Job summary
This role is offered as a fixed term contract or secondment for maternity cover.
As Deputy Director of Communications for one of the busiest NHS Trusts in the country, you will be responsible and accountable for the day-to-day operational management and leadership of the communications team, supporting them to be as effective as possible.
This is a high-profile communications role requiring focus, tenacity and resilience. You will play a lead role in developing and delivering the Trust's communications strategy and will be responsible for dealing with complex information for the media, staff, stakeholders and patients.
Accountable to the Director of Communications, the postholder will manage and develop the Trust's media handling service, building strong working relationships with key journalists in the local, national and specialist press and manage our internal communications channels.
As a senior member of the team, you will provide expert professional advice, counsel and guidance to the Executive Team, Trust Board, our clinical divisions and other colleagues on all strategic and tactical communications matters, including sensitive and often contentious issues.
Main duties of the job
Operational day-to-day management of the communications function, leading, motivating, and managing a team of multi-disciplinary communications professionals.
Have oversight of the workflow of the team, determining priorities and ensure continual professional development and effective team working.
Deputise for the Director of Communications in their absence or as required
Provide expert professional advice, counsel and guidance to the Chief Executive, Executive Team, the Board and other colleagues on all strategic and tactical communications matters, including complex and often contentious issues.
Develop and deliver creative and effective communications strategies and plans based on audience insight that can be measured and evaluated.
Work with the Director of Communications to develop and implement key aspects of the Trust's communications strategy, both Trustwide and for specific projects (e.g. CQC inspections, transformation and improvement, service reorganisations, business cases etc.).
Work with the Director of Communications to build and enhance trust and confidence in LNWH as a great place to work and receive care.
Assist the Director of Communications to develop, implement and evaluate communications and media relations strategies and projects to support the Trust's corporate objectives.
Develop good working relationships with local NHS and partner organisations and represent the Communications Team at local network events.
About us
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.
Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.
We run major acute services at:
- Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country's top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK
- St Mark's Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease
- Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice
- Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.
We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To view the main responsibility, please see the attached the Job Description and Person Specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To view the main responsibility, please see the attached the Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Educated to a degree level or equivalent qualification in journalism or public relations
- Specialist knowledge and experience of communications, crisis communications and public relations
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Extensive experience at a senior level within a communications function
- Experience of working with the media, particularly at a national level, with evidence of handling and managing high profile media issues
- Experience of providing expert communications and engagement advice at senior levels
- Experience of managing a team to deliver a robust communications and engagement service
- Sound understanding of the relationships between NHS England, Integrated Care Boards and individual provider and commissioning organisations, and an appreciation of health and the broad social, political and economic trends influencing them
- Experience of managing or supporting the communications and media management of major incidents
- Able to analyse issues quickly and make decisions, especially when the organisation is responding to major incidents
- Specialist experience of managing the media on positive, sensitive and crisis issues. This will include experience of working with partners to ensure consistent messages to the public
- Experience of a broad range of communications and engagement disciplines including internal communications, media management, stakeholder management, campaign development and evaluation, use of social media and public relations
- Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at senior level
Desirable
- Expertise and experience in managing public engagement and consultations and working on large scale change
- Evidence of leading on challenging strategic communications portfolio for a minimum of five years within NHS or other health-related setting - including media relations, public affairs, corporate communications
- Experience of developing and managing intranets and websites
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Educated to a degree level or equivalent qualification in journalism or public relations
- Specialist knowledge and experience of communications, crisis communications and public relations
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Extensive experience at a senior level within a communications function
- Experience of working with the media, particularly at a national level, with evidence of handling and managing high profile media issues
- Experience of providing expert communications and engagement advice at senior levels
- Experience of managing a team to deliver a robust communications and engagement service
- Sound understanding of the relationships between NHS England, Integrated Care Boards and individual provider and commissioning organisations, and an appreciation of health and the broad social, political and economic trends influencing them
- Experience of managing or supporting the communications and media management of major incidents
- Able to analyse issues quickly and make decisions, especially when the organisation is responding to major incidents
- Specialist experience of managing the media on positive, sensitive and crisis issues. This will include experience of working with partners to ensure consistent messages to the public
- Experience of a broad range of communications and engagement disciplines including internal communications, media management, stakeholder management, campaign development and evaluation, use of social media and public relations
- Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at senior level
Desirable
- Expertise and experience in managing public engagement and consultations and working on large scale change
- Evidence of leading on challenging strategic communications portfolio for a minimum of five years within NHS or other health-related setting - including media relations, public affairs, corporate communications
- Experience of developing and managing intranets and websites
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
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).
