Data Protection Assistant

Working for the Information Governance Team the successful candidate will work (part time - 30 hours) with a small team of staff facilitating access to personal information (patient information and staff information) following strict legal deadlines., The successful postholder will ensure that access to personal information of living and deceased individuals is processed in a legal, timely and consistent way according to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Data Protection Act 2018, Access to Health Records Act 1990 and common law duty of confidentiality.

You will respond to queries from patients, staff and external organisations with regard to access to personal information using your knowledge of the Data Protection Act 2018, GDPR and Access to Health Records Act 1990. Escalate complex queries to supervisor or senior manager.

In addition to this, the postholder will answer service user queries on access to their health records. Contact is usually by telephone or letter but a very limited amount of face-to-face contact may be required, for example if an individual wants to personally collect copies of their records. Sometimes you will have to talk with individuals who are upset or angry. You will have to be able to cope with these individuals in an assertive but empathetic manner., Please see attached the job description and person specification which outlines the main duties and responsibilities of the role.

You will need knowledge of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018 with regard to Subject Access, either gained through practical application of the law or formal training. Your knowledge of Subject Access and its practical application will be tested at interview.

In addition to this, the postholder must have an understanding of the confidentiality issues associated with handling personal, confidential and special information and be able to maintain confidentiality. The ability to work under the pressure of constant deadlines while still maintaining accuracy and attention to detail is essential.

You will be educated to NVQ level 3, Experience of processing requests for personal information is desirable., * Educated to NVQ level 3

• ITQ/ECDL qualification or equivalent, * Experience of handling sensitive, confidential, personal information
• Providing information to members of the public
• Providing information to all levels of staff
• Working within a large, complex organisation
• Experience of clinical systems such as patient administration systems, outpatient clinic systems, * Knowledge and understanding of the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulation;
• Knowledge and understanding of the common law duty of confidentiality and NHS code of Practice on Confidentiality
• Knowledge and understanding of information governance topics including: Records Management, Information Security, Confidentiality and Data Quality, * Knowledge of the Access to Health Records Act 1990;
• Knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act and how it relates to the disclosure of personal information, * Ability to provide information on complex non-routine queries
• Excellent communication skills; written and verbal
• Ability to follow policies and procedures
• Ability to use Microsoft Office software; Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, * Ability to learn and use a range of bespoke IT systems

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby. From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care -our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for. We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health. We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it. We won't rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.