Job summary
The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board brings
together key health, care, community and voluntary sector organisations across our
area.
The ICB has a bold ambition to deliver improved
outcomes for our 1.2m population, placing clinical and professional leadership
and the voice of our residents at the heart of realising this ambition.
Our communications and engagement team supports the
delivery of the priorities and objectives of the ICB through the delivery of
excellent communications focused on our patients, staff and wider communities
alongside supporting the development of excellent relationships with partners
and stakeholders locally, regionally and nationally.
We are seeking a dynamic Head of Communication to
support our mission. This is a key leadership role supporting our internal,
provider and change portfolios.
The post holder should be capable of setting the
highest professional standards, inspiring, and empowering their team so they
can translate business objectives into high impact communications and
engagement activities and measurable behavioural outcomes.
You will be working with an award winning team of communications and engagement professionals as well as colleagues across our wider partners including GPs, hospitals, local government, and the voluntary sector.
Main duties of the job
Please see Job Description for full details of this role.
To arrange an informal conversation please contact Claire Hankey, Director of Communications and Engagement claire.hankey1@nhs.net
About us
Mid and South
Essex ICB is a statutory organisation responsible for the planning and delivery
of local health and care services, across Mid and South Essex and is part of
the wider integrated care system. Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are
partnerships of health and care organisations that come together to plan and
deliver joined up services and to improve the health of people who live and
work in their area. The headquarters for
the organisation is Phoenix Court, Basildon, but there is a hybrid model of
working, which includes working across Mid and South Essex and home working.
We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes
and values diversity. We know through experience that the different
ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work
environment that delivers better patient outcomes. We welcome applications
irrespective of peoples 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 to ensure that
all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the
recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustment for
people who have a disability.
Unfortunately, the organisation
does not have a Sponsorship licence.
Job description
Job responsibilities
ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY
The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System will comprise the Integrated Care Board (ICB), which is the statutory body for the NHS, and the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP), which is a committee of the ICB, and brings together key health, care, community and voluntary sector organisations across the area.
The ICS has a bold ambition to deliver improved outcomes for our 1.2m population through our four Alliances, and we are placing clinical and professional leadership and the voice of our residents at the heart of realizing this ambition.
Our communications and engagement team supports the delivery of the priorities and objectives of the ICB through the delivery of excellent communications focused on our patients, staff and wider communities alongside supporting the development of excellent relationships with partners and stakeholders locally, regionally and nationally.
Heads of Communications are key leadership roles responsible for both developing and managing a specialist portfolio of work in one of three areas:
- Internal, change and provider
- External affairs and statutory engagement
The post holders should be capable of setting the highest professional standards, inspiring and empowering their team so they can translate business objectives into communications and engagement activities and behavioural outcomes.
The post holders will provide overall leadership and management of communications and engagement activities within their specialist portfolio of work, supporting the Director as part of the communications and engagement leadership team.
They will strategically lead and be accountable for effective internal and external communication planning at all levels through the development of strategies, policies and systems designed to optimise transparent and two-way communications between the organisation and its internal and external audiences which are co-ordinated, effective and professional and reflect the strategic direction of the organisation.
They will be expected to monitor and identify risks, direct research and undertake analysis and interpretation of findings to identify communication needs and formulate plans to meet them.
COMPETENCY BASED KEY DELIVERABLES
- Responsible and accountable for decisions made during the course of their duties, escalating significant issues where appropriate
- Contribute to setting long term strategy ensuring the aims and objectives of the organisation/system are embedded and progressively built upon within the setting of the strategy, as well as taking responsibility for the implementation of one or more plans which align to this strategy
- Management of multiple members of staff
- Management of multiple senior members of staff
- Accountable and responsible for multiple budgets and or income streams of delivery
- Can demonstrate and deliver acute business acumen in their area of resposibility ensuring value for money, understanding the business of partners and the driving factors for delivery in multiple sectors.
- Provide overall leadership and management of communications and engagement activities within their specialist portfolio of work.
- Provide advice and support to all staff on communications and engagement activities to establish and embed good practice.
- Work with the Director to develop, implement and evaluate the communication and engagement strategy with the purpose of supporting the delivery of strategic priorities and objectives.
- Responsible for the development of evidence based practice in respect to communications and engagement, including the embedding of routine evaluation and impact analysis to inform communications and engagement activities.
- Maintain current awareness and ensure compliance with regulatory changes, new reports and guidance and best practice that affects communication and engagement activities.
- Analyse and assess highly complex and at times confidential and controversial information, which will require analysis and sophisticated judgement in relation to the PR and reputational implications of decisions and actions, advising senior managers on strategic response.
- Support the ICBss communication response to major incidents and crisis communications systems, and ensure systems and processes are in place to manage incident communications
- Participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota for the Communications and Engagement team
Job description
Job responsibilities
ROLE PURPOSE / SUMMARY
The Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System will comprise the Integrated Care Board (ICB), which is the statutory body for the NHS, and the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP), which is a committee of the ICB, and brings together key health, care, community and voluntary sector organisations across the area.
The ICS has a bold ambition to deliver improved outcomes for our 1.2m population through our four Alliances, and we are placing clinical and professional leadership and the voice of our residents at the heart of realizing this ambition.
Our communications and engagement team supports the delivery of the priorities and objectives of the ICB through the delivery of excellent communications focused on our patients, staff and wider communities alongside supporting the development of excellent relationships with partners and stakeholders locally, regionally and nationally.
Heads of Communications are key leadership roles responsible for both developing and managing a specialist portfolio of work in one of three areas:
- Internal, change and provider
- External affairs and statutory engagement
The post holders should be capable of setting the highest professional standards, inspiring and empowering their team so they can translate business objectives into communications and engagement activities and behavioural outcomes.
The post holders will provide overall leadership and management of communications and engagement activities within their specialist portfolio of work, supporting the Director as part of the communications and engagement leadership team.
They will strategically lead and be accountable for effective internal and external communication planning at all levels through the development of strategies, policies and systems designed to optimise transparent and two-way communications between the organisation and its internal and external audiences which are co-ordinated, effective and professional and reflect the strategic direction of the organisation.
They will be expected to monitor and identify risks, direct research and undertake analysis and interpretation of findings to identify communication needs and formulate plans to meet them.
COMPETENCY BASED KEY DELIVERABLES
- Responsible and accountable for decisions made during the course of their duties, escalating significant issues where appropriate
- Contribute to setting long term strategy ensuring the aims and objectives of the organisation/system are embedded and progressively built upon within the setting of the strategy, as well as taking responsibility for the implementation of one or more plans which align to this strategy
- Management of multiple members of staff
- Management of multiple senior members of staff
- Accountable and responsible for multiple budgets and or income streams of delivery
- Can demonstrate and deliver acute business acumen in their area of resposibility ensuring value for money, understanding the business of partners and the driving factors for delivery in multiple sectors.
- Provide overall leadership and management of communications and engagement activities within their specialist portfolio of work.
- Provide advice and support to all staff on communications and engagement activities to establish and embed good practice.
- Work with the Director to develop, implement and evaluate the communication and engagement strategy with the purpose of supporting the delivery of strategic priorities and objectives.
- Responsible for the development of evidence based practice in respect to communications and engagement, including the embedding of routine evaluation and impact analysis to inform communications and engagement activities.
- Maintain current awareness and ensure compliance with regulatory changes, new reports and guidance and best practice that affects communication and engagement activities.
- Analyse and assess highly complex and at times confidential and controversial information, which will require analysis and sophisticated judgement in relation to the PR and reputational implications of decisions and actions, advising senior managers on strategic response.
- Support the ICBss communication response to major incidents and crisis communications systems, and ensure systems and processes are in place to manage incident communications
- Participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota for the Communications and Engagement team
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant Masters degree or extensive knowledge, skills and experience to equivalent level
- OR
- Specialist communications qualification or equivalent experience and knowledge
- Plus either
- Project Management Qualification or equivalent level of experience
- OR
- Management qualification or equivalent level of on the job experience
- Evidence of continuing personal development
Knowledge/ Understanding
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of relevant systems and procedures
- In depth understanding of policies and practices within required field of work
- An in-depth understanding of health care provision and awareness of current NHS policies and priorities.
- Expertise, underpinned by demonstrable experience, in a range of the following:
- Press relations and PR.
- Reputation management.
- Use of different communications channels and methods.
- Staff engagement
- Utilising digital and social media.
- Appreciation and understanding of equality and diversity legislation and standards
- Experience of working with senior managers within a highly pressurised environment
- Extensive stakeholder management experience
Partnership Working/ Leadership/ Management
Essential
- Can demonstrate partnership working and the understanding of how and when partnerships should be built, navigating and understanding local, regional and national political positions in order to solutions that span across multiple stakeholders
- Responsible for the implementation of the NHS People Promise and ICB Values across functional areas of responsibility.
- Provide effective, inclusive and compassionate leadership across own areas of responsibility, ensuring all voices are heard and creating and nurturing a culture where staff feel safe to speak up
- Champions the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion both within and outside of the organisation
- Challenges within areas of responsibility and escalates appropriately where these principles are at risk of not being upheld
- Role model core behaviours including equity and diversity and maintaining a professional image at all times
- Professional and approachable manner
- Good communicator, with ability to liaise with colleagues at all levels
- Able to persuade and influence in areas of conflict
- Flexible and adaptable to meet deadlines
- Ability to work as part of a team or independently
- Evidence of successfully leading, developing and motivating staff
- Takes personal responsibility for actions and their impact
- Ability to work in a collaborative way across organisational/sector boundaries in order to achieve the highest quality outcomes for patients
- Ability so support strategic thinking in discussions by being aware of the bigger picture
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience within a communications function in an NHS or similar large, complex organisation
- Experience of leading, managing and delivering significant change projects involving stakeholders
- Experience of holding responsibility for budget/s, budget setting and demonstrable knowledge of financial processes within own service
- Experience of managing incoming and outgoing information requirements, handling correspondence/queries which may be highly complex, sensitive or highly confidential.
- Experience of negotiation with senior stakeholders which may include difficult and controversial issues, presenting complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups
- Experience of working at strategic level, able to recognise direction and implications of policy and the potentially competing priorities/interests.
- Experience of leading, managing, developing, influencing and inspiring staff.
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS/public body
- Experience of devising and implementing effective communications strategies
- Experience of public consultation.
- Experience of working and developing relationships with politicians and/or community groups.
- Experience of co- ordinating and leading communications response in a major incident / following a high profile issue
- Marketing and campaigns experience.
Skills
Essential
- Well developed interpersonal and communication skills with staff at all levels using from the full range of methods as appropriate
- Demonstrable ability to formulate arguments and express them clearly to lay people and to persuade clinicians and senior management over a course of action
- Demonstrable ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information where there are barriers to understanding
- Advanced IT skills in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Standard keyboarding skills
- High level of attention to detail
- Prioritisation and organisation skills
- Able to be assertive in negotiation on difficult and controversial issues such as performance and change
- Able to deliver training/briefings/ updates to large groups of staff at all levels
- Able to lead the development of policy and strategy to enhance relevant service
- Able to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues and often to changing timescales.
- Ability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making
- Demonstrates ability to use sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from more senior management when appropriate
- Ability to work effectively between strategic and operational activities where required
- Demonstrable ability to prioritise own work and teams workload considering conflicting priorities and tight deadlines
- Demonstrable ability to analyse and interpreted highly complex data, facts or situations to interpreted these and make reasoned and logical deductions, compare a range of options and formulate plans
- Demonstrable ability to plan over short, and medium term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
- Demonstrable ability to provide informative reporting to Senior Management on progress against operational outcomes and associated impact
- Demonstrable ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess options and interpret complex information using problem solving skills
- Excellent data analysis and interpretation skills involving highly complex data, with outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills.
Desirable
- Demonstrable negotiation skills and contract monitoring
Other
Essential
- Personal qualities of integrity, adaptability and motivation
- Possess a confident and positive attitude and be self motivated
- Personal attributes include emotional intelligence, resilience, tenacious and agility and flexibility, able to respond to competing demands as they arise.
- Demonstrable ability to influence and command respect and establish credibility quickly
- Requirement to sit for long periods during meetings maintaining high levels of concentration and interaction
- Requirement to spend significant amounts of time inputting at a keyboard or reviewing computer information via the VDU
- Ability to travel to attend meetings and attend for work at several locations, including home, for the purpose of hybrid working.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant Masters degree or extensive knowledge, skills and experience to equivalent level
- OR
- Specialist communications qualification or equivalent experience and knowledge
- Plus either
- Project Management Qualification or equivalent level of experience
- OR
- Management qualification or equivalent level of on the job experience
- Evidence of continuing personal development
Knowledge/ Understanding
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of relevant systems and procedures
- In depth understanding of policies and practices within required field of work
- An in-depth understanding of health care provision and awareness of current NHS policies and priorities.
- Expertise, underpinned by demonstrable experience, in a range of the following:
- Press relations and PR.
- Reputation management.
- Use of different communications channels and methods.
- Staff engagement
- Utilising digital and social media.
- Appreciation and understanding of equality and diversity legislation and standards
- Experience of working with senior managers within a highly pressurised environment
- Extensive stakeholder management experience
Partnership Working/ Leadership/ Management
Essential
- Can demonstrate partnership working and the understanding of how and when partnerships should be built, navigating and understanding local, regional and national political positions in order to solutions that span across multiple stakeholders
- Responsible for the implementation of the NHS People Promise and ICB Values across functional areas of responsibility.
- Provide effective, inclusive and compassionate leadership across own areas of responsibility, ensuring all voices are heard and creating and nurturing a culture where staff feel safe to speak up
- Champions the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion both within and outside of the organisation
- Challenges within areas of responsibility and escalates appropriately where these principles are at risk of not being upheld
- Role model core behaviours including equity and diversity and maintaining a professional image at all times
- Professional and approachable manner
- Good communicator, with ability to liaise with colleagues at all levels
- Able to persuade and influence in areas of conflict
- Flexible and adaptable to meet deadlines
- Ability to work as part of a team or independently
- Evidence of successfully leading, developing and motivating staff
- Takes personal responsibility for actions and their impact
- Ability to work in a collaborative way across organisational/sector boundaries in order to achieve the highest quality outcomes for patients
- Ability so support strategic thinking in discussions by being aware of the bigger picture
Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience within a communications function in an NHS or similar large, complex organisation
- Experience of leading, managing and delivering significant change projects involving stakeholders
- Experience of holding responsibility for budget/s, budget setting and demonstrable knowledge of financial processes within own service
- Experience of managing incoming and outgoing information requirements, handling correspondence/queries which may be highly complex, sensitive or highly confidential.
- Experience of negotiation with senior stakeholders which may include difficult and controversial issues, presenting complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups
- Experience of working at strategic level, able to recognise direction and implications of policy and the potentially competing priorities/interests.
- Experience of leading, managing, developing, influencing and inspiring staff.
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS/public body
- Experience of devising and implementing effective communications strategies
- Experience of public consultation.
- Experience of working and developing relationships with politicians and/or community groups.
- Experience of co- ordinating and leading communications response in a major incident / following a high profile issue
- Marketing and campaigns experience.
Skills
Essential
- Well developed interpersonal and communication skills with staff at all levels using from the full range of methods as appropriate
- Demonstrable ability to formulate arguments and express them clearly to lay people and to persuade clinicians and senior management over a course of action
- Demonstrable ability to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information where there are barriers to understanding
- Advanced IT skills in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Standard keyboarding skills
- High level of attention to detail
- Prioritisation and organisation skills
- Able to be assertive in negotiation on difficult and controversial issues such as performance and change
- Able to deliver training/briefings/ updates to large groups of staff at all levels
- Able to lead the development of policy and strategy to enhance relevant service
- Able to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues and often to changing timescales.
- Ability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making
- Demonstrates ability to use sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from more senior management when appropriate
- Ability to work effectively between strategic and operational activities where required
- Demonstrable ability to prioritise own work and teams workload considering conflicting priorities and tight deadlines
- Demonstrable ability to analyse and interpreted highly complex data, facts or situations to interpreted these and make reasoned and logical deductions, compare a range of options and formulate plans
- Demonstrable ability to plan over short, and medium term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
- Demonstrable ability to provide informative reporting to Senior Management on progress against operational outcomes and associated impact
- Demonstrable ability to analyse numerical and written data, assess options and interpret complex information using problem solving skills
- Excellent data analysis and interpretation skills involving highly complex data, with outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills.
Desirable
- Demonstrable negotiation skills and contract monitoring
Other
Essential
- Personal qualities of integrity, adaptability and motivation
- Possess a confident and positive attitude and be self motivated
- Personal attributes include emotional intelligence, resilience, tenacious and agility and flexibility, able to respond to competing demands as they arise.
- Demonstrable ability to influence and command respect and establish credibility quickly
- Requirement to sit for long periods during meetings maintaining high levels of concentration and interaction
- Requirement to spend significant amounts of time inputting at a keyboard or reviewing computer information via the VDU
- Ability to travel to attend meetings and attend for work at several locations, including home, for the purpose of hybrid working.
