Job summary
We are looking for a Communications Assistant to join UHBW's growing Communications team. We've got exciting plans to transform the way in which we communicate and engage with our staff, patients and the public and the postholder will play an important part in supporting this. The Communications Assistant will also have their own important area of specialism, producing UHBW's patient information leaflets, with the freedom to explore new and innovative ways of making information available to our patients, with a particular focus on accessibility.
Main duties of the job
The Communications Assistant (Patient Information) role is part of the Trust's Communications team.
Focussing primarily on the production of patient information leaflets, the post holder will also work on various other tasks and projects alongside their Communications colleagues.
The Communications Assistant is primarily responsible for the production of patient information leaflets - receiving content from clinical teams, proof reading and editing this where necessary, and adding this content to standardised leaflet templates and uploading the leaflets to a new document management app, making them accessible to Trust staff and patients. In addition, the post holder will work closely with the Print and Programme Manager to research and explore new ways of publishing this information to improve accessibility.
About us
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Education to diploma level in a relevant subject, or equivalent relevant experience
Desirable
- Have a specialist marketing, graphic design, communications or journalism qualification
- Membership of Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Knowledge and experience of using desktop publishing packages to design assets, such as Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat) or equivalent
- Knowledge or experience of editing simple videos using packages such as Premiere Pro
- Experience of using digital content management systems to upload content to websites
- Experience of planning, organising and supporting the delivery of short and long term campaigns and events
- Experience of ordering, for example, printed materials and safe storage of supplies and/or kit
- Experience of development and training of other staff in own area of expertise
- Experience of working in a pressurised environment
- Knowledge of legislation and good practice procedures and information systems relating to patient or case study consent and patient confidentiality; Freedom of Information requests; GDPR and the Accessible Information Standard. Confident in application of this into practice
- Ability to manage own workload and act independently with a good understanding of when to escalate to a senior colleague
Desirable
- Experience of working within a Communications or press office environment
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Well-developed writing skills and able to create copy for different channels, using in a number of different styles and tones, eg writing for the media, newsletters, and digital and social channels
- Good design skills, has a natural flair for how colours and graphics work on a page
- Understanding of what makes a good visual image, and an ability to use a simple camera
- Able to shoot and edit videos taken on a smartphone or simple camera
- Excellent proof-reading skills and attention to detail
- Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to manage and prioritise an unpredictable workload and the need to multi-task, often under pressure and with frequent disruption
- Able to meet deadlines, while managing a complex workload
- Excellent oral communications skills, able to liaise with internal and external stakeholders with confidence and ease
- Digitally conversant, able to explore new digital and social platforms with confidence and ease
- Able to use Microsoft 365 software
- Able to follow policies in own role and contribute to development/improvement of communications-related policy and procedure and service development
- Able to obtain, absorb, analyse, interpret and communicate complex information and/or sensitive information rapidly and successfully and present this to others to persuade and influence
- Confident in analysing facts or situations, use judgement to assess a situation and make decisions on how to proceed in own areas of responsibility and expertise
- High level of numeracy and computer literacy; advanced keyboard skills
- Ability to occasionally respond to distressing or emotional circumstances and interpret information for a range of stakeholders
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Education to diploma level in a relevant subject, or equivalent relevant experience
Desirable
- Have a specialist marketing, graphic design, communications or journalism qualification
- Membership of Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Knowledge and experience of using desktop publishing packages to design assets, such as Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat) or equivalent
- Knowledge or experience of editing simple videos using packages such as Premiere Pro
- Experience of using digital content management systems to upload content to websites
- Experience of planning, organising and supporting the delivery of short and long term campaigns and events
- Experience of ordering, for example, printed materials and safe storage of supplies and/or kit
- Experience of development and training of other staff in own area of expertise
- Experience of working in a pressurised environment
- Knowledge of legislation and good practice procedures and information systems relating to patient or case study consent and patient confidentiality; Freedom of Information requests; GDPR and the Accessible Information Standard. Confident in application of this into practice
- Ability to manage own workload and act independently with a good understanding of when to escalate to a senior colleague
Desirable
- Experience of working within a Communications or press office environment
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Well-developed writing skills and able to create copy for different channels, using in a number of different styles and tones, eg writing for the media, newsletters, and digital and social channels
- Good design skills, has a natural flair for how colours and graphics work on a page
- Understanding of what makes a good visual image, and an ability to use a simple camera
- Able to shoot and edit videos taken on a smartphone or simple camera
- Excellent proof-reading skills and attention to detail
- Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to manage and prioritise an unpredictable workload and the need to multi-task, often under pressure and with frequent disruption
- Able to meet deadlines, while managing a complex workload
- Excellent oral communications skills, able to liaise with internal and external stakeholders with confidence and ease
- Digitally conversant, able to explore new digital and social platforms with confidence and ease
- Able to use Microsoft 365 software
- Able to follow policies in own role and contribute to development/improvement of communications-related policy and procedure and service development
- Able to obtain, absorb, analyse, interpret and communicate complex information and/or sensitive information rapidly and successfully and present this to others to persuade and influence
- Confident in analysing facts or situations, use judgement to assess a situation and make decisions on how to proceed in own areas of responsibility and expertise
- High level of numeracy and computer literacy; advanced keyboard skills
- Ability to occasionally respond to distressing or emotional circumstances and interpret information for a range of stakeholders
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
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)
Address
Bristol Royal Infirmary
Marlborough Street
Bristol
BS1 3NU
Employer's website
https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
