Job summary
Thank you for your interest in joining Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH).
How do you effectively and meaningfully communicate with 18,000 people who work across multiple sites, in varying roles at various times of the day and night?
As Head of Internal Communications for the largest employer in Nottinghamshire and one of the biggest and busiest NHS Trusts in the country, you will help us find solutions to that challenge and make a genuine difference to the working lives of our colleagues.
As a member of the senior leadership team for communications, you will report to the Deputy Director of Communications and will lead this important and vital function responsible for ensuring that there is authentic and effective communication with colleagues across our hospitals and community sites. You will develop a comprehensive internal communications function that ensures staff know what is happening across our Trust, that they know how their work contributes towards our objectives and how they can have their say.
NHS experience is not essential - what matters most is your commitment to improvement and your desire to deliver a quality internal communications service.
If you would like to find out more about the role or arrange a conversation, please contact me directly at jack.adlam@nuh.nhs.uk
Main duties of the job
Provide strategic direction and leadership on the development and implementation of NUH's internal communications strategy, translating strategic activity into messages and activities that are relevant to our colleagues and secure support for it at Board and senior level, including a clear understanding of the resources required to deliver it.
Review our existing approach to internal communications and identify how we can deliver a better service, including new channels and opportunities to reach colleagues, especially where engagement and involvement is low.
About us
Our teams at NUH make a difference every day and we are proud to play a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of people in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and our surrounding communities. We provide a range of national and internationally renowned specialist services and we are at the forefront of new surgical procedures and research programmes. We are home to the East Midlands Major Trauma Centre, Nottingham Children's Hospital and in partnership with the University of Nottingham we host a Biomedical Research Centre carrying out vital research into hearing, digestive diseases, respiratory, musculoskeletal disease, mental health and imaging.
As we recover from a global pandemic, our colleagues are tired and we must do more to retain staff and improve our culture. This new role has the opportunity to make a positive impact and you will be working in a role that can make a real and lasting difference.
We offer flexible working and will agree a way of working that supports you and NUH. You will be based at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham and will work across all Trust and external sites as needed. You will be part of the out-of-hours on-call rota for the communications team, for which there is an additional payment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In addition to the below summary you need to familiarise yourself with full job description and person specification documents attached to this advert.
Responsible for a small team with opportunity to grow, you will also oversee management of our staff reward and recognition schemes, and work with senior leaders to support them to connect with the work being done across our wards, departments and sites. You will also develop and expand the communications business partnering model with our clinical divisions and corporate functions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
In addition to the below summary you need to familiarise yourself with full job description and person specification documents attached to this advert.
Responsible for a small team with opportunity to grow, you will also oversee management of our staff reward and recognition schemes, and work with senior leaders to support them to connect with the work being done across our wards, departments and sites. You will also develop and expand the communications business partnering model with our clinical divisions and corporate functions.
Person Specification
N/A
Essential
- Educated to a Masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
N/A
Essential
- Educated to a Masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Specialist knowledge and experience of internal communications and considerable experience of leading internal communications at a senior level in a large complex organisation
- Dealing with a variety of professionals and staff at all levels
- Experience of dealing with senior executives; providing counsel and where appropriate, training, Experience of account managing or business partnering internally,oExperience of complex channel management and reporting of engagement metrics
- Evidence of successful communication strategy, development and implementation.Experience in measuring and evaluating communications and designing channels that target audiences precisely. Practical experience in using different approaches to communications across all mediums. Experience of leading the internal response to major incidents and crisis communications. Experience of challenging information and explanations from others who may be experts in their field oExcellent knowledge of how communication techniques are evolving and ability to use this information to continually transform Trust communications and plans for all audiences oExperience of managing and motivating staff and teams
Desirable
- Membership of professional body
- Evidence of leadership development
- Postgraduate qualification in communications, or working towards this standard
- Experience of leading internal communications strategies within large NHS organisations
- Understanding of the public sector and awareness of the relevant social and political environments and impact on the health economy
- Sound understanding of the relationships between NHS England, Integrated Care Boards and individual provider and commissioning organisations, and an appreciation of health and the broad social, political and economic trends influencing them
Person Specification
N/A
Essential
- Educated to a Masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
N/A
Essential
- Educated to a Masters level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Specialist knowledge and experience of internal communications and considerable experience of leading internal communications at a senior level in a large complex organisation
- Dealing with a variety of professionals and staff at all levels
- Experience of dealing with senior executives; providing counsel and where appropriate, training, Experience of account managing or business partnering internally,oExperience of complex channel management and reporting of engagement metrics
- Evidence of successful communication strategy, development and implementation.Experience in measuring and evaluating communications and designing channels that target audiences precisely. Practical experience in using different approaches to communications across all mediums. Experience of leading the internal response to major incidents and crisis communications. Experience of challenging information and explanations from others who may be experts in their field oExcellent knowledge of how communication techniques are evolving and ability to use this information to continually transform Trust communications and plans for all audiences oExperience of managing and motivating staff and teams
Desirable
- Membership of professional body
- Evidence of leadership development
- Postgraduate qualification in communications, or working towards this standard
- Experience of leading internal communications strategies within large NHS organisations
- Understanding of the public sector and awareness of the relevant social and political environments and impact on the health economy
- Sound understanding of the relationships between NHS England, Integrated Care Boards and individual provider and commissioning organisations, and an appreciation of health and the broad social, political and economic trends influencing them
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).