Job summary
The
Communications Team at Leeds Community Healthcare (LCH) is looking for a
skilled individual to step into the team on a permanent basis.
Alongside experience of working in a communications or related field (for
example, public relations, journalism), you'll need tons of tenacity, a 'can
do' attitude and an ability to balance conflicting tasks. You'll also need a
real pride and passion in promoting the work of our Trust. If this sounds like
you, please read on...
Main duties of the job
Your
day as part of this busy but supportive team, will see you providing internal
and external communications, PR and marketing support and advice across a range
of services and activities here at LCH. Alongside the Head of Communications
and other members of the Communications team, you will also act as a key
contact for local and regional media, support content population and
development of the Trust's intranet, website and its social media channels. You
will lead on projects and campaigns where communications expertise will add
real value. There's a lot to do, but a lot to gain from the broad range of
activities you will have the opportunity to be involved in.
About us
Working for Leeds community Healthcare NHS Trust
Who are we?
Leeds Community Healthcare provides a range of community-based health services across the whole city. We treat people in their homes, local health centres and community hospitals, and work in partnership with other local Trusts, charities and Leeds City Council.
We have a strong culture based on deeply-held values, and our focus at all times is on delivering high quality care to the people of Leeds. In our most recent CQC evaluation, we were rated "Good", with our Adult Services rated "Outstanding" for caring.
Leeds
Community Healthcare NHS Trust encourages and supports staff to be vaccinated
as this remains the best lines of defence against Covid 19.
Perks of the job
Our benefits range from generous annual leave to access to NHS discount sites. Here are some of the most important ones:
- 27-33 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Highly regarded NHS Pension Scheme
- A supportive, structured preceptorship programme for all registered new starters
- Professional development opportunities including coaching, training and education support
- Salary sacrifice or lease car schemes
- Health and wellbeing including gym membership, occupational health service and priority access to mental health services
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Communications and Digital Officer is a member of the Communications team, which provides internal and external communications, PR and marketing support on behalf of all services and activities at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust.
The post holder supports the Head of Communications and other members of the Communications team, as well as services and teams across the trust. They are a key contact for local and regional media and support content population and development of the Trust’s website and social media channels. They will also lead on various projects and campaigns providing communications support including production of printed materials, audio/visual resources and through the use of social media.
Key Working Relationships
- Communications team and wider colleagues across corporate services
- Staff across the Trust including those in clinical teams
- Chief executive and senior management team
- General managers and heads of service
- Journalists / members of the media
- Communications leads in other health and social care organisations
- Third party suppliers e.g. website supplier
- Local stakeholders and community organisations / businesses in Leeds
Key Responsibilities
Media relations
- To be a key contact for local and regional media including researching and drafting press releases and reactive press statements ensuring factual accuracy and clear representation of content and relevant service or trust-wide information
- Distribute press releases and statements ensuring sound administration of the media relations process - including activity reports.
- Undertake briefing and providing advice and information to journalists as necessary including gathering service specific information and technical guidance
- Plan and organise media interviews and filming opportunities and handle media at events, photocalls etc ensuring maximum, positive exposure for the trust and individual staff / services whilst maintaining sound media relationships
- Provide advice to staff on media opportunities, media interviews (live and pre-recorded / face to face) and media handling as well as advice on how to deal with difficult journalists
- Keep up to date directory of media contacts for use by Communications team
Internal and external communications
- To be responsible for the research, drafting and production of articles and distribution of the weekly staff ebulletin
- Responsible for researching, drafting, reviewing articles and supporting production and coordinating despatch of the quarterly staff newsletter to staff across the trust / all trust sites where staff are based.
- To devise, deliver and manage specific PR and communications campaigns and projects, providing specialist advice and guidance to services on how to present information and producing communications plans and delivering activity as planned.
- Create or oversee the creation of audio visual resources to support communications campaigns.
- Plan and run meetings associated with campaign planning to ensure all relevant parties are involved and are signed up to delivery of communications plans and campaigns.
- Support the design and delivery of events both within and outside of the Trust
- Liaise with staff across the trust to provide specialist communications and PR advice and guidance around specific queries or issues.
- Ensure correct usage of the Trust’s logo, branding and corporate identity.
- Represents the Communications Team and Trust at internal and external meetings in a professional manner, taking responsibility for actions relating to communications activity for LCH as a whole and / or the Communications team
- Work with services and individuals to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of communications projects.
- Create presentations using PowerPoint and set up lap tops and projectors for events and conferences to facilitate smooth running of presentations.
- Work with the Graphic Designer on production of patient information and other printed materials to a high standard.
Marketing
- Assist in the production of marketing and other resources including proof reading and editing of printed and audio/visual materials.
- Work with the Head of Communications and the Graphic Designer to ensure the Trust’s brand is consistently applied and used, offering advice to staff and services regarding correct application of the logo and branding and ensuring brand standards are upheld at all times
E-communications
- Act as a lead officer with responsibility for ensuring the Trust’s website and intranet stay fresh, up to date and are continually refreshed using the online content management system, working with colleagues across the Trust as necessary
- Research and draft high quality copy for the website and intranet, and as a super user, review content from other teams and departments to ensure consistent style and format of content in line with the LCH house style
- Provide individual / 1:1 training and specialist communications knowledge and expertise to other colleagues / services around the use of the website, intranet and social media
- Provide regular breakdown and analysis of hit rates for the intranet and website including recording and analysing data over time using spreadsheets and reporting trends and general usage figures
- Responsible for the day to day management of the Trust’s social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube) including recording and reporting regular information and trends on ‘followers’ and ‘likes’, for example
- Provide advice to colleagues on the use of the intranet, website and social media platforms in line with the trust’s policy on the use of social media.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Communications and Digital Officer is a member of the Communications team, which provides internal and external communications, PR and marketing support on behalf of all services and activities at Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust.
The post holder supports the Head of Communications and other members of the Communications team, as well as services and teams across the trust. They are a key contact for local and regional media and support content population and development of the Trust’s website and social media channels. They will also lead on various projects and campaigns providing communications support including production of printed materials, audio/visual resources and through the use of social media.
Key Working Relationships
- Communications team and wider colleagues across corporate services
- Staff across the Trust including those in clinical teams
- Chief executive and senior management team
- General managers and heads of service
- Journalists / members of the media
- Communications leads in other health and social care organisations
- Third party suppliers e.g. website supplier
- Local stakeholders and community organisations / businesses in Leeds
Key Responsibilities
Media relations
- To be a key contact for local and regional media including researching and drafting press releases and reactive press statements ensuring factual accuracy and clear representation of content and relevant service or trust-wide information
- Distribute press releases and statements ensuring sound administration of the media relations process - including activity reports.
- Undertake briefing and providing advice and information to journalists as necessary including gathering service specific information and technical guidance
- Plan and organise media interviews and filming opportunities and handle media at events, photocalls etc ensuring maximum, positive exposure for the trust and individual staff / services whilst maintaining sound media relationships
- Provide advice to staff on media opportunities, media interviews (live and pre-recorded / face to face) and media handling as well as advice on how to deal with difficult journalists
- Keep up to date directory of media contacts for use by Communications team
Internal and external communications
- To be responsible for the research, drafting and production of articles and distribution of the weekly staff ebulletin
- Responsible for researching, drafting, reviewing articles and supporting production and coordinating despatch of the quarterly staff newsletter to staff across the trust / all trust sites where staff are based.
- To devise, deliver and manage specific PR and communications campaigns and projects, providing specialist advice and guidance to services on how to present information and producing communications plans and delivering activity as planned.
- Create or oversee the creation of audio visual resources to support communications campaigns.
- Plan and run meetings associated with campaign planning to ensure all relevant parties are involved and are signed up to delivery of communications plans and campaigns.
- Support the design and delivery of events both within and outside of the Trust
- Liaise with staff across the trust to provide specialist communications and PR advice and guidance around specific queries or issues.
- Ensure correct usage of the Trust’s logo, branding and corporate identity.
- Represents the Communications Team and Trust at internal and external meetings in a professional manner, taking responsibility for actions relating to communications activity for LCH as a whole and / or the Communications team
- Work with services and individuals to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of communications projects.
- Create presentations using PowerPoint and set up lap tops and projectors for events and conferences to facilitate smooth running of presentations.
- Work with the Graphic Designer on production of patient information and other printed materials to a high standard.
Marketing
- Assist in the production of marketing and other resources including proof reading and editing of printed and audio/visual materials.
- Work with the Head of Communications and the Graphic Designer to ensure the Trust’s brand is consistently applied and used, offering advice to staff and services regarding correct application of the logo and branding and ensuring brand standards are upheld at all times
E-communications
- Act as a lead officer with responsibility for ensuring the Trust’s website and intranet stay fresh, up to date and are continually refreshed using the online content management system, working with colleagues across the Trust as necessary
- Research and draft high quality copy for the website and intranet, and as a super user, review content from other teams and departments to ensure consistent style and format of content in line with the LCH house style
- Provide individual / 1:1 training and specialist communications knowledge and expertise to other colleagues / services around the use of the website, intranet and social media
- Provide regular breakdown and analysis of hit rates for the intranet and website including recording and analysing data over time using spreadsheets and reporting trends and general usage figures
- Responsible for the day to day management of the Trust’s social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter and YouTube) including recording and reporting regular information and trends on ‘followers’ and ‘likes’, for example
- Provide advice to colleagues on the use of the intranet, website and social media platforms in line with the trust’s policy on the use of social media.
Person Specification
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Advanced user of Microsoft Office packages particularly Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel.
- The ability to work to tight deadlines and determine priorities.
- The ability to write effectively and communicate complex issues or information to a range of different audiences in the most appropriate style / manner.
- Understanding of best practice and industry standards around writing for digital and online audiences, including blogs, websites, and online publications.
- Ability to plan effective use of social media.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the NHS.
- Event planning and management skills.
- Knowledge of obtaining and editing audio and video for use across a wide range of platforms.
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in Communications or a related discipline for example, Media Studies, Public Relations, Journalism or English Language.
Desirable
- Professional qualification in communications or marketing for example, CIPR or CIM.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a press office or communications team in a large or complex organisation.
- Experience of dealing with the media including handling sensitive issues
- Developed writing skills which are adaptable for a variety of different media and audiences e.g. websites / intranets, social media, magazines, newsletters etc.
- Photography/videography skills and ability to use digital editing software.
Desirable
- Experience of working in communications, preferably within the public sector or NHS.
- Experience of handling negative or contentious issues
Person Specification
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Advanced user of Microsoft Office packages particularly Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel.
- The ability to work to tight deadlines and determine priorities.
- The ability to write effectively and communicate complex issues or information to a range of different audiences in the most appropriate style / manner.
- Understanding of best practice and industry standards around writing for digital and online audiences, including blogs, websites, and online publications.
- Ability to plan effective use of social media.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the NHS.
- Event planning and management skills.
- Knowledge of obtaining and editing audio and video for use across a wide range of platforms.
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in Communications or a related discipline for example, Media Studies, Public Relations, Journalism or English Language.
Desirable
- Professional qualification in communications or marketing for example, CIPR or CIM.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a press office or communications team in a large or complex organisation.
- Experience of dealing with the media including handling sensitive issues
- Developed writing skills which are adaptable for a variety of different media and audiences e.g. websites / intranets, social media, magazines, newsletters etc.
- Photography/videography skills and ability to use digital editing software.
Desirable
- Experience of working in communications, preferably within the public sector or NHS.
- Experience of handling negative or contentious issues
