Job summary
Here at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust we strive to deliver the best quality and safest care for our local community. Our creative, driven, and dynamic communications team is devoted to supporting this mission, ensuring that we engage and communicate effectively with everyone from staff, governors and volunteers, to our community, MPs and partners.
As the organisation's most senior communications professional you will develop and lead the implementation of our communications strategy, providing advice and input to our senior leaders, and supporting teams across our organisation - as well as your own. Whether it be with our Board, Council of Governors, clinical teams or representatives of the media, you will use your professionalism and influence to share the work of WSFT, in line with our values. Through your own contribution and that of your team, you will work both proactively and responsively to raise awareness of, and help build confidence in, the role of WSFT in our community and as a place to work for our staff and teams.
If this is you, I look forward to receiving your application. And if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me via jeremy.over@wsh.nhs.uk
Main duties of the job
Development of Trust narrative, messages and positioning
Management of communications budget
Communications strategy development and delivery (external, external and digital)
Management and development of the communications team
Internal and external communications, including digital communications
Media relations
Crisis management
Brand and corporate identity
Reputation management
Stakeholder mapping and relationship building with external stakeholders
Development and delivery of targeted internal and external communications campaigns aligned to Trust's strategic aims and objectives
Supporting positive cultural change
Provide strategic communications advice for the executive team and other staff members
Supervise the media and journalists whilst on Trust premises
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The head of communications holds a crucial role as the senior communications professional for West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, helping deliver the organisations strategies and goals.
This post supports the executive director of workforce and communications and plays a lead role in the development and delivery of a strategic communications strategy, which involves all internal and external stakeholders.
The role leads a team of communications and digital experts, ensuring the delivery of a measurable programme of activity to all audiences across a full range of communications channels. The focus of the postholder is to drive communications and engagement with a full range of stakeholders relevant to the Trust, including staff, patients, communities, stakeholders, regulators, the media, policy makers, opinion-formers and the general public.
JOB PURPOSE
To be a member of the senior leadership team and attend the board of directors meetings.
To lead on the Trusts development, implementation and evaluation of internal, external and digital communications strategies, projects and campaigns on behalf of the board of directors and the executive team.
To support the development of the Trusts strategic narrative, messaging and brand.
To build and maintain public confidence in and awareness of the Trusts services through effective media and public relations, including use of social media, advertising and promotions.
To provide communications, marketing, media and reputation management advice to the board of directors, executive team and other senior managers.
To provide strategic communications support to aid the delivery of high-profile service transformation and change programmes.
To promote West Suffolk Foundation Trust as an excellent choice by promoting the Trust brand to maximise patient numbers.
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The head of communications holds a crucial role as the senior communications professional for West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, helping deliver the organisations strategies and goals.
This post supports the executive director of workforce and communications and plays a lead role in the development and delivery of a strategic communications strategy, which involves all internal and external stakeholders.
The role leads a team of communications and digital experts, ensuring the delivery of a measurable programme of activity to all audiences across a full range of communications channels. The focus of the postholder is to drive communications and engagement with a full range of stakeholders relevant to the Trust, including staff, patients, communities, stakeholders, regulators, the media, policy makers, opinion-formers and the general public.
JOB PURPOSE
To be a member of the senior leadership team and attend the board of directors meetings.
To lead on the Trusts development, implementation and evaluation of internal, external and digital communications strategies, projects and campaigns on behalf of the board of directors and the executive team.
To support the development of the Trusts strategic narrative, messaging and brand.
To build and maintain public confidence in and awareness of the Trusts services through effective media and public relations, including use of social media, advertising and promotions.
To provide communications, marketing, media and reputation management advice to the board of directors, executive team and other senior managers.
To provide strategic communications support to aid the delivery of high-profile service transformation and change programmes.
To promote West Suffolk Foundation Trust as an excellent choice by promoting the Trust brand to maximise patient numbers.
Person Specification
Education & Qaulification
Essential
- Educated to degree level/or equivalent level of skills or experience plus training and/or experience in the communications field to degree level equivalent
Desirable
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and/or Institute of Public Relations.
- Postgraduate qualification in relevant field.
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Considerable public relations and/or communications experience at a senior level in a large and complex organisation.
- Practical experience in using different approaches to communications across all mediums.
- Dealing with a variety of professionals and staff at all levels
- Evidence of successful communication , development and implementation.
- Developing and implementing effective internal and external communications in a complex organisation.
Desirable
- Experience in communications/public relations in the private sector.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills.
- Advanced keyboard skills required for speed and accuracy for preparing reports, media releases and presentation material.
- Political skills and knowledge of public sector issues, including those surrounding the NHS.
- Flexibility in handling a wide range of projects, managed to tight deadlines
Personal qualitiies
Essential
- Politically aware.
- Confident decision maker with the ability to lead, manage and motivate teams.
- Ability to act with tact and diplomacy and be calm in a pressured environment.
- Comfortable to work in a dynamic, time- driven environment.
- Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
Person Specification
Education & Qaulification
Essential
- Educated to degree level/or equivalent level of skills or experience plus training and/or experience in the communications field to degree level equivalent
Desirable
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and/or Institute of Public Relations.
- Postgraduate qualification in relevant field.
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Considerable public relations and/or communications experience at a senior level in a large and complex organisation.
- Practical experience in using different approaches to communications across all mediums.
- Dealing with a variety of professionals and staff at all levels
- Evidence of successful communication , development and implementation.
- Developing and implementing effective internal and external communications in a complex organisation.
Desirable
- Experience in communications/public relations in the private sector.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written skills.
- Advanced keyboard skills required for speed and accuracy for preparing reports, media releases and presentation material.
- Political skills and knowledge of public sector issues, including those surrounding the NHS.
- Flexibility in handling a wide range of projects, managed to tight deadlines
Personal qualitiies
Essential
- Politically aware.
- Confident decision maker with the ability to lead, manage and motivate teams.
- Ability to act with tact and diplomacy and be calm in a pressured environment.
- Comfortable to work in a dynamic, time- driven environment.
- Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
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).
