Job summary
Communications and Engagement Specialist
Department: Communications and Engagement team
Band 6 £35,392 - £42,618 per annum
12 months fixed-term contract
Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you an experienced communications and engagement practitioner with a passion for partnership and collaborative working? If so, we'd love to hear from you. We are on the lookout for someone with these qualities - and more - to join us at MKUH to take on a brand-new partnership position of leading on communications for the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB).
You will be based within MKUH's experienced and welcoming Communications team but will be supporting the work of the ICB. This exciting and varied post will require you to work closely with partners from a range of organisations at place (including Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes) and with NHS providers and key partners such as Healthwatch. Although you will mostly be based at Milton Keynes University Hospital, you will occasionally be required to travel to other locations within the BLMK ICB area.
Please note that this is a 12 months fixed-term contract.
If you feel you have the skills to suit this fantastic role then we would love to hear from you. For informal discussions about the position, please contact: Jacob Prichard, Head of Communications & Engagement at Milton Keynes University Hospital, Prichard@mkuh.nhs.uk, 07801 593639
Interview: 25/04/2024
Main duties of the job
You will proactively lead on the development and delivery of news stories, case studies and blogs in line with the ICB's Communication and Engagement Plan and objectives. You will also be adept at project managing the development and delivery of communications campaigns, always ensuring you balance the needs of different stakeholders. You'll be able to work to both tight deadlines and on longer projects. You will be able to work with people at all levels and be able to tailor the content of the ICB's various communications channels to suit the end user.
In return you will be supported in your role by a committed team, have plenty of opportunities for career development and find yourself really making a difference to the work and the profile of both BLMK ICB as well as MKUH.
About us
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Free on-site parking
- Free tea and coffee
- Great flexible workingopportunities
- Discounted gym membership
- Lease car scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- On site nursery (chargeable)
- Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description for more details.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices. We promote an inclusive workforce and encourage applications from applicants from all backgrounds.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description for more details.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices. We promote an inclusive workforce and encourage applications from applicants from all backgrounds.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Educated to degree level and/or equivalent experience (a minimum of two years' experience advising an executive team on strategic communications).
Desirable
- Post graduate communications related qualification to diploma level or equivalent, CIPR, NCTJ, English/Media etc.
Experience
Essential
- Experience in a communications role.
- Experience developing and delivering communications plans
- Experience of developing internal communications for a range of audiences across multiple platforms.
- Experience working with, advising and influencing senior figures.
- Experience using a wide range of IT packages including or equivalent to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
- Experience organising and delivering events,
- Experience of managing requests from the media, advising on media handling and organising press visits
Desirable
- Experience working in the NHS.
- Knowledge of Integrated Care Systems and their role.
- Experience managing budgets.
- Brand management experience.
- Experience using a content management system to update websites or an intranet.
- Experience managing stock of printed materials and overseeing document requests.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
- Presentation skills.
- Ability to work on own initiative without direct supervision.
- Well-developed organisational skills.
- Excellent prioritising skills.
- Analytical skills.
Personal and people development
Essential
- Engaging and enthusiastic.
- Ability to keep calm under pressure.
- Attention to detail, but with ability to keep eye on big picture.
- Strong team player.
- Able to act independently, decisively and effectively.
- Ability to respond to difficult organisational situations.
- Ability to watch and listen to implicit key messages and respond appropriately.
Communication
Essential
- Ability to develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations, varying language and style as appropriate.
- Ability to design strategies to ensure the engagement and involvement of essential stakeholders,
- Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
- Ability to draw together a range of disparate and complex information in order to identify options and make decisions.
- Able to manage own workload, working to tight and often changing timescales whilst considering and applying new ideas and directives to improve services.
Desirable
- Ability to negotiate solutions in difficult situations ability to negotiate solutions in difficult situations.
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Educated to degree level and/or equivalent experience (a minimum of two years' experience advising an executive team on strategic communications).
Desirable
- Post graduate communications related qualification to diploma level or equivalent, CIPR, NCTJ, English/Media etc.
Experience
Essential
- Experience in a communications role.
- Experience developing and delivering communications plans
- Experience of developing internal communications for a range of audiences across multiple platforms.
- Experience working with, advising and influencing senior figures.
- Experience using a wide range of IT packages including or equivalent to Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
- Experience organising and delivering events,
- Experience of managing requests from the media, advising on media handling and organising press visits
Desirable
- Experience working in the NHS.
- Knowledge of Integrated Care Systems and their role.
- Experience managing budgets.
- Brand management experience.
- Experience using a content management system to update websites or an intranet.
- Experience managing stock of printed materials and overseeing document requests.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
- Presentation skills.
- Ability to work on own initiative without direct supervision.
- Well-developed organisational skills.
- Excellent prioritising skills.
- Analytical skills.
Personal and people development
Essential
- Engaging and enthusiastic.
- Ability to keep calm under pressure.
- Attention to detail, but with ability to keep eye on big picture.
- Strong team player.
- Able to act independently, decisively and effectively.
- Ability to respond to difficult organisational situations.
- Ability to watch and listen to implicit key messages and respond appropriately.
Communication
Essential
- Ability to develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations, varying language and style as appropriate.
- Ability to design strategies to ensure the engagement and involvement of essential stakeholders,
- Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
- Ability to draw together a range of disparate and complex information in order to identify options and make decisions.
- Able to manage own workload, working to tight and often changing timescales whilst considering and applying new ideas and directives to improve services.
Desirable
- Ability to negotiate solutions in difficult situations ability to negotiate solutions in difficult situations.
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
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.
