Communications Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description

1. JOB DETAILS

Job title: Communications Officer

Accountable to: Head of Communications

Location: PH Offices, London

2. JOB SUMMARY

Support the Head of Communications with the planning and implementation, of the communications programme to ensure delivery of the service new strategic vision and organisational culture work programme.

This role is a core delivery role within the engagement and comms service. An opportunity for a dynamic and agile communicator to be part of an enthusiastic and proactive small Communications team. Responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the internal communications activity required to support the services corporate objectives. Working across the entire Group to develop, plan and implement communication strategies for both in house and external campaigns.

3. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• Practitioner Health leadership team
• Hurley Group Partners
• Senior management and the Board of Directors
• The media
• Partner organisations
• Staff and patients who contact the Practitioner Health
• FOI stakeholders (e.g. IG team)
• GPs & Practice Managers

6. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST

• Promote the services, work and reputation of the organisation to staff, local regional, national and specialist media, the general public, patients and internal and external stakeholders using a wide range of public relations, communications reviewed and discussed with the Communications Manager.
• Support the Head of Communications to develop and implement strategic communications plans for key projects and activities.
• Support the Head of Communications to implement robust communications channels in order to communicate effectively with staff, patients and stakeholders.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines that may be conflicting or unexpected, prioritising workload to meet deadlines.
• Support the development and copywriting for the services digital platforms, specifically the website and intranet.
• Develop and publish content for social media, website, newsletters and other communications on key messages, using own judgement to ensure the reputation and credibility of the service is maintained
• Support the Head of Internal Communications with the audit, evaluation and continuous improvement of internal communications.
• Work with departments to develop internal communications content for specific projects and activities in line with strategic corporate objectives and operational priorities.
• Work independently to create imaginative concepts for communicating key messages using a variety of specialist software and tools to include images, videos and infographic materials
• Manage internal communication projects so that they are delivered on time within the specified budget, ensuring each has clear objectives, performance metrics and is evaluated.
• Respond to queries from external stakeholders in a timely manner, formulating key messages and drafting communications for publication.

Events

• Manage events which will target key groups to raise and build awareness.
• Supports on management of external speaking requests and liaise with the Executive team and regional clinical leads to provide appropriate speakers or material for these events.
• Develop core presentation packs and slides and maintain these with activity updates and developing themes.
• Manage internal events, coordinating venue requirements, presentational materials, speakers and attendees.
• Actively support and contribute to the development and delivery of workshops, presentations, and events.
• Liaise with speakers and presenters, providing hosting and technical support for online and in-person events
• Supports delivery of, project, communications campaigns, manages events, conferences
• 7. PHYSICAL SKILLS
• The post requires advanced keyboard skills for designing publications, presentations, processing documents and maintaining the website and intranet.
• There is a frequent requirement for sitting in a restricted position at a computer for the majority of the working period.
• The post holder is also required to physically lift, put up and move display boards, boxes of publications etc for events.
• Ability to commute to locations across the organisation

8. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The post holder is expected to

• adhere to Group policies and procedures and relevant legislation including the requirements of the any professional bodies.
• attend mandatory training as identified by the Group.
• adhere to Group infection prevention policies, procedures, audits in line with the Health Act 2006, to actively reduce Health Care Associated Infections

9. PATIENT & CLIENT CARE

• Provides general non-clinical advice, guidance or information directly to patients or
• members of the public contacting the department.
• Provides general non-clinical advice, guidance or information directly to patients and members of the public who have sent in queries using the website feedback facility.

10. RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

• Supports evaluation on the media and social media coverage gained by the organisation and produce a information that will support a report to be presented to the Group Board that details the size and monetary value of the coverage gained,
• highlights the major positive and negative news stories and looks at ways to improve performance in the future.
• Research and produce brochures to promote the services of the Group

11. CONFIDENTIALITY

The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients staff and the Groups business in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), Data Protection Act 2018 and Caldicott principles.

10. HEALTH AND SAFETY

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health & Safety at work Act (1974), to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors.

11. RISK MANAGEMENT

All staff have a responsibility to report all clinical and non-clinical accidents, incidents or near-misses promptly and when requested to co-operate with any investigations undertaken.

12. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

All employees of the Group have responsibility to:

• Act in ways that support equality and value diversity.
• Treat everyone with whom they come into contact with dignity and respect.

• Act in ways that are in accordance with the Groups Equality and Diversity policy, and Dignity in the Workplace policy.

13. SAFEGUARDING

All employees have a duty for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. Staff must be familiar with the Groups Safeguarding Policy and the process for raising concerns about the welfare of anyone with whom they have contact. Staff must also ensure they receive the appropriate level of safeguarding children and adult training depending on their role in the Group.

Staff are expected to access supervision and support from their line managers and/or the locality based safeguarding team when managing complex cases where applicable to their role.

14. INFORMATION GOVERNANCE

The post holder must keep up to date with the requirements of information governance; undertake mandatory training and follow Group policies and procedures to ensure that Group information is dealt with legally, securely, efficiently and effectively.

It is important that the post holder processes personal identifiable information only in accordance with the Groups Data Protection Act notification to the Information Commissioner. The post holder must check with the Data Protection Officer before creating new systems to process person identifiable information to ensure that this is carried out within the scope of the Data Protection Act 2018 notification.

The post holder must manage the records they create or hold during the course of their employment with the Group in an appropriate way, making the records available for sharing in a controlled manner subject to statutory requirements and agreed security and confidentiality policies, procedures and guidelines e.g. Data Protection Act 2018, Freedom of Information Act 2000, General Data Protection Regulations, Caldicott Guidelines NHS Confidentiality Code of Conduct 2003, and professional codes of conduct on confidentiality.

The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about service user staff and organisational business in accordance with the new Data Protection Act 2018 and Caldicott principles.

It is likely that the post holder will be in contact at some time with a form of information system, and therefore is responsible for implementing and maintaining data quality. The post holder, when making entries into records, must ensure that these are legible and attributable and that the record keeping is contemporaneous. It is essential that information recorded within records either on paper, in an electronic format or both paper and electronic is accurate, complete and relevant.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Recent administrative duties.
• Engagement and communications work environments
• Knowledge of Information Governance and Data Protection principles.
• Knowledge of public services and the NHS
• A source of expertise within the team on digital skills e.g.; social media use and development, electronic design tools etc.
• Able to learn new technology and apply within PH where appropriate.
• Organised in administrative processes whilst being responsive to deadlines.
• Able to work using own initiative, both unsupervised and as part of a team.
• Creativity to adapt key messages into content for communication.
• Accuracy in written work.
• Well- developed interpersonal skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of clinical care workplace engagement and communications.
• Knowledge of engagement and comms best practice in the NHS
• Experience of working with graphic and content design software

Personal Circumstances

Essential

• Flexible approach on working hours.
• Able to travel independently of public transport to sites in all areas London, Leeds and Birmingham.
• Able to attend work related training courses as required.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level education or demonstrable equivalent experience.
• Proficient in web and office based software
• Willing to undertake further training in Communications and Public Relations

Desirable

• A comms or marketing based qualification.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Hurley Group

Address

Kennington Lane

London

SE11 4HJ

Employer's website

http://hurleygroup.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)