Communications and Staff Engagement Programme Lead

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The purpose of this role is to embed the recommendations from the 2025 staff engagement audit and internal communications review. The role will work with the executive leadership team and the communications and engagement team to deliver a more consistent approach to staff engagement, working with relevant leads to deliver the actions agreed.

The role will support and monitor the delivery of agreed staff engagement framework and internal communications improvements, ensuring alignment with the Trust's strategy and aspirations to improve staff experience and engagement.

Key relationships include HR and OD, digital, executive directors and senior leaders.

Focused deliverables for South London and Maudsley include the staff networks and staff survey recommendations as priorities.

The role will work with the Director of Communications, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs on system development work with a focus on delivery economies of scale across South East London ICB.

Main duties of the job

o To ensure that relationships with key internal stakeholders are maintained and proactively developed.

o To oversee the development and delivery of internal communications and engagement plans.

About us

Our values are in keeping with the NHS Constitution and set the standards for how we plan and make decisions; deliver quality care; behave with each other and service users and recruit, induct, appraise and develop our staff. We are looking for staff who will help us live these values and help to make South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust a better place for everyone.

Date posted

17 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£82,462 to £93,773 a year Pro rata per annum inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

334-NCL-7067900-TA

Job locations

Maudsley Hospital

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 8AZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Key result areas

To oversee the development, delivery and evaluation of the staff engagement recommendations agreed by the Executive Leadership Team that support the Trusts strategic objectives, ensuring that activity is in line with the Trusts overall communications and engagement strategy.

To ensure that relationships with key internal stakeholders are maintained and proactively developed.

To oversee the development and delivery of internal communications and engagement plans, providing leadership and expert advice, ensuring activity aligns with broader communications strategies and staff engagement and involvement programmes.

To work with senior managers to identify and develop staff engagement campaigns to support the organisation in meeting its strategic objectives, providing strategic advice and expertise to enable opportunities for feedback, involvement and contribution to decision-making.

To advise on the staff engagement programme for the Trusts strategy refresh.

To ensure the Trust brand and visual identity are protected, including supporting other staff in the correct application of corporate style guidelines, ensuring compliance.

Advise senior colleagues, including the Trust Board, on strategic communications and related issues, writing briefs and reports for senior colleagues.

Provide advice and guidance to the Trust Board, Chief Executive and the senior leadership team in accordance with current legislation, NHS initiatives, DHSC guidance and communications best practice.

Be an active participant in developing the departments communications and engagement strategy, and other planning as required.

Be aware, promote the investigation of, and where beneficial, encourage the adoption of new and emerging technologies and media platforms.

Audit all activity on an ongoing basis and devise and implement action plans to make required improvements. Work with the Director of Communications, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs to identify, record and manage risks and issues.

To oversee the development, delivery and evaluation of South East London ICB communications and engagement system development work with a focus on delivering system wide economies of scale, working with the Director of Communications, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs.

Project Management

To prioritise, plan and allocate resources (including budgets and staffing) for the delivery of key staff engagement activities and projects.

To apply measurement criteria and tools and evaluate staff engagement activity and outcomes in line with project briefs.

Information Resources

To produce and/or assist in the preparation of reports and, where necessary, attend relevant meetings with internal and external stakeholders to deliver those reports and advise on staff engagement issues.

To prepare briefings for regulatory, advisory bodies or internal stakeholders in respect of updating them on complex issues on an ad hoc basis as requested by the Director of Communications and Engagement.

To analyse complex statistical data to inform the development of communications strategies, plans and reports.

To undertake annual audits and surveys and utilise other feedback techniques to evaluate the communications function both internally and externally, reporting findings and recommendations for improvement to the Executive Management Team and Senior Leadership Team.

Management (including finance and resources)

Directly line-manage the LIA practitioners including performance, annual leave and sick leave.

Management of recruitment activity for any vacant posts within the team, ensuring compliance with training etc.

Budgetary responsibility for the LIA team allocating financial and staff resources to projects, managing spend for projects and delivering projects within the agreed and allocated resources and in accordance with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions.

Constantly strive for value for money and greater efficiency in the use of these budgets and to ensure that they operate in recurrent financial balance year on year.

Responsibility for tracking expenditure on internal communication and staff engagement activities and providing reports to the Director of Communications and Engagement, as required.

Manage third parties (such as suppliers) to ensure deliverables are met in a timely manner and within budget.

Commission and brief designers, communications agencies and other external suppliers; ensuring and taking responsibility that expenditure stays within agreed budget.

Ensure administrative and financial integrity as expected within a public sector organisation following Trust and national guidance.

Research and Development

To be responsible for keeping up-to-date with best practice and new techniques in media relations.

To keep up to date with national policy, new health initiatives and partner organisations strategies and plans and how these impact locally on the Trust.

Keep up to date with new and emerging technologies and platforms, and their potential to enhance our communications and media activities.

Training and Development

To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by Trust policy.

To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual Development Review/appraisal.

To undertake personal development as identified in the Personal Development Plan (PDP).

General

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.

The postholder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities and Confidentiality of Information.

The postholder is responsible for ensuring that the work that they undertake is conducted in a manner which is safe to themselves and others, and for adhering to the advice and instructions on Health and Safety matters given by Manager(s). If postholders consider that a hazard to Health and Safety exists, it is their responsibility to report this to their manager(s).

The postholder is expected to comply with the appropriate Code(s) of Conduct associated with this post.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust operates a no smoking policy. We are an equal opportunities employer. It is the policy of the Trust to ensure that no user of the service, past, present or future employee, or job applicant, receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex, sexual orientation; in line with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Strateg

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key result areas

To oversee the development, delivery and evaluation of the staff engagement recommendations agreed by the Executive Leadership Team that support the Trusts strategic objectives, ensuring that activity is in line with the Trusts overall communications and engagement strategy.

To ensure that relationships with key internal stakeholders are maintained and proactively developed.

To oversee the development and delivery of internal communications and engagement plans, providing leadership and expert advice, ensuring activity aligns with broader communications strategies and staff engagement and involvement programmes.

To work with senior managers to identify and develop staff engagement campaigns to support the organisation in meeting its strategic objectives, providing strategic advice and expertise to enable opportunities for feedback, involvement and contribution to decision-making.

To advise on the staff engagement programme for the Trusts strategy refresh.

To ensure the Trust brand and visual identity are protected, including supporting other staff in the correct application of corporate style guidelines, ensuring compliance.

Advise senior colleagues, including the Trust Board, on strategic communications and related issues, writing briefs and reports for senior colleagues.

Provide advice and guidance to the Trust Board, Chief Executive and the senior leadership team in accordance with current legislation, NHS initiatives, DHSC guidance and communications best practice.

Be an active participant in developing the departments communications and engagement strategy, and other planning as required.

Be aware, promote the investigation of, and where beneficial, encourage the adoption of new and emerging technologies and media platforms.

Audit all activity on an ongoing basis and devise and implement action plans to make required improvements. Work with the Director of Communications, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs to identify, record and manage risks and issues.

To oversee the development, delivery and evaluation of South East London ICB communications and engagement system development work with a focus on delivering system wide economies of scale, working with the Director of Communications, Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs.

Project Management

To prioritise, plan and allocate resources (including budgets and staffing) for the delivery of key staff engagement activities and projects.

To apply measurement criteria and tools and evaluate staff engagement activity and outcomes in line with project briefs.

Information Resources

To produce and/or assist in the preparation of reports and, where necessary, attend relevant meetings with internal and external stakeholders to deliver those reports and advise on staff engagement issues.

To prepare briefings for regulatory, advisory bodies or internal stakeholders in respect of updating them on complex issues on an ad hoc basis as requested by the Director of Communications and Engagement.

To analyse complex statistical data to inform the development of communications strategies, plans and reports.

To undertake annual audits and surveys and utilise other feedback techniques to evaluate the communications function both internally and externally, reporting findings and recommendations for improvement to the Executive Management Team and Senior Leadership Team.

Management (including finance and resources)

Directly line-manage the LIA practitioners including performance, annual leave and sick leave.

Management of recruitment activity for any vacant posts within the team, ensuring compliance with training etc.

Budgetary responsibility for the LIA team allocating financial and staff resources to projects, managing spend for projects and delivering projects within the agreed and allocated resources and in accordance with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions.

Constantly strive for value for money and greater efficiency in the use of these budgets and to ensure that they operate in recurrent financial balance year on year.

Responsibility for tracking expenditure on internal communication and staff engagement activities and providing reports to the Director of Communications and Engagement, as required.

Manage third parties (such as suppliers) to ensure deliverables are met in a timely manner and within budget.

Commission and brief designers, communications agencies and other external suppliers; ensuring and taking responsibility that expenditure stays within agreed budget.

Ensure administrative and financial integrity as expected within a public sector organisation following Trust and national guidance.

Research and Development

To be responsible for keeping up-to-date with best practice and new techniques in media relations.

To keep up to date with national policy, new health initiatives and partner organisations strategies and plans and how these impact locally on the Trust.

Keep up to date with new and emerging technologies and platforms, and their potential to enhance our communications and media activities.

Training and Development

To undertake mandatory and statutory training as required by Trust policy.

To contribute and commit to undertaking an annual Development Review/appraisal.

To undertake personal development as identified in the Personal Development Plan (PDP).

General

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.

The postholder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities and Confidentiality of Information.

The postholder is responsible for ensuring that the work that they undertake is conducted in a manner which is safe to themselves and others, and for adhering to the advice and instructions on Health and Safety matters given by Manager(s). If postholders consider that a hazard to Health and Safety exists, it is their responsibility to report this to their manager(s).

The postholder is expected to comply with the appropriate Code(s) of Conduct associated with this post.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust operates a no smoking policy. We are an equal opportunities employer. It is the policy of the Trust to ensure that no user of the service, past, present or future employee, or job applicant, receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex, sexual orientation; in line with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Strateg

Person Specification

competency

Essential

  • experience in staff engagement

Desirable

  • experience in strategic communications
Person Specification

competency

Essential

  • experience in staff engagement

Desirable

  • experience in strategic communications

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

Maudsley Hospital

Denmark Hill

London

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

Maudsley Hospital

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 8AZ


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

Associate Director for Media and Campaigns

Pauline Dowdall

pauline.dowdall@slam.nhs.uk

07511626041

Date posted

17 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8c

Salary

£82,462 to £93,773 a year Pro rata per annum inclusive of HCAS

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

6 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

334-NCL-7067900-TA

Job locations

Maudsley Hospital

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 8AZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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