Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Communications and Engagement Officer

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are on the search for a talented and creative individual to join our communications and engagement team at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Working for one of the largest acute trusts in the country we can guarantee you a wide and varied work load. From handling the media, stakeholder visits with our therapy dogs to planning and recording podcasts and designing Tik Toks - you really will cover it all.

If you have drive and passionate, fantastic stamina and incredible attention to detail, we’d love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

For this role you’ll need to be a people person and comfortable chatting with people from across our communities to gather their stories. You’ll need insight and compassion to put people at ease so you can capture their personality in engaging content and videos.

Evaluation based and insight led campaigns will be a big part of your portfolio, focusing on ensuring our communities know how to access our services in the best possible way, talk to us about their experiences and thoughts for improvements and empowering them to look after their own health and wellbeing.

A bucket load of flair, original ideas and a good sense of organisation will make you perfect for this role and allow you to work alongside an absolutely fantastic bunch of NHS communicators.

To find out more or chat to the team, please call Helen Rimmer on 023 9228 6000

About us

The Trust is committed to driving excellence in care for our patients and communities and was rated good by the Care Quality Commission report published 2020 and became a University Hospital. We are ranked as the third in the country for research; embedding education and training across the organisation and we continuously strive to achieve our core values which are at the heart of everything we do. The Trusts main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, starting life as a military hospital over a century ago and now one of the largest hospitals on the south coast and you may have seen us on the TV series Nurses on the Ward. The Trust provides comprehensive secondary care and specialist services to a local population of 675,000 people across South East Hampshire. The Trust employs over 8,000 staff and are #ProudtobePHU; our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because its the right thing to do, but because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for providing outstanding care and support for patients, you will find a home at PHU. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring.

Details

Date posted

05 August 2022

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£25,655 to £31,534 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C8192-CS-22-0660A

Job locations

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

PO6 3LY


Job description

Job responsibilities

· Play a key role in the provision of a media, internal and external communications service to support the strategic objectives of the Trust

· Provide communications advice and support to staff which may involve complicated, highly sensitive information.

· To provide challenge to colleagues on communications and engagement requirements, ensuring objectives are clear, appropriate and easily mapped to corporate and directorate aims, as well as to target audiences. To be proactive, positive and energetic in suggesting more appropriate or effective solutions.

· To provide a copywriting service to the organisation and its partners where appropriate, drafting press releases and quotes, articles for inclusion in corporate and target publications, information leaflets and posters, web content, award entries and other corporate documents that arise.

· To provide a copywriting service to the organisation drafting press releases and quotes, articles for inclusion in corporate and target publications, information leaflets and posters, web content, award entries and other corporate documents that arise.

· Proofreading Trust publications such as newsletters and annual report, suggesting amendments as appropriate.

· To ensure activity is properly planned, evaluated and accessible to all – using and promoting a common sense approach, simplicity and ‘plain English’ across the Trust.

· Be responsible for sourcing and creating new social media content that promotes the Trust, and its events creating captivating campaigns.

· Work with the Communications and Engagement Manager and Digital Communications Manager to develop and deliver communications plans to support the Communications Strategy.

· Prepare press releases, respond to media queries and arrange and co-ordinate media opportunities proactively and reactively as appropriate. Use persuasive and negotiation skills when dealing with media professionals to ensure the Trusts’ positions and messages are clearly articulated.

· Liaise with local, regional and national media as appropriate and record all media liaison and activity on to a

media management system.

· Use your initiative to seek out and deliver proactive media opportunities, giving stories appropriate treatment and utilising appropriate communications channels as part of the team.

· Successfully coordinate both Trusts’ digital platforms, helping to maintain the positive public image with engaging and accurate content. Monitoring and updating existing online copy and maintaining a consistent look and feel across the sites, evaluating their performance.

· Actively contribute to forward planning, assisting in enhancing our planning function, as a key member of the Communications Team.

· Plan, organise and promote key communications events such as awareness days.

· Assist in the development of events, campaigns and other communications initiatives, including developing

publicity materials.

· Ensure your communications plans and campaigns are evaluated fully and learning shared to inform future campaigns.

· To help develop and motivate other members of the team by acting as a role model and offering basic training in key tasks.

  • To help develop the team to offer the very best communications and engagement consultancy and services to the organisation.

· Ensure approved budgets are spent effectively and in accordance with agreed procedures.

· Behave at all times as an ambassador for the Trust and exhibit the highest professional and personal standards, demonstrating the Trust values in your behaviour of working together

o for patients

o with compassion

o as one team

o always improving

· The post holder may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities as determined by their line manager within the overall parameters of the post.

Job description

Job responsibilities

· Play a key role in the provision of a media, internal and external communications service to support the strategic objectives of the Trust

· Provide communications advice and support to staff which may involve complicated, highly sensitive information.

· To provide challenge to colleagues on communications and engagement requirements, ensuring objectives are clear, appropriate and easily mapped to corporate and directorate aims, as well as to target audiences. To be proactive, positive and energetic in suggesting more appropriate or effective solutions.

· To provide a copywriting service to the organisation and its partners where appropriate, drafting press releases and quotes, articles for inclusion in corporate and target publications, information leaflets and posters, web content, award entries and other corporate documents that arise.

· To provide a copywriting service to the organisation drafting press releases and quotes, articles for inclusion in corporate and target publications, information leaflets and posters, web content, award entries and other corporate documents that arise.

· Proofreading Trust publications such as newsletters and annual report, suggesting amendments as appropriate.

· To ensure activity is properly planned, evaluated and accessible to all – using and promoting a common sense approach, simplicity and ‘plain English’ across the Trust.

· Be responsible for sourcing and creating new social media content that promotes the Trust, and its events creating captivating campaigns.

· Work with the Communications and Engagement Manager and Digital Communications Manager to develop and deliver communications plans to support the Communications Strategy.

· Prepare press releases, respond to media queries and arrange and co-ordinate media opportunities proactively and reactively as appropriate. Use persuasive and negotiation skills when dealing with media professionals to ensure the Trusts’ positions and messages are clearly articulated.

· Liaise with local, regional and national media as appropriate and record all media liaison and activity on to a

media management system.

· Use your initiative to seek out and deliver proactive media opportunities, giving stories appropriate treatment and utilising appropriate communications channels as part of the team.

· Successfully coordinate both Trusts’ digital platforms, helping to maintain the positive public image with engaging and accurate content. Monitoring and updating existing online copy and maintaining a consistent look and feel across the sites, evaluating their performance.

· Actively contribute to forward planning, assisting in enhancing our planning function, as a key member of the Communications Team.

· Plan, organise and promote key communications events such as awareness days.

· Assist in the development of events, campaigns and other communications initiatives, including developing

publicity materials.

· Ensure your communications plans and campaigns are evaluated fully and learning shared to inform future campaigns.

· To help develop and motivate other members of the team by acting as a role model and offering basic training in key tasks.

  • To help develop the team to offer the very best communications and engagement consultancy and services to the organisation.

· Ensure approved budgets are spent effectively and in accordance with agreed procedures.

· Behave at all times as an ambassador for the Trust and exhibit the highest professional and personal standards, demonstrating the Trust values in your behaviour of working together

o for patients

o with compassion

o as one team

o always improving

· The post holder may be required to undertake other duties and responsibilities as determined by their line manager within the overall parameters of the post.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working as a communications officer, journalist, digital or e communications officer or in a relevant role previously
  • Experience of working in a high pressure communications or public relations team
  • Effective media management experience
  • Experience of writing engaging copy for different audiences.
  • Experience of editing website content through a content management system (CMS)

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level public relations, journalism, digital communications or another relevant field (or equivalent experience)

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Computer literacy in Microsoft Windows and Office
  • Ability to turn complex information into easily understood messages, suitable for different channels eg print and on-line.
  • Good working knowledge of industry standard film, photography and content editing software such as Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Ability to develop and implement communications plans
  • Understanding of the evaluation of communications functions and an ability to use evidence to guide decision making for future communications activity.
  • Dealing with challenging situations where tact and sensitivity is required
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to write intelligibly, interestingly, concisely and with flair and creativity
  • Ability to turn complex information into easily understood messages, suitable for different channels
  • Self-motivation and ability to deal with a demanding workload and deliver consistently to deadlines.
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills including the ability to establish appropriate documentation and record keeping and prioritise workloads.
  • Flexible to unexpected demands
  • Team player able to engage with others in own team and colleagues in the organisation
  • Ability to work independently or as part of a team
  • Creative thinking and positive attitude.
  • Good interpersonal stills and relationship building.
  • Full valid driving license and access to car.
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working as a communications officer, journalist, digital or e communications officer or in a relevant role previously
  • Experience of working in a high pressure communications or public relations team
  • Effective media management experience
  • Experience of writing engaging copy for different audiences.
  • Experience of editing website content through a content management system (CMS)

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level public relations, journalism, digital communications or another relevant field (or equivalent experience)

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Computer literacy in Microsoft Windows and Office
  • Ability to turn complex information into easily understood messages, suitable for different channels eg print and on-line.
  • Good working knowledge of industry standard film, photography and content editing software such as Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Ability to develop and implement communications plans
  • Understanding of the evaluation of communications functions and an ability to use evidence to guide decision making for future communications activity.
  • Dealing with challenging situations where tact and sensitivity is required
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to write intelligibly, interestingly, concisely and with flair and creativity
  • Ability to turn complex information into easily understood messages, suitable for different channels
  • Self-motivation and ability to deal with a demanding workload and deliver consistently to deadlines.
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills including the ability to establish appropriate documentation and record keeping and prioritise workloads.
  • Flexible to unexpected demands
  • Team player able to engage with others in own team and colleagues in the organisation
  • Ability to work independently or as part of a team
  • Creative thinking and positive attitude.
  • Good interpersonal stills and relationship building.
  • Full valid driving license and access to car.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Address

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

PO6 3LY


Employer's website

https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Address

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

PO6 3LY


Employer's website

https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Helen Rimmer

helen.rimmer@porthosp.nhs.uk

023922860006648

Details

Date posted

05 August 2022

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£25,655 to £31,534 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C8192-CS-22-0660A

Job locations

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

PO6 3LY


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