Communications Support Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose:

The postholder will be a confident self-starter who will play a key role as part of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust's award winning Communications Team. The team works on all aspects of communications (internal and external) across the Trust. The postholder will be a team player with strong organisational and administration skills to enable them to support the communications team to deliver proactive communications across multiple channels. This will include developing digital and offline content and communication for key stakeholders, as well as assisting the team to manage the day to day tasks required in a busy department.

Key Duties:

Assist with collating, writing and editing content for WAHTs publications, press releases and newsletters

Support the online and social media presence for WAHT, including using the website and intranet content management system

Develop press releases, publications, presentations using desk-top publishing, website software; maintains photo library, departmental databases

Contribute to a professional communications service

Produce engaging content for all channels. This will involve drafting and editing copy, proofreading, taking photos, helping to create video content and podcasts, and help to create posters, leaflets and social media assets with advice and support from the Graphic Designer and Media Designer.

Assist with the administration of the Trust staff Facebook page

Manage the Trusts internal Rumour Mill application ensuring staff enquiries are dealt with and responses published in a timely manner

Maintain the communications team content calendar, ensuring key announcements, awareness days and events are included

Produce a weekly In The News bulletin informing the Board and senior staff of coverage of the Trust in media and social media

To manage the communications inbox, directing enquiries to the relevant person in a timely and effective manner

To support the team to plan, organise and run internal and external events such as away days, public meetings and events

Form effective relationships with staff at all levels across the organisation

To develop and maintain stakeholder and media contact data bases

Provide planning, research and administrative support to the team

General Duties:

Communication

To interact with and maintain positive relationships with a range of people, including senior members of staff, service users and the public.

To possess excellent written communication skills with the ability to write for a number of different audiences and across multiple channels.

To assist in the provision of a professional communications and engagement advice and information service to staff, external stakeholders, service users, carers and the public.

To assist services to identify the most appropriate channels to use to further their business objectives

To have regular contact with people outside the department, including the general public, using all forms of contact eg telephone, email, letter, social media and face to face.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills / Freedom to Act

To assist the Communications Team, with support, with ensuring compliance with statutory requirements around marketing and communications, including website, intranet, social media, film and photography.

To use experience and judgement in identifying priorities, and planning and organising workload

To maintain daily contact with the Head of Communications and other team members.

Planning and Organisational Skills

To be highly organised in terms of workload and ability to work to deadlines.

To be highly computer literate, and have working knowledge and skills in Microsoft Office, the latest versions of software for the creation of graphics, presentations, websites, intranet, social media, new media, audio, image manipulation and video/video editing.

To use digital photographic equipment to help collate and maintain a library of photographs for use online and in print.

Ability to use and MS Office Suite, Google Analytics and other relevant software.

Understanding of Mac and Windows PC skills and Adobe Photoshop.

An understanding of design and print processes.

Physical Skills

Keyboard skills are essential

Familiar with screen, online working and office procedures.

The post holder will need to be mobile and able to drive to appointments and meetings in their own vehicle.

Responsibility for Patients / Clients

To liaise with patients/ service users/ system partners where required in a Communications context

Policy and Service Responsibilities

To provide support to the Communications Team in the production and planning of the Trusts marketing, communications and engagement content, including website, intranet, social media, film and video

Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources

To assist in the ordering of collateral, including liaising with external businesses and agencies, to a defined budget allocation.

Management of stock including marketing collateral (pull up banners, promotional materials etc)

Responsibility for Information

To maintain intranet and web content by creating, uploading and amending information.

To develop and maintain the Trusts film and photo library, with appropriate consent where required in line with GDPR responsibilities.

Research and Development

Keep up to date with the latest technology and trends in marketing and communications by having an avid interest and awareness in social media and developing technologies.

Physical Effort

The post requires sitting at a desk for the majority of the time

Mental Effort

Frequent intense concentration required to constantly re-prioritise work during the day due to the demands of an extremely busy department

To understand and apply national and local guidance with regard to marketing and communication

In depth proactive mental attention required to listen and understand service requirements from the Trust staff and from the service user.

Emotional Effort

To occasionally deal with emotional issues from staff, users, carers, stakeholders and the public by various media i.e by telephone, email, post, face to face

Working conditions

To have access to independent transport

To use a VDU more or less continuously

Values:

Our Values

Being open and honest

We all communicate clearly and honestly, asking for help when we need it and making it easier for the people around us to share ideas or concerns.

Ensuring people feel cared for

We all take responsibility for actively supporting and nurturing a kind and compassionate environment for ourselves and others.

Showing respect to everyone

We all act with consideration and fairness, valuing each other as individuals and appreciating our different perspectives.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional Diploma in a relevant subject (ie, journalism, PR, digital media, communications) or A Levels and demonstrable equivalent experience in a relevant working environment

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable good organisation skills. Demonstrable ability to learn new skills. Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing in a plain English style. Knowledge of communications, public relations and marketing communications techniques, approaches, procedure.

Desirable

• Experience of supporting events. Experience of creating and editing videos, podcasts and developing social media content. Marketing or communications department experience.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD

Employer's website

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