South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Trainee Communications Assistant

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Are you a creative and talented individual who is willing to learn and keen to get your foot onaNHScareer ladder?

Do you want to work within a dynamic team at the heart of a world class NHS mental health Trust? Do you have passion for the NHS and a desire todevelop communications skills that helpchallenge stigma around mental health, communicating the work of the NHS to patients, service users,stakeholders, staff and members of the public?

This is a great opportunity to begin a career within the NHS and get on-the-job training in a busy public sector environment.

If you are a 'can do' team player who is enthusiastic, has a positive attitude and the desire to make a difference - we want to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

As a member of the Communications Team, you will play a crucial role in supporting the Communications and Engagement team to deliver consistent,high-qualitycommunications.

You will be responsible for handling incoming enquiries to the team, acting as an effective and professional first point of contact. You will help design communications campaigns that will reach our wide variety of stakeholders. You will also be responsible for helping to maintain the Trust's corporate social media accounts, developing content appropriate for the Trust external audiences, posting on the Trust's behalf, responding where appropriate and notifying the team of any issues.

You will be encouraged to develop writing skills, knowledge and experience in all relevant aspects of communications and engagement. As part of your development, you will also take on responsibility for small projects.

The ideal candidate will have:

  • Strong verbal communication skills for articulating ideas to colleagues and clients
  • A high attention to detail and accuracy
  • Knowledgeand confidence tousesocial mediaplatformsand developcreativecontent
  • Anability to work independently and flexibly
  • Capacity to prioritise and work across multiple projects
  • Excellentteam workskills
  • Creative skills forspotting communications opportunities andcontributing new and innovative ideas
  • Anability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines

About us

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We are committed to providing high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for the care and treatment we provide. Our highly motivated and successful communications team is expanding and hasa number ofexciting new opportunities for the right individuals.

Our Trust headquarters is located at Denmark Hill less than 5 minutes from the train station (zone 2). We also provide services and operate across other locations in South London.

Benefits:

We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance.

Some of our benefits are:

  • Generous pay, pensions and leave,we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package which is dependent on the role and length of service.
  • Work life balance,flexible working and supporting a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working.
  • Career development,There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching and other talent programmes.
  • NHS discounts,with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands.
  • Other benefits include: Counselling services, wellbeing events, long service awards, cycle to work scheme.

Details

Date posted

11 March 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£27,948 to £29,468 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-NCL-6123758-TA

Job locations

Trust HQ

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Denmark Hill

SE5 8AZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Support the day-to-day work of the communications team to deliver a high quality, responsive service.
  • Act as the first point of contact for all online, electronic and telephone enquiries into the Communications team and deal with them in a timely and effective manner.
  • Maintain the Trusts corporate social media accounts, developing content appropriate for Trust external audience, posting on the Trusts behalf, responding where appropriate and notifying the team of any issues.
  • Assist with the uploading of information onto the Trust website and intranet
  • Support external and internal events, including booking venues, organising invitations and maintaining a log of attendees and feedback.
  • Develop creative skills such as writing press releases, newsletters, briefings and other digital content.
  • Source quotes and brief external providers (e.g. print agencies).
  • Log any incoming media enquiries, taking down detailed information and passing to the appropriate team member for them to manage and action.
  • Produce letters, reports and other documents as required by the team.
  • Maintain databases held by the team.
  • Liaise with staff and support the team to come up with a range of solutions that best suit the target audience.
  • Create engaging and compelling written and digital content for a variety of audiences and channels.
  • To represent the Communications team and the organisation at internal and external events such as the Annual Public Meeting and other stakeholder events.
  • Form effective relationships with staff at all levels across the organisation as well as with external suppliers such as printers and external designers.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Support the day-to-day work of the communications team to deliver a high quality, responsive service.
  • Act as the first point of contact for all online, electronic and telephone enquiries into the Communications team and deal with them in a timely and effective manner.
  • Maintain the Trusts corporate social media accounts, developing content appropriate for Trust external audience, posting on the Trusts behalf, responding where appropriate and notifying the team of any issues.
  • Assist with the uploading of information onto the Trust website and intranet
  • Support external and internal events, including booking venues, organising invitations and maintaining a log of attendees and feedback.
  • Develop creative skills such as writing press releases, newsletters, briefings and other digital content.
  • Source quotes and brief external providers (e.g. print agencies).
  • Log any incoming media enquiries, taking down detailed information and passing to the appropriate team member for them to manage and action.
  • Produce letters, reports and other documents as required by the team.
  • Maintain databases held by the team.
  • Liaise with staff and support the team to come up with a range of solutions that best suit the target audience.
  • Create engaging and compelling written and digital content for a variety of audiences and channels.
  • To represent the Communications team and the organisation at internal and external events such as the Annual Public Meeting and other stakeholder events.
  • Form effective relationships with staff at all levels across the organisation as well as with external suppliers such as printers and external designers.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working to deadline
  • Experience of taking projects from an initial brief through to implementation
  • Previous communications experience and/or admin work
  • Experience across a wide range of social media platforms
  • Experience of team working
  • Experience in writing for appropriate mediums

Desirable

  • Experience of supporting events

Training and Qualifications

Essential

  • 5 GCSEs or equivalent (this must include A*- C in Maths and English Language or equivalent) A Levels or equivalent covering communications, marketing or media.
  • A Levels or equivalent covering communications, marketing or media

Desirable

  • Degree or Level 4 qualification or NVQ/QCF L2 in communications, media management or new media.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office packages
  • Demonstrable ability to multitask and prioritise effectively
  • Evidence of good communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Basic copywriting/ proofreading skills knowledge/experience
  • Sound knowledge and interest in communications/marketing
  • Attention to detail

Desirable

  • Understanding of the NHS
  • Knowledge of how to write for individual target audiences
  • Knowledge of content management systems preferably sharepoint and joomla

Behaviours and Values - Ability to behave in accordance with our five commitments:

Essential

  • Mention of our five commitments or values
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working to deadline
  • Experience of taking projects from an initial brief through to implementation
  • Previous communications experience and/or admin work
  • Experience across a wide range of social media platforms
  • Experience of team working
  • Experience in writing for appropriate mediums

Desirable

  • Experience of supporting events

Training and Qualifications

Essential

  • 5 GCSEs or equivalent (this must include A*- C in Maths and English Language or equivalent) A Levels or equivalent covering communications, marketing or media.
  • A Levels or equivalent covering communications, marketing or media

Desirable

  • Degree or Level 4 qualification or NVQ/QCF L2 in communications, media management or new media.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office packages
  • Demonstrable ability to multitask and prioritise effectively
  • Evidence of good communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Basic copywriting/ proofreading skills knowledge/experience
  • Sound knowledge and interest in communications/marketing
  • Attention to detail

Desirable

  • Understanding of the NHS
  • Knowledge of how to write for individual target audiences
  • Knowledge of content management systems preferably sharepoint and joomla

Behaviours and Values - Ability to behave in accordance with our five commitments:

Essential

  • Mention of our five commitments or values

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust HQ

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Denmark Hill

SE5 8AZ


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust HQ

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Denmark Hill

SE5 8AZ


Employer's website

https://www.slam.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Communications Manager

Alexander Burgess

alexander.burgess@slam.nhs.uk

07599103690

Details

Date posted

11 March 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£27,948 to £29,468 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

18 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

334-NCL-6123758-TA

Job locations

Trust HQ

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Denmark Hill

SE5 8AZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)