Job summary
Are you an engagement superstar? Do you want to work for one of the best communications teams in London?
South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust (SWLSTG) will be opening two modern mental health facilities at the end of 2022. This is part of a multimillion-pound regeneration programme and the development of a new 'Springfield Village' in South West London.
It is an extremely exciting time for the Trust and our Communications and Public Affairs team has expanded to meet these new challenges with a number of fantastic opportunities for talented communications and engagement professionals.
If you are passionate about the NHS and are ready to work hard to champion the work that we do providing high quality services for our patients, then we want to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic and ambitious individual to join our communications team.
You will have the opportunity to support communications and engagement activity on the Trust's Integrated Programme, which is delivering investment and innovations across our buildings, our services and our workforce. As part of the development of a new 'Springfield Village' community at the Trust's headquarters in Wandsworth, innovations include the opening of two world-class mental health facilities in 2022 alongside a new 32-acre public park.
Through our Integrated Programme, the organisation is going through an exciting period of change, not only in the buildings that we work in but also the way we work, care for our patients and how we engage with our local communities.
Alongside this, you will develop and lead the public facing arm of the Trust's Making Life Better Together programme, engaging with a wide variety of external stakeholders in the community, including but not limited to, faith groups, charities, volunteer and partner groups, attending meetings and representing the Trust, evaluating success and making recommendations for improvements and areas where the Trust could support community initiatives. In line with this programme, you will have the chance to lead on the development and implementation of campaigning activity that helps to break stigma and builds public understanding of modern mental healthcare.
About us
In return, we have a great benefits package, lots of professional variety, the chance to work with a broad range of experienced colleagues, the satisfaction of creating opportunities to improve peoples' lives - and plenty of genuine opportunities for development.
The successful applicant will work in an agile way across the Trust's five south west London borough, based primarily at Springfield Hospital in Wandsworth and Tolworth Hospital in Kingston.
About our locations:
Tooting (Wandsworth)
Our Trust headquarters is located within the impressive grounds of Springfield University Hospital in Tooting and we also operate in nearly 100 other locations throughout the UK. This is easily accessible via the Northern Line (Tooting Bec Station) and via private transport. The Trust provides subsidised parking fares for all our substantive staff. Our main site is located immediately next to Tooting High Street where staff can easily access a range of shops, cafs and restaurants.
Kingston (Tolworth)
Our community hub in is based at Tolworth Hospital in borough of Kingston close to a number of shops and with good transport links close to the A3 and a bus ride away from Surbiton station, which has fast connections to Clapham Junction and London Waterloo.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Communications and Community Engagement Officer plays a crucial role in supporting the Communications, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs team and the Estate Modernisation Programme to deliver a consistent, high quality offer to the diverse communities we serve. You will be responsible for handling all community enquiries, acting as an effective and professional first point of contact and signposting people appropriately.
The postholder will report to the Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement Manager although your remit will be to provide administrative support and assistance to others within the EMP Public Affairs function. Your writing skills will be of a high standard and you will be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office packages. You will also be expected to use online software to support the Trusts digital communications agenda. You must be able to work in a pressurised environment and used to working to tight deadlines. You will be highly organised, have the ability to manage multiple tasks and be able to work independently when necessary.
The Trust has embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime estate modernisation programme which will see the organisation change, not only the buildings that we work in but also the way we work and care for our patients and how we engage with our local communities. As the Communications and Community Engagement Officer you will play a vital role, not only in supporting the Trust to better engage with our local communities, ensuring their voice is heard, but you will also be responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating the development of the Trusts community engagement programme.
You will use your expert knowledge and experience of community engagement and involvement to work with colleagues from across the Trust, advising and briefing senior members of staff, ensuring that we have a joined up approach to our community engagement work. You will lead the community arm of the Trust's Making Life Better Together programme, engaging with a wide variety of external stakeholders in the community, including but not limited to, faith groups, charities, volunteer and partner groups, attending meetings and representing the Trust, providing regular reports to the Making Life Better Together Steering Group, evaluating success and making recommendations for improvements and areas where the Trust could support community initiatives.
Job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line managers.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Communications and Community Engagement Officer plays a crucial role in supporting the Communications, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs team and the Estate Modernisation Programme to deliver a consistent, high quality offer to the diverse communities we serve. You will be responsible for handling all community enquiries, acting as an effective and professional first point of contact and signposting people appropriately.
The postholder will report to the Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement Manager although your remit will be to provide administrative support and assistance to others within the EMP Public Affairs function. Your writing skills will be of a high standard and you will be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office packages. You will also be expected to use online software to support the Trusts digital communications agenda. You must be able to work in a pressurised environment and used to working to tight deadlines. You will be highly organised, have the ability to manage multiple tasks and be able to work independently when necessary.
The Trust has embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime estate modernisation programme which will see the organisation change, not only the buildings that we work in but also the way we work and care for our patients and how we engage with our local communities. As the Communications and Community Engagement Officer you will play a vital role, not only in supporting the Trust to better engage with our local communities, ensuring their voice is heard, but you will also be responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating the development of the Trusts community engagement programme.
You will use your expert knowledge and experience of community engagement and involvement to work with colleagues from across the Trust, advising and briefing senior members of staff, ensuring that we have a joined up approach to our community engagement work. You will lead the community arm of the Trust's Making Life Better Together programme, engaging with a wide variety of external stakeholders in the community, including but not limited to, faith groups, charities, volunteer and partner groups, attending meetings and representing the Trust, providing regular reports to the Making Life Better Together Steering Group, evaluating success and making recommendations for improvements and areas where the Trust could support community initiatives.
Job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line managers.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- oSignificant and demonstrable and strong experience of working with community groups
- oAbility to manage a busy and deadline demanding workload
- oExperience of developing, implementing and evaluating strategic engagement plans.
- oExperience of organising events and conferences
- oSignificant demonstrable experience of managing projects and relationships
- oExperience of dealing with people at a senior level
- oExperience of providing effective front line customer service
- oExperience of developing and improving administrative procedures and practices
- oExperience of using initiative and enthusiasm to problem solve/develop the service with minimum disruption to the office
- oExperience of working with potentially challenging client groups
Desirable
- oExperience of working in an NHS/hospital setting
- oExperience of working in a mobile capacity
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- oEducated to degree level or equivalent experience
- oPost Graduate Qualification to Diploma level or equivalent experience
- oWillingness to undertake training as appropriate to the job role and duties
- oEvidence of continuing personal and professional development
Desirable
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- oSignificant and demonstrable and strong experience of working with community groups
- oAbility to manage a busy and deadline demanding workload
- oExperience of developing, implementing and evaluating strategic engagement plans.
- oExperience of organising events and conferences
- oSignificant demonstrable experience of managing projects and relationships
- oExperience of dealing with people at a senior level
- oExperience of providing effective front line customer service
- oExperience of developing and improving administrative procedures and practices
- oExperience of using initiative and enthusiasm to problem solve/develop the service with minimum disruption to the office
- oExperience of working with potentially challenging client groups
Desirable
- oExperience of working in an NHS/hospital setting
- oExperience of working in a mobile capacity
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- oEducated to degree level or equivalent experience
- oPost Graduate Qualification to Diploma level or equivalent experience
- oWillingness to undertake training as appropriate to the job role and duties
- oEvidence of continuing personal and professional development
Desirable
Additional information
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).
