Job Description

Applications are invited for two exciting roles of Business Support Assistant within Information Management.

The Business Support Assistant will work in a small team under the line management of a supervisor.

The role involves responding to enquiries from members of the public and partner agencies, logging work into case management systems and providing support to the disclosure officers within the wider team.

They will be expected to manage their own workload on a daily basis, giving regard to legislative time frames and demand, as well as being a confident decision maker who is able to interpret relevant legislation and guidance when considering the disclosure of information.

They will be required to have contact with members of the public and professional bodies and be expected to represent the service in a professional and helpful manner and assist in the delivery of effective and efficient administrative support.

All staff are expected to adopt a multifunctional approach, to work with a view to reply to various types of requests processed by the department.

You will need to interrogate multiple force computer systems as well as having the ability to learn new software and packages as they arise. You will also need to demonstrate effective communication skills and a high level of integrity and confidentiality.

There are two posts available; one individual will support the Freedom of Information team while the other will support the Subject Access Request team, but there will be an expectation to cover for each other in periods of absence.

The roles are both full-time positions, with an expectation of being in the office (Lloyd House, Birmingham) at least three days per week in line with force policy

Essential criteria:

• High attention to detail
• The ability to work to direction but take initiative with their own workload where necessary
• Work well on their own and as part of a team
• Exceptional customer services skills
• The ability to effectively and confidently deal with telephone and email enquiries (i.e. written and verbal skills)

• Effective keyboard and computer skills and experience of Microsoft software programmes

Desirable criteria:

• Previous experience of working in either FOI or Data Protection environments

• Previous experience of working within an administrative role

Prospective staff/officers must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold.

Important Information

Closing Date: Thursday 16th July 2026

Interview Dates: Interview will take place w/c Monday 27th July 2026

Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment Vetting and Counter Terrorist Clearance scrutiny prior to commencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.

Medical Appointment to this role will be dependent upon you successfully passing medical checks, which may include a drug and hearing test.

Hours: This is a full-time position working between core hours of 08:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday. The role is hybrid working with 60% of working days on-site.

Contact: For further information email Sarah Lewis-Taylor on sarah.lewistaylor@westmidlands.police.uk

Benefit Statement

By choosing to join West Midlands Police you will receive an enhanced benefits package including:

• Fair remuneration with progression opportunities and access to a very competitive pension scheme.
• Enhanced annual leave in addition to public holiday entitlements.
• Discounts across travel, parking, daily costs of living and leisure activities.
• A comprehensive wellbeing package including 24/7 support, free eye tests and flu jabs
• Comprehensive benefits including pension, Blue Light Card, and employee assistance programme.

West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment we operate a ‘Disability Confident Interview Scheme’ - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.

It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.

"Diversity and Inclusion Vision: Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities"

West Midlands Police is the second-largest police force in the country, serving the three major cities of Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton, alongside the districts of Sandwell, Walsall, Solihull, and Dudley.

Against this backdrop, the force handles more than 2,000 emergency calls every day, while patrolling the streets and responding to incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have made significant improvements in reducing overall crime, improving call response times, and increasing arrest rates. This work can only continue with the right people, therefore as an employer of choice, we are looking for the right people who can serve and protect our communities.