, agile workplace where meaningful connection are key. For roles designated as agile or home-based, employees will work from a Force site at least once a week, with two days recommended. Hiring managers will be happy to discuss how this works in practice at interview stage. This approach helps build strong relationships, supports wellbeing, and fosters collaboration across teams. Just so you know Candidates with priority status will be given precedence for this role over other applicants. Our application form will help us understand how your work, education and life experience has prepared you for the role of a Disclosure Assistant with TeamNP. To help support your application research what makes us tick here at Northumbria, the role you’re applying for and the values and behaviours that contribute. The recruitment process will consist of the initial application form followed by an interview. Just so you know, you can save your application and come back to it any time prior to the closing date on the advert. We are proud members of the Business Disability Forum, working together to improve the lives of disabled employees. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. In cases of very high application volumes, we may prioritise those who most closely meet the criteria, applying the same fair approach for all candidates. If you tell us that you have a disability, we can make adjustments to support you through the recruitment process (for example we can arrange extra time for tests or provide a sign language interpreter) You can get in touch with us via careers@northumbria.police.uk for any support regarding the application process. Please provide us with plenty of notice so we can ensure your visit goes smoothly. Use of AI in Applications: At Northumbria Police, we embrace innovative technologies to enhance our recruitment process. We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While AI can be a valuable resource, we encourage applicants to ensure their submissions accurately reflect their personal qualifications, experiences, and skills. Our selection process includes thorough evaluations to verify the authenticity and suitability of all applications. We value genuine and thoughtful responses that showcase your unique strengths and perspectives. If your application is successful, we’ll ask you to complete a Recruitment Vetting (RV) form, therefore you must be a resident of the UK for a minimum period of 3 years to ensure vetting checks can be successfully performed. A job offer will be dependent upon vetting clearance, medical information, and references. Terms of appointment These are permanent roles subject to a six-month probationary period. If you are successful in your application, you will have a six-month probation period with us where you will be unable to apply for any other post advertised internally or externally. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.