Job summary
This job is a great way to start your career in the NHS. You'll be joining an organisation where five per cent of staff, some of whom have worked here for more than 20 years, are completing apprenticeships. We're passionate about developing our staff and giving them opportunities they wouldn't get anywhere else. It's an exciting time to join our Trust. We're improving and making our hospitals better places to work and receive care. It's a hands-on role. You won't just be sat at a desk, but out and about on wards across our sites. Our Communications Officers have been involved when Hugh Pym and Victoria Macdonald have broadcast from the Trust; they've filmed an operation as part of our work to show how we're cutting waiting lists; and they've produced graphics and posters for campaigns including No Abuse No Excuse and Celebrating BHRUT. As a Communications Officer, you'll help maintain the Trust's digital and social media channels, respond to media enquiries and assist with internal communications and stakeholder engagement.
Main duties of the job
The Communications Officer is a key member of the Communications and Engagement team. The team operates in a very busy working environment, serving a wide range of audiences that includes more than 8,500 staff and volunteers, a community of 750,000 people, national broadcast and print media.
The Communications Officer produces content for a wide variety of internal and external channels, helps maintain the Trust's digital and social media presence, respond to media enquiries and assists with internal communications and stakeholder engagement
About us
We're an organisation that is getting better and better. We were the most improved Trust in England for A&E performance in 2023/24; we're no longer in special measures; and Matthew Trainer, our Chief Executive, has been named the top CEO by the Health Service Journal. Our improvements are driven by a determination to deliver care we're proud of and that our patients are happy with.
Many of our 8,000 staff - who come from 146 different countries - live in the three diverse London boroughs we serve and the majority are from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. More than 400 of them are on apprenticeship programmes and we're proud to be a London Living Wage employer.
We operate from two main sites - King George Hospital (KGH) in Goodmayes and Queen's Hospital in Romford. We have two of the busiest emergency departments in London - more than 300,000 people visited our A&Es in 2023.
Patients across north east London are benefitting from two new state of the art theatres at KGH and our Community Diagnostic Centres at Barking Community Hospital and St George's Health and Wellbeing Hub will significantly increase the number of scans that can be carried out.
We're looking forward to introducing an electronic patient record next year. This will mean the records of any patient visiting one of the seven hospitals run by BHRUT and Barts Health will be accessible to the clinical teams. It'll make things easier for staff and will be better for patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification.
The person specification listed below is not the full specification requirements for the role. Please ensure you review the full specification on the job description prior to submitting your application.
Applicants are advised to read all the information on the advert and the supporting information before completing and submitting an application. As you complete your application please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification for this post by adequately completing the supporting information section of the application form.
All new staff appointed at the Trust are subject to a probationary period.
Applications should be made online, however, queries regarding the application process, assistance with completion of the application form or if you require any adjustments (for applicants with a disability) please contact Paul Awosika, Recruitment Advisor, on 01708 435000 ext. 5989. Further details regarding the post may be obtained by contacting the manager as per the contact details above.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification.
The person specification listed below is not the full specification requirements for the role. Please ensure you review the full specification on the job description prior to submitting your application.
Applicants are advised to read all the information on the advert and the supporting information before completing and submitting an application. As you complete your application please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification for this post by adequately completing the supporting information section of the application form.
All new staff appointed at the Trust are subject to a probationary period.
Applications should be made online, however, queries regarding the application process, assistance with completion of the application form or if you require any adjustments (for applicants with a disability) please contact Paul Awosika, Recruitment Advisor, on 01708 435000 ext. 5989. Further details regarding the post may be obtained by contacting the manager as per the contact details above.
Person Specification
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- oExperience of writing news stories, adhering to a style guide and excellent command of written English
Desirable
- oExperience working in public relations, communications or journalism
Skills and abilities
Essential
- oAbility to design content for digital and print channels using industry standard software
- oAbility to take high-quality photographs and videos
- oAbility to edit photos and videos using industry standard software
Desirable
- oAbility to use content management systems to produce website content
Person Specification
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- oExperience of writing news stories, adhering to a style guide and excellent command of written English
Desirable
- oExperience working in public relations, communications or journalism
Skills and abilities
Essential
- oAbility to design content for digital and print channels using industry standard software
- oAbility to take high-quality photographs and videos
- oAbility to edit photos and videos using industry standard software
Desirable
- oAbility to use content management systems to produce website content
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.
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
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.
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).
