Job summary
We're looking to appoint a Deputy Director of Communications to provide expert operational leadership of the Trust's Communications service and team.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone with senior leadership experience to play a key role in shaping and delivering the Trust's communications strategy, major programmes and service delivery.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will be responsible for overseeing activity within the Communications team and support to clinical and corporate services. They will be experienced in engaging with system partners and external stakeholders to deliver mutual objectives and effective outcomes.
We're looking for someone with the capability to influence at a senior level, working closely with the Trust's leadership and senior management teams to advise on sensitive, complex and high profile issues.
The successful candidate will lead and motivate a team of multi-disciplinary communications professionals, supporting them to deliver a high-quality communications service to staff and stakeholders.
About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.
The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- Masters degree or equivalent experience & knowledge
- Recognised qualification in communications, journalism, public relations or marketing, or equivalent experience and knowledge
- Evidence of continued professional development
Experience
Essential
- Extensive leadership experience at a senior level within a communications function
- Extensive experience of a broad range of communications disciplines including internal communications, digital communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement & events
- Extensive experience of advising on and successfully delivering communications strategies
- Specialist experience of managing the media on positive, sensitive and crisis issues, including advising directors and experience of working with external partners
- Significant experience of line management, including conducting appraisals and managing performance
- Extensive experience of working across organisational & professional boundaries
- Experience of drafting papers and correspondence at a senior level
Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate a thorough understanding of NHS structures, policy & current issues
- Excellent understanding of measuring and evaluating communications performance
- Excellent working knowledge of web content management programmes
- Detailed understanding of effective media and reputation management strategies
Desirable
- Understanding of co -production principles & effective patient and public involvement practices
- Understanding of Data Protection & Caldicott principles
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written, verbal, editorial and presentational skills.
- Highly developed negotiation, persuasion and influencing skills.
- Ability to analyse, to understand complex subjects & make them understandable to different audiences.
- Excellent judgment, with the ability to analyse issues quickly and make decisions, especially when responding to major incidents.
- Resilience, with a calm, professional approach and the ability to deliver under pressure and to tight and often changing deadlines
- Tact and diplomacy, dealing effectively with challenging issues and people
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- Masters degree or equivalent experience & knowledge
- Recognised qualification in communications, journalism, public relations or marketing, or equivalent experience and knowledge
- Evidence of continued professional development
Experience
Essential
- Extensive leadership experience at a senior level within a communications function
- Extensive experience of a broad range of communications disciplines including internal communications, digital communications, media relations, stakeholder engagement & events
- Extensive experience of advising on and successfully delivering communications strategies
- Specialist experience of managing the media on positive, sensitive and crisis issues, including advising directors and experience of working with external partners
- Significant experience of line management, including conducting appraisals and managing performance
- Extensive experience of working across organisational & professional boundaries
- Experience of drafting papers and correspondence at a senior level
Knowledge
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate a thorough understanding of NHS structures, policy & current issues
- Excellent understanding of measuring and evaluating communications performance
- Excellent working knowledge of web content management programmes
- Detailed understanding of effective media and reputation management strategies
Desirable
- Understanding of co -production principles & effective patient and public involvement practices
- Understanding of Data Protection & Caldicott principles
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written, verbal, editorial and presentational skills.
- Highly developed negotiation, persuasion and influencing skills.
- Ability to analyse, to understand complex subjects & make them understandable to different audiences.
- Excellent judgment, with the ability to analyse issues quickly and make decisions, especially when responding to major incidents.
- Resilience, with a calm, professional approach and the ability to deliver under pressure and to tight and often changing deadlines
- Tact and diplomacy, dealing effectively with challenging issues and people
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.
