Senior Information Governance Officer

We're looking for an organised, confident and resilient Senior Information Governance Officer to join our Information Governance Team located at our Head Office in Islington.

£42,000.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here. Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training
• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
• Online wellbeing resources
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

As a Senior Information Governance Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring Look Ahead's compliance with data protection legislation and internal governance standards. You will support the organisation to manage information securely and effectively, promoting a culture of accountability and transparency. Your work will help safeguard customer and staff data, reduce organisational risk, and ensure high standards of information management across services. Look Ahead offers a hybrid working environment. The post holder will work at our Headquarters in Caledonian Road at least two days per week (Mondays and Thursdays).

The role will be 7 hours per day, Monday to Friday.

Applicants should attach a cover letter to their CV that demonstrates how their skills and experience will meet our requirements and add value to the team. Please note: those who use AI to generate their covering letter will be rejected.

Should we receive sufficient applications prior to the closing date interviews will be held between 8th and 10th October 2025.

We offer hybrid working with a minimum of two days per week based in the office.

What you'll do

• Maintain and update the Look Ahead's Information Asset Register, RoPA and other key governance documentation.
• Support the Information Governance Manager in delivering the annual work programme and reporting to the Information Governance Group.
• Conduct audits and risk assessments of data processing activities and ensure appropriate controls are in place.
• Lead on the implementation and monitoring of information governance policies and procedures across the organisation.
• Monitor compliance with Look Ahead's IG policies and relevant legislation, escalating issues where necessary.
• Contribute to the development of new and existing policies and procedures in response to emerging risks and regulatory changes.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to staff on data protection, confidentiality, and information security matters.
• Develop and communicate training materials in a variety of media to support training and awareness
• Deliver training and awareness sessions to staff on data protection and security, information management and data quality.
• Collaborate with service managers and frontline teams to embed good information governance practices in day-to-day operations.
• Manage and respond to complex data subject rights requests, data breaches, and information governance queries.
• Liaise with external agencies and regulators as required, ensuring timely and accurate responses to enquiries and investigations.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance data handling and governance processes.
• Review contracts and data sharing agreements to ensure compliance with data protection law
• Assist colleagues to write DPIAs and provide appropriate advice
• Lead on gathering evidence to support Look Ahead's annual DSPT submission
• Deputise for the Information Governance Manager when required

The postholder will

• Work in accordance with Look Ahead's Code of Conduct and equal opportunities policy
• Perform other reasonable duties commensurate with the role.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you

• Have effective communication skills and a positive approach
• Enjoy working as part of a small team but able to work on their own initiative
• Be willing to learn and keen to improve and embed robust IG processes throughout Look Ahead
• Be prepared to travel to different services to provide support and monitor compliance
• Be able to work in a busy environment and to deal with interruptions and changing priorities
• Be professional and confident
• Be self-motivated, dynamic, and flexible to meet the needs of the service

What you'll bring

• Essential:
• Skills
• - Close attention to detail
• - High level of accuracy in their literacy and numeracy
• - Effective communication skills
• - Good IT skills
• - Ability to manage competing demands, prioritise and meet deadlines
• - Ability to work on own initiative and exercise own judgment with discretion
• Experience
• - Previous information governance experience
• - Handling data subject requests and applying exemptions when appropriate
• - Managing personal data breaches
• - Supporting managers to complete DPIAs or legitimate interests' assessments
• - Experience of dealing with complex and confidential issues
• - Developing and delivering information governance training
• - Maintaining accurate records and logs
• - Providing advice and support to staff and customers
• - Problem solving and providing workable solutions
• - Working flexibly and being able to respond quickly and effectively to changing circumstances
• Knowledge
• - understanding of the principles of the DPA, UK GDPR and PECR
• - Understand data subjects' rights and when they apply
• - Understand the purpose of data sharing agreements, Data Protection Impact Assessments

Desirable:

• Skills
• - Data Protection Practitioner qualification
• - Evidence of continuous professional development
• - Intermediate skills in MS Office applications e.g. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Experience
• - Experience of working in an NHS, Social Care or Supported Housing environment
• - Monitoring Key Performance indicators
• - Writing and presenting reports; and taking minutes
• - Reviewing GDPR contract clauses and data sharing agreements
• - Applying records management principles
• - Working with data sets
• - Support in the planning and delivery of projects

Knowledge

• - Knowledge of data protection within a supported housing environment
• - Applying data protection and PECR principles in practice
• - Familiarity with the Caldicott principles

About us

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

• Excellence and innovation
• Caring and Compassionate
• Inclusive and Trusted
• Partnership and One-Team

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.