Freedom of Information (FOI) & Subject Access Request (SAR) Officer

Job summary

This vacancy is currently only open to internal applicants from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

We are seeking an organised and motivated individual committed to providing an efficient and effective service to our stakeholders.

This is a pivotal role in ensuring that the Trust meets its statutory duties to provide Freedom of Information (FOI) and Subject Access Request (SAR) disclosures within designated timescales, requiring a high attention to detail.

You will join a high-performing and supportive team committed to working in line with the Trust's values. With excellent written and verbal communications, you will work with a large number of teams across the Trust, as well as with patients and the public.

Main duties of the job

To act as the first point of call for all enquires and correspondence regarding the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

To receive FOI requests and accurately and promptly log them using the electronic systems.

To review requests to determine which contact in the Trust is best placed to provide the information, escalating where necessary.

Maintain the Trusts FOI database and shared drive, ensuring high standards of data quality.

To liaise with contacts so that the information is provided to meet the statutory 20 working day deadline.

Upload completed responses on the Trust website.

To receive SAR requests and accurately and promptly log them using the electronic systems.

To review requests to check that the documentation has been fully completed and making the appropriate checks as appropriate.

Process Subject Access Requests (SAR), accessing clinical systems to obtain the documents requested.

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Details

• Date posted: 20 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 4
• Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: C9365-26-0565-S1
• Job locations: Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, Worcestershire, WR5 1DD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Title: Freedom of Information (FOI) & Subject Access Request (SAR) Officer

Division: Digital Division

Hours: Permanent - 37.5 hours per week

Grade: Band 4

Location: WRH or Alexandra Hospital (hybrid WFH/office working model)

Responsible to: Head of Digital Governance & Compliance

Accountable to: Chief Digital Information Officer

Key working relationships:

Internal: Digital Directorate, staff across all departments

External: Patients, members of the public, other NHS bodies, public and private sector organizations

Risk Assessment:

Works with display screen equipment for prolonged periods.

Involves manual handling activities.

Job Purpose:

The principal role of the FOI/SAR Officer is to provide comprehensive administrative support for the delivery of the Trusts Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and Subject Access Request (SAR) disclosures.

This will involve the central co-ordination of requests, ensuring that accurate records are maintained to support delivery of the Trusts statutory duties.

Key Duties:

Freedom of Information (FOI) Requests

To act as the first point of call for all enquires and correspondence regarding the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

To receive FOI requests and accurately and promptly log them using the electronic systems.

To review requests to determine which contact in the Trust is best placed to provide the information, escalating where necessary.

Maintain the Trusts FOI database and shared drive, ensuring high standards of data quality.

To liaise with contacts so that the information is provided to meet the statutory 20 working day deadline.

Communicate with requesters within the designated timeframes.

Maintain the contact list for FOI leads within the Trust.

Upload completed responses on the Trust website.

Subject Access Requests (SARs)

To receive SAR requests and accurately and promptly log them using the electronic systems.

To review requests to check that the documentation has been fully completed and making the appropriate checks as appropriate.

Process Subject Access Requests (SAR), accessing clinical systems to obtain the documents requested.

Other

Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times, complying with the Data Protection Act, Information Governance and other Trust / Departmental Policies.

To work using own initiative with minimal supervision, prioritising own workload in line with objectives of the department.

Physical Effort

The post requires the regular use of VDU equipment throughout the day, inputting data, compiling statistics, creating reports and documents.

Mental Effort

Required to concentrate for frequent periods of time where the work pattern is predictable, with the ability to deal with unforeseen interruption.

Emotional Effort

The possibility of exposure to sensitive information in relation to patient/staff issues is rare.

The post holder will undertake other duties as may be required to achieve the Trusts objectives, commensurate with the grading of the post.

Our Shared Values and Behaviours

We are committed to delivering outstanding care and creating a culture where everyone feels respected, valued and supported. We seek individuals who share our purpose of helping people live healthier, more fulfilling lives, and who are motivated by our mission to be the best team we can be. You will be expected to uphold our values by communicating openly, acting with kindness, showing respect for others and taking responsibility for your actions. These values guide how we work together and continually improve the care we provide.

Our values are:

• Being open and honest we all communicate clearly and honestly, asking for help when we need it, and making it easier for the people around us to share ideas and concerns.

• Ensuring people feel cared for we all take responsibility for actively supporting and nurturing a kind and compassionate environment for ourselves and others.

• Showing respect for everyone we all act with consideration and fairness, valuing each other as individuals and appreciating our different perspectives.