Job summary
We have a fantastic NHS communications opportunity available.
Advertised as a part-time, but permanent appointment, the post
of Senior Communications and Engagement Manager will be a key player for the small,
but dynamic, Bridgewater Communications and Engagement Team.
Working over 22.5 hours per week, this is a creative and varied
position as you will lead on developing our expanding internal and external
communication channels.
This is an exciting time for Bridgewater and wider NHS
community services. We have a lot to do and shout about to make sure our voice
is heard and understood.
The lucky applicant will need to listen to
and engage our colleagues in every opportunity by building a compassionate and
inclusive place to work and receive care.
Main duties of the job
The Senior Communications
and Engagement Manager will work side-by-side with the wider Communications and
Engagement Team.
They will be key in
building networks and partnerships across our diverse organisation, helping to
strengthen how colleagues views are used in decisions and by understanding
what makes people proud to work at this very busy organisation.
The role is also about
leading on and developing our expanding internal and external communication
channels and how we improve and shape information to the needs of our different
staff groups and external stakeholders.
If you feel this role
could be for you, please carefully read the Job Description and Person
Specification sections by making sure your application is the one that truly stands
out!
About us
At Bridgewater, our PEOPLE values shape how we deliver our
NHS services in your local community.
They help us deliver our mission to improve local health and
promote wellbeing in the communities we serve.
After all, values are about people and they were
created in partnership with our staff to reflect what they felt was important
to them
Here at Bridgewater our shared values flow through the organisation.
P- Person-centred-We are passionate about individual needs and
promote independence in the healthcare we provide..
E- Empowered- We empower our people and encourage new ideas to deliver and create improvements in community care.
O- Open and Honest -We behave in a way that develops relationships
based on trust, openness, honesty and respect.
P- Professional-We support our people, so everyone has the right
skills and training to deliver outstanding patient care.
L- Locally Lead -We are always learning about our communities and
show great pride in being a local provider of health and care.
E- Efficient -We use our resources wisely to provide
sustainable and value for money healthcare for our patients.
Unfortunately, we do not hold a sponsor licence for working Visas.
Job description
Job responsibilities
General
- Be a key lead on all aspects of internal/ external communication and staff engagement across the organisation.
- Review and improve our internal/ external communication channels to enable the tailoring of information to its key audience.
- Lead and advise on a wide range of engagement activity, including the planning and delivery of projects and programmes in partnership with colleagues.
- Be a key lead on the communications and engagement around the National NHS Staff Survey, Quarterly Pulse Survey and related projects.
- Use insight data, including annual Staff Survey, to help identify trends and opportunities to drive change.
- Be a strong lead for communications on the staff engagement programmes of different change/ transformation initiatives that will impact on staff experience, culture and leadership.
- Build links with key staff groups, networks, Staff Side and leadership.
Professional
- Deputise for the Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement as appropriate.
- Provide cover and assistance in the event of major stories or issues affecting the Trust.
- Take calls from the media and triage them as appropriate.
- Plan and organise your own work schedule by using time and resources to best effect in a busy team environment, usually requiring concentration for long periods of time with constant interruptions via email, instant messaging, telephone calls etc.
- To ensure in-house style and communications standards are fully met.
- Maintain expert knowledge of current technological and best practice developments across the communications fields with a particular focus on internal communications.
- Cover for other members of the team when they are on leave.
- Ensure all statutory and mandatory training is completed on time.
- Work flexibly and undertake other duties as and when the need requires.
Internal communication and staff engagement
- Lead the development of the annual programme of internal communications and staff engagement.
- Develop strong plans for internal communication and staff engagement in design, development and delivery of strategic changes.
- Deliver a regular and impactful programme of internal communication that reflects and supports the organisation.
- Deliver engagement activities and interventions including workshops, focus groups and surveys.
- Ensure the internal communication and staff engagement messages are presented in an impactful way to influence the process or outcomes.
- Develop the capacity and capability for good quality internal communications and staff engagement.
- Identify, manage and make best use of internal channels, liaising with the lead for digital communications.
- Lead the production of the organisations regular internal publications.
- Support Borough divisions in the development and management of their own internal communication and staff engagement arrangements.
- Be the line manager of the Staff Engagement Coordinator and assist them where possible.
External communication
- Help create story content to be shared internally to staff but also more widely out into the media and other external stakeholders.
- Provide media relations advice where required (whether proactive or reactive).
- Co-ordinate media training for nominated colleagues as and when required.
- Maintain a list of key media contacts.
- Be the main point of contact for filming/ radio requests and provide support where required.
- Oversee communications activity, including media activity and publicity campaigns.
- Contribute to the organisations crisis communications procedures and participate in emergency preparedness when required.
- Write, edit and proof-read content and articles for a variety of audiences.
Events and other operational support
- To support the running of all events (internal and external). This includes the preparation of briefing notes and high-quality visual presentations where required.
- Assist in the running of media opportunities and VIP visits.
- Monitor and support the daily running/ maintenance of the Trust social media platforms.
- Take photos or videos for external and internal use if required.
- Help maintain the organisations internal and external websites.
Job description
Job responsibilities
General
- Be a key lead on all aspects of internal/ external communication and staff engagement across the organisation.
- Review and improve our internal/ external communication channels to enable the tailoring of information to its key audience.
- Lead and advise on a wide range of engagement activity, including the planning and delivery of projects and programmes in partnership with colleagues.
- Be a key lead on the communications and engagement around the National NHS Staff Survey, Quarterly Pulse Survey and related projects.
- Use insight data, including annual Staff Survey, to help identify trends and opportunities to drive change.
- Be a strong lead for communications on the staff engagement programmes of different change/ transformation initiatives that will impact on staff experience, culture and leadership.
- Build links with key staff groups, networks, Staff Side and leadership.
Professional
- Deputise for the Deputy Director of Communications and Engagement as appropriate.
- Provide cover and assistance in the event of major stories or issues affecting the Trust.
- Take calls from the media and triage them as appropriate.
- Plan and organise your own work schedule by using time and resources to best effect in a busy team environment, usually requiring concentration for long periods of time with constant interruptions via email, instant messaging, telephone calls etc.
- To ensure in-house style and communications standards are fully met.
- Maintain expert knowledge of current technological and best practice developments across the communications fields with a particular focus on internal communications.
- Cover for other members of the team when they are on leave.
- Ensure all statutory and mandatory training is completed on time.
- Work flexibly and undertake other duties as and when the need requires.
Internal communication and staff engagement
- Lead the development of the annual programme of internal communications and staff engagement.
- Develop strong plans for internal communication and staff engagement in design, development and delivery of strategic changes.
- Deliver a regular and impactful programme of internal communication that reflects and supports the organisation.
- Deliver engagement activities and interventions including workshops, focus groups and surveys.
- Ensure the internal communication and staff engagement messages are presented in an impactful way to influence the process or outcomes.
- Develop the capacity and capability for good quality internal communications and staff engagement.
- Identify, manage and make best use of internal channels, liaising with the lead for digital communications.
- Lead the production of the organisations regular internal publications.
- Support Borough divisions in the development and management of their own internal communication and staff engagement arrangements.
- Be the line manager of the Staff Engagement Coordinator and assist them where possible.
External communication
- Help create story content to be shared internally to staff but also more widely out into the media and other external stakeholders.
- Provide media relations advice where required (whether proactive or reactive).
- Co-ordinate media training for nominated colleagues as and when required.
- Maintain a list of key media contacts.
- Be the main point of contact for filming/ radio requests and provide support where required.
- Oversee communications activity, including media activity and publicity campaigns.
- Contribute to the organisations crisis communications procedures and participate in emergency preparedness when required.
- Write, edit and proof-read content and articles for a variety of audiences.
Events and other operational support
- To support the running of all events (internal and external). This includes the preparation of briefing notes and high-quality visual presentations where required.
- Assist in the running of media opportunities and VIP visits.
- Monitor and support the daily running/ maintenance of the Trust social media platforms.
- Take photos or videos for external and internal use if required.
- Help maintain the organisations internal and external websites.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in a communications related subject or equivalent relevant experience.
- Evidence of further professional development to masters level or demonstrable equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-qualification experience in media and communications, including media handling plans, press conferences/interviews, press releases and media statements.
- Experience of producing long-term, organisation-wide communications strategies and PR campaigns.
- Experience of briefing and advising senior managers on media issues, including those involving sensitive and complex information or requiring the consideration of different viewpoints.
- Experience of communicating sensitive, contentious or complex information to a wide audience.
- Experience of producing project plans and project monitoring systems/mechanisms.
- Experience of producing copy for a range of print and digital channels, including publications, websites, intranets and social media.
- Experience developing and implementing policies and practices.
- Experience of managing multiple staff.
- Experience of working with service users, public and stakeholders and of proactively managing challenging and emotive situations.
- Experience of working with external agencies to commission design, print and photography.
- Experience of managing budgets and being an authorised signatory.
- Experience of prioritising a changing workload and being able to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
- Knowledge and experience of developing internal communication channels and leading on change programmes.
- Experience of supporting staff experience and engagement projects.
- Experience of supporting and developing reports on activity.
- Experience of producing copy for a range of communication channels.
Desirable
- Experience working across a large organisation, preferably in the NHS.
Skills & Attributes
Essential
- Knowledge of communications, public relations, engagement techniques.
- Good news sense and ability to generate positive news stories for a wide range of media and audiences.
- Knowledge of media law and other legal requirements eg GDPR.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Good presentation skills.
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and good keyboard skills.
- Knowledge of a range of content management systems for updating intranets and websites.
- Confident when dealing with members of the public and staff including in emotive/antagonistic situations.
- Able to handle confidential, sensitive or distressing information, e.g. in relation to incidents or with the media.
- Able to work under pressure when responding to press enquiries or in a major incident.
- Able to handle multiple tasks while working to tight deadlines.
- Able to analyse and understand complex information and use judgment about how to handle and communicate sensitive or controversial information to a variety of audiences.
- Able to occasionally move and handle equipment when transporting display and presentation equipment.
Desirable
- Knowledge of NHS policy and the national and regional political landscape
Job Specific Criteria
Essential
- The ability to travel independently across the Trust
- The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs
- Do you have the right to stay and work in the UK without sponsorship (share-codes will be checked if applicable)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level in a communications related subject or equivalent relevant experience.
- Evidence of further professional development to masters level or demonstrable equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-qualification experience in media and communications, including media handling plans, press conferences/interviews, press releases and media statements.
- Experience of producing long-term, organisation-wide communications strategies and PR campaigns.
- Experience of briefing and advising senior managers on media issues, including those involving sensitive and complex information or requiring the consideration of different viewpoints.
- Experience of communicating sensitive, contentious or complex information to a wide audience.
- Experience of producing project plans and project monitoring systems/mechanisms.
- Experience of producing copy for a range of print and digital channels, including publications, websites, intranets and social media.
- Experience developing and implementing policies and practices.
- Experience of managing multiple staff.
- Experience of working with service users, public and stakeholders and of proactively managing challenging and emotive situations.
- Experience of working with external agencies to commission design, print and photography.
- Experience of managing budgets and being an authorised signatory.
- Experience of prioritising a changing workload and being able to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
- Knowledge and experience of developing internal communication channels and leading on change programmes.
- Experience of supporting staff experience and engagement projects.
- Experience of supporting and developing reports on activity.
- Experience of producing copy for a range of communication channels.
Desirable
- Experience working across a large organisation, preferably in the NHS.
Skills & Attributes
Essential
- Knowledge of communications, public relations, engagement techniques.
- Good news sense and ability to generate positive news stories for a wide range of media and audiences.
- Knowledge of media law and other legal requirements eg GDPR.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Good presentation skills.
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and good keyboard skills.
- Knowledge of a range of content management systems for updating intranets and websites.
- Confident when dealing with members of the public and staff including in emotive/antagonistic situations.
- Able to handle confidential, sensitive or distressing information, e.g. in relation to incidents or with the media.
- Able to work under pressure when responding to press enquiries or in a major incident.
- Able to handle multiple tasks while working to tight deadlines.
- Able to analyse and understand complex information and use judgment about how to handle and communicate sensitive or controversial information to a variety of audiences.
- Able to occasionally move and handle equipment when transporting display and presentation equipment.
Desirable
- Knowledge of NHS policy and the national and regional political landscape
Job Specific Criteria
Essential
- The ability to travel independently across the Trust
- The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs
- Do you have the right to stay and work in the UK without sponsorship (share-codes will be checked if applicable)
Additional information
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
Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bridgewater Community Healthcare Nhs Trust, 89 Dewhurst Road
Birchwood
Warrington
WA3 7PG
Employer's website
http://bridgewater.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
