Job summary
Associate Director of Communications
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust
Do you have the ability to tell our story- to capture and share narratives that inspire trust, convey purpose, and foster meaningful connections with our stakeholders?
At Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, we are much more than a hospital-based service. We play a vital role in improving life chances for our local communities, extending our impact through partnerships to serve over 530,000 people.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking an exceptional Associate Director of Communications to lead the delivery of our communications strategy, fostering meaningful connections among our 7,000 staff, stakeholders, and the diverse communities we serve. This is a pivotal role in shaping how we communicate, both internally and externally, to achieve our vision of being the best integrated care provider.
You will report into a joint Director of Communications, a new post, shared with our neighbouring Trust in Dudley and you will lead a team of professional leads in engagement and communications, and work alongside a peer network of senior clinical and professional leads across the Trust.
About us
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust (SWBT) is an integrated careorganisation with a budget of approximately £600 million and over 7,000 staff. Diversity and social care is at the core of what we do as the Trust provides Community and Acute Services to over half a million people in an urban centre that demands massive regeneration and has substantial premature mortality.
Our new acute hospital, the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH), opens this year and will provide care to our local population from first class, purpose-built premises. As a result, the base of this role may change to MMUH . If this is applicable to your role, you will be informed during the recruitment process and continue your application with this understanding. The development of the new hospital will play an important role in the regeneration of the wider area and in improving the lives of local people and reducing health inequalities.
We have three strategic objectives:
- Our People - to cultivate and sustain happy, productive and engaged staff
- Our Patients - to be good or outstanding in everything we do
- Our Population - to work seamlessly with our partners to improve lives
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a comprehensive overview of this role and its key responsibilities, please refer to the job description and person specification provided with this vacancy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a comprehensive overview of this role and its key responsibilities, please refer to the job description and person specification provided with this vacancy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree
- Continuing professional development including in specialist areas beyond experience at Masters level
Desirable
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Communications or Marketing qualification or equivalent experience, graduate qualification in communications, public relations or marketing, Management qualification or equivalent managerial experience
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience in communications / public relations in complex organisation at senior management level including at head of department level
- Experience as a line manager in a communications environment.
- Substantial experience of developing and implementing complex policies and strategies across large, highly complex organisations
- Experience of developing and monitoring strategic action plans
Desirable
- NHS communications/ public relations experience at senior management level
- Experience working at Executive or Board level
Knowledge
Essential
- Highly developed specialist knowledge, expertise and experience in the fields of communications, press and the media, public relations, marketing, engagement, consultation and design and print
- Highly developed specialist knowledge of the health service and national policies on public and patient involvement
- Operational knowledge of large, acute Trusts and the development of strategic objectives and delivery of targets
- Specialist knowledge of staff engagement techniques
Written Skills
Essential
- Excellent writing skills, across a range of formats
- Able to write formal reports, policies, business cases and strategies for Trust Board and external agencies to exceptionally high standards
- Ability to write clear, succinct and appropriate responses to press enquiries
- Consideration of complex, sensitive and 'political' issues affecting the reputation of the organisation when producing all written information
Financial Responsibilty
Essential
- Ability to effectively manage a budget Ability to ensure SFIs are complied with in relation to spend
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Honours degree
- Continuing professional development including in specialist areas beyond experience at Masters level
Desirable
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Communications or Marketing qualification or equivalent experience, graduate qualification in communications, public relations or marketing, Management qualification or equivalent managerial experience
Experience
Essential
- Substantial experience in communications / public relations in complex organisation at senior management level including at head of department level
- Experience as a line manager in a communications environment.
- Substantial experience of developing and implementing complex policies and strategies across large, highly complex organisations
- Experience of developing and monitoring strategic action plans
Desirable
- NHS communications/ public relations experience at senior management level
- Experience working at Executive or Board level
Knowledge
Essential
- Highly developed specialist knowledge, expertise and experience in the fields of communications, press and the media, public relations, marketing, engagement, consultation and design and print
- Highly developed specialist knowledge of the health service and national policies on public and patient involvement
- Operational knowledge of large, acute Trusts and the development of strategic objectives and delivery of targets
- Specialist knowledge of staff engagement techniques
Written Skills
Essential
- Excellent writing skills, across a range of formats
- Able to write formal reports, policies, business cases and strategies for Trust Board and external agencies to exceptionally high standards
- Ability to write clear, succinct and appropriate responses to press enquiries
- Consideration of complex, sensitive and 'political' issues affecting the reputation of the organisation when producing all written information
Financial Responsibilty
Essential
- Ability to effectively manage a budget Ability to ensure SFIs are complied with in relation to spend
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust
Address
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust
Sandwell Health Campus
West Bromwich
B71 4HJ
Employer's website
https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
