Job summary
This is a unique opportunity to join the award-winning West
Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership as head of communications and engagement
for 12 months, whilst being employed by NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care
Board.
The Partnership is made up of the NHS, councils, hospices,
Healthwatch, the voluntary community social enterprise sector. It is an
integrated care system (ICS). We have five local place partnerships, which
include:
• Bradford
District and Craven Health and Care Partnership
• Calderdale
Cares Partnership
•
Kirklees Health and Care Partnership
• Leeds Health
and Care Partnership
• Wakefield
District Health and Care Partnership
Deputising for the associate director of communication and engagement,
this role will provide professional advice, expertise, and leadership on
communication, involvement, and stakeholder relationships. It’s about
maximising the opportunities to promote the work of the Partnership across all
sectors and working collaboratively alongside a nationally recognised network
of local communication and engagement professionals.
Main duties of the job
The head of communications and engagement will work with the
executive group of leaders, programme directors, local place colleagues and a
wider professional network to support the joining up of health and care services
across West Yorkshire to improve people’s lives.
You will provide internal and external communications and
engagement advice to CEOs, directors and the integrated care board chair and
non-executive members. So, excellent communication and engagement skills on all
levels are a must, alongside a positive can-do attitude. The ability to get
things done professionally and calmly whilst supporting a team is essential. Put
simply we’re looking for a strategic doer who is a great team player,
understands multi-agency working and whose values and behaviours match those of
our Partnership.
If you have the professional skills to match the job
description, can plan, inspire, and lead whilst working in a proactive,
innovative way which anticipates and responds to current needs and makes the
most of opportunities, we would love to hear from you. If successful you will be
part of a fantastic team, working with some of the best communication and
engagement colleagues in the country.
The vacancy is for a period of 12 months and is available
either on a fixed term or secondment basis.
About us
In West Yorkshire we are
passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values
diversity – we see this as a strength and part of our founding mission, values and
behaviours.
We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds
create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers patient
outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability,
sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or
belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have policies
and procedures in place that all applicants are treated fairly and
consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including
consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability
We
are jointly committed to creating and maintaining a fair and supportive
working environment and culture, where contributions are fully recognised and
valued by all, and staff feel empowered to carry out their duties to the best
of their abilities. As employers we are committed to promoting and protecting
the physical and mental health and well-being of all our staff.
We
are an equal opportunities employer. We are a Disability Confident employer
and will interview any disabled candidate who meet the essential criteria for
a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The head of communications and engagement is a senior manager role for West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership. The post holder will be employed by NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and play an important role in further embedding our partnership communications and involvement approach. They will do this by working closely with colleagues across our five places and as part of the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. They will deputise for the associate director of communications and engagement.
Key to the role is inspiring and leading a talented and highly creative team to work in a proactive, innovative way that anticipates and responds to the current and future needs of WY HCP. Whilst doing so you will be part of a great team, who not only take they work responsibilities seriously but have fun too.
This role will play an active part in shaping and further embedding ways of working which will involve leading projects across the area in partnership with others and working closely with communications teams and engagement leads in local organisations e.g., NHS Trusts, local councils, and community organisations.
Coordinating and delivering on all aspects of internal and external, stakeholder relations, and community involvement for the Partnership, the role includes using marketing skills, digital communication channels and leading on the production of accessible information.
Working closely with our senior engagement manager, digital manager, and programme communication leads, you will be responsible for how we involve our local place communication and engagement colleagues, people and communities, stakeholders, and employees. This includes building trust and confidence in how we deliver on our strategic priorities and statutory responsibilities.
The post-holder will manage the design, delivery and evaluation of diverse and highly complex communications and involvement activity, ensuring effective involvement and collaboration with subject matter leads from across West Yorkshire. This will involve managing media or crisis communications on behalf of the Partnership (sometimes out of office hours) and offering advice or training to colleagues. Put simply a professional with a can-do attitude who is an excellent team colleague.
Strategy
• Deputise for the associate director for communications and engagement as the strategic, accountable professional lead for communication and involvement activity on behalf of the Partnership - bringing innovation, creativity, motivation, and energy to the work whilst working alongside other specialists in the profession.
• Support the development, involvement and implementation of an effective communications and involvement strategy for the Partnership – using a wide range of platforms that are accessible and inclusive for the diverse population of West Yorkshire.
• Ensure that all partner organisations, staff, communities are involved and own the strategy, can see the vision, and are engaged in its successful implementation
• Working with directors, and programme leads, local place leads to develop communication approaches that reduce health inequalities, meet people’s need and are in line with the partnership’s ambitions, principles / approaches.
• Lead communications on issues that are likely to be challenging and carried out in a potentially hostile environment.
• Lead public and stakeholder communication on key policy and strategy developments, such as National policy and legislative changes which impact on the operation of the ICB and Partnership Board.
• Developments of system wide communication and involvement policies
• Launch of key strategic documents such as Five-Year Strategy, People Plan and supporting plans
• Put systems in place to support a large organisation effectively.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The head of communications and engagement is a senior manager role for West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership. The post holder will be employed by NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and play an important role in further embedding our partnership communications and involvement approach. They will do this by working closely with colleagues across our five places and as part of the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. They will deputise for the associate director of communications and engagement.
Key to the role is inspiring and leading a talented and highly creative team to work in a proactive, innovative way that anticipates and responds to the current and future needs of WY HCP. Whilst doing so you will be part of a great team, who not only take they work responsibilities seriously but have fun too.
This role will play an active part in shaping and further embedding ways of working which will involve leading projects across the area in partnership with others and working closely with communications teams and engagement leads in local organisations e.g., NHS Trusts, local councils, and community organisations.
Coordinating and delivering on all aspects of internal and external, stakeholder relations, and community involvement for the Partnership, the role includes using marketing skills, digital communication channels and leading on the production of accessible information.
Working closely with our senior engagement manager, digital manager, and programme communication leads, you will be responsible for how we involve our local place communication and engagement colleagues, people and communities, stakeholders, and employees. This includes building trust and confidence in how we deliver on our strategic priorities and statutory responsibilities.
The post-holder will manage the design, delivery and evaluation of diverse and highly complex communications and involvement activity, ensuring effective involvement and collaboration with subject matter leads from across West Yorkshire. This will involve managing media or crisis communications on behalf of the Partnership (sometimes out of office hours) and offering advice or training to colleagues. Put simply a professional with a can-do attitude who is an excellent team colleague.
Strategy
• Deputise for the associate director for communications and engagement as the strategic, accountable professional lead for communication and involvement activity on behalf of the Partnership - bringing innovation, creativity, motivation, and energy to the work whilst working alongside other specialists in the profession.
• Support the development, involvement and implementation of an effective communications and involvement strategy for the Partnership – using a wide range of platforms that are accessible and inclusive for the diverse population of West Yorkshire.
• Ensure that all partner organisations, staff, communities are involved and own the strategy, can see the vision, and are engaged in its successful implementation
• Working with directors, and programme leads, local place leads to develop communication approaches that reduce health inequalities, meet people’s need and are in line with the partnership’s ambitions, principles / approaches.
• Lead communications on issues that are likely to be challenging and carried out in a potentially hostile environment.
• Lead public and stakeholder communication on key policy and strategy developments, such as National policy and legislative changes which impact on the operation of the ICB and Partnership Board.
• Developments of system wide communication and involvement policies
• Launch of key strategic documents such as Five-Year Strategy, People Plan and supporting plans
• Put systems in place to support a large organisation effectively.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters level in a relevant field or equivalent training and/or experience and evidence of ongoing professional training
- Highly developed knowledge of communications, involvement, consultations, media relations and digital media, obtained through qualifications and/or experience
- Knowledge of specialist areas, including understanding of the statutory duties for NHS organisations to involve people and communities
Knowledge and understanding
Essential
- Extensive experience in a communications role dealing with highly sensitive and complex issues, incidents, and enquiries
- Experience of managing complex projects involving management of timescales/deadlines and budgets
Desirable
- Experience of developing, implementing, and evaluating innovative practice to improve communications and involvement activity and deliver measurable outcomes.
Skills & competency
Essential
- Excellent written, oral, and general communications skills
- Ability to interpret complex data, write reports and make recommendations
Desirable
- Research and critical thinking skills to develop communications and involvement approaches and strategies in line with the latest good practice
Attributes
Essential
- Able to deal with confidential and/or sensitive information with discretion and integrity
- Able to negotiate with, and influence, people at all levels
- Confident and calm under pressure, resilient and professional
- Able to motivate and enthuse a creative, talented team
- Adaptable to change, motivated, forward thinking, innovative and enthusiastic.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters level in a relevant field or equivalent training and/or experience and evidence of ongoing professional training
- Highly developed knowledge of communications, involvement, consultations, media relations and digital media, obtained through qualifications and/or experience
- Knowledge of specialist areas, including understanding of the statutory duties for NHS organisations to involve people and communities
Knowledge and understanding
Essential
- Extensive experience in a communications role dealing with highly sensitive and complex issues, incidents, and enquiries
- Experience of managing complex projects involving management of timescales/deadlines and budgets
Desirable
- Experience of developing, implementing, and evaluating innovative practice to improve communications and involvement activity and deliver measurable outcomes.
Skills & competency
Essential
- Excellent written, oral, and general communications skills
- Ability to interpret complex data, write reports and make recommendations
Desirable
- Research and critical thinking skills to develop communications and involvement approaches and strategies in line with the latest good practice
Attributes
Essential
- Able to deal with confidential and/or sensitive information with discretion and integrity
- Able to negotiate with, and influence, people at all levels
- Confident and calm under pressure, resilient and professional
- Able to motivate and enthuse a creative, talented team
- Adaptable to change, motivated, forward thinking, innovative and enthusiastic.
