Job summary
Are you an experienced communications professional who wants to make a difference in the important area of maternal health? Do you have the skills and experience to lead and produce effective communications strategies and content to engage, inform and support mothers, families and other stakeholders about Newcastle Hospitals' maternity services?
We're recruiting a dedicated communications lead to shape and deliver communications and engagement work in maternity services at our Royal Victoria Infirmary. This new post offers an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in helping to explain and develop the services we offer, in an accessible and open way, using insight to shape content and approach.
With a strong focus on improving the experience of service users, diversity and inclusion, your work will support the delivery of national and local maternity priorities and initiatives.
- Interview Date Friday 6 June 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
You'll be responsible for developing and producing a wide range of content and information, working closely with the senior maternity team and department colleagues, in addition to the corporate communications team, to ensure information about services fully meets the needs of users and colleagues.
About us
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
o Freeman Hospitalo Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)o Newcastle Dental Hospitalo Newcastle Fertility Centreo Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbriao Northern Genetics Serviceo Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Develop and implement effective communications strategies to raise the profile and increase awareness of relevant Newcastle Hospital services with target audiences, in line with business objectives.
- Develop and maintain content for digital channels, in partnership with stakeholders and colleagues as appropriate, to include intranet, social media and website.
- Produce accessible communications content and resources to inform patients, service users and families, in a range of formats and in line with accessibility requirements.
- Work with clinical colleagues as necessary to improve and develop external communications in relation to their service.
- Identify and map key stakeholders and develop appropriate communications to keep them informed and engaged.
- Produce briefing documents, promotional materials and other communications content as required.
- Work with system and regional partners to maximise successful communications in line with the Trusts strategic goals and objectives.
- Evaluate current communications activity and using insight to shape or improve future priorities and actions.
- Ensure communications content is in line with NHS and Trust identity guidelines and best-practice industry standards.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Develop and implement effective communications strategies to raise the profile and increase awareness of relevant Newcastle Hospital services with target audiences, in line with business objectives.
- Develop and maintain content for digital channels, in partnership with stakeholders and colleagues as appropriate, to include intranet, social media and website.
- Produce accessible communications content and resources to inform patients, service users and families, in a range of formats and in line with accessibility requirements.
- Work with clinical colleagues as necessary to improve and develop external communications in relation to their service.
- Identify and map key stakeholders and develop appropriate communications to keep them informed and engaged.
- Produce briefing documents, promotional materials and other communications content as required.
- Work with system and regional partners to maximise successful communications in line with the Trusts strategic goals and objectives.
- Evaluate current communications activity and using insight to shape or improve future priorities and actions.
- Ensure communications content is in line with NHS and Trust identity guidelines and best-practice industry standards.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Degree level education and/or equivalent level of qualification and demonstrable experience in communications, public relations, journalism or related discipline
- Postgraduate qualification or postgraduate experience in a relevant specialty
Desirable
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience of producing, implementing and evaluating effective communications strategies - utilising owned, earned and paid for channels - for a range of internal and external audiences
- Strong knowledge and experience of media relations
- Experience of writing and editing a range of communications materials including newsletters, web content, publicity materials and briefing documents
- Experience of supporting stakeholder engagement with multiple and diverse partners
- Experience of producing and editing digital communications, including social media content, video and podcasts
- Demonstrable experience in a large, complex organisation
- Ability to work under pressure, managing multiple projects to tight deadlines, often across work steams and partners
- Experience of inter-agency working involving multiple and diverse partners
- Experience of web publishing / content management
- Knowledge of current and emerging technologies that support delivery and management of communications
Desirable
- Good understanding of the NHS environment and political awareness
- Experience of working at a similar level in the NHS or other complex environment
- Good working knowledge of relevant legislation, guidelines and regulation
- Experience of content management systems, e.g. WordPress
- A good understanding of current and emerging technologies that support delivery and management of communications
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills - written and verbal
- Ability to write compelling copy and communicate complex information to a range of audiences at all levels within the organisation and externally
- Excellent IT literacy including Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant IT systems
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Degree level education and/or equivalent level of qualification and demonstrable experience in communications, public relations, journalism or related discipline
- Postgraduate qualification or postgraduate experience in a relevant specialty
Desirable
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience of producing, implementing and evaluating effective communications strategies - utilising owned, earned and paid for channels - for a range of internal and external audiences
- Strong knowledge and experience of media relations
- Experience of writing and editing a range of communications materials including newsletters, web content, publicity materials and briefing documents
- Experience of supporting stakeholder engagement with multiple and diverse partners
- Experience of producing and editing digital communications, including social media content, video and podcasts
- Demonstrable experience in a large, complex organisation
- Ability to work under pressure, managing multiple projects to tight deadlines, often across work steams and partners
- Experience of inter-agency working involving multiple and diverse partners
- Experience of web publishing / content management
- Knowledge of current and emerging technologies that support delivery and management of communications
Desirable
- Good understanding of the NHS environment and political awareness
- Experience of working at a similar level in the NHS or other complex environment
- Good working knowledge of relevant legislation, guidelines and regulation
- Experience of content management systems, e.g. WordPress
- A good understanding of current and emerging technologies that support delivery and management of communications
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills - written and verbal
- Ability to write compelling copy and communicate complex information to a range of audiences at all levels within the organisation and externally
- Excellent IT literacy including Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant IT systems
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).
