Job summary
We are looking for communication professionals who want to make a difference through their work and contribute to improved health and well-being for our communities.
Two Senior Communications Officer roles are available.
They will support us in our ambition to shift from a service focused on treating illness, to one focused on preventing ill health, or worsening of ill-health.
You will need to deliver proactive and integrated communication campaigns on a variety of health issues as part of these roles. You will also help manage challenging situations, where good communications is critical. This could range from managing the communications around a local public health risk to supporting with a change in how health services are provided.
We really want to hear from people who can evidence how their communication work has delivered positive outcomes, and have experience of supporting behaviour change.
If this sounds like you, please tell us in your job application how you meet the essential criteria. We would love to hear about your relevant experience and ideas.
Main duties of the job
The role requires an experienced communications professional who can provide leadership within the communications team and advise senior managers within the organisation on their approach to open, transparent, and honest communication, in line with our Duty of Candor.
You will use communications to influence behaviour change that benefits the health of our communities. You will need to provide our internal and external audiences with clear information and creative content, using integrated communication approaches and campaigns. This could include communication on improving health, accessing services, service change, or in a major incident, in line with our Warning and Informing duties.
You will need to be able to demonstrate experience of using varied mechanisms for dialogue with staff, patients, our communities, and stakeholders, and you will need to evaluate this to show outcomes and continuously learn and improve.
You will deliver a programme of content and communication which also recognises and celebrates staff and UHB achievements, which benefit the local population and wider health service.
You will provide a reactive service to respond effectively to what can be complex and sensitive enquiries from staff, journalists and social media users.
About us
Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:
Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;
Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;
48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;
Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services; Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh isdesirablefor this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 23/07/24
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.
Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh isdesirablefor this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 23/07/24
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Educated to degree level in relevant field (public relations, communications, media or marketing) or equivalent qualification or experience of working at this level.
- Knowledge of communication approaches and delivery obtained through either postgraduate level education or professional CPD in relevant field, or evidenced experience working at this level.
- Specialist knowledge and experience of communication in fields of internal communications, media communications, or digital communications.
- Qualification or demonstrative knowledge of the legislation governing media, and slander/ libel laws for publishers. Understanding of Editor's Code of Conduct and the Chartered Institute of Public Relation's professional code of conduct and a willingness to act within accordance of them
- Demonstrable continued professional development.
Desirable
- Certified member of Chartered Institute of Public Relations or Chartered Institute of Marketing.
- Working knowledge of media relationship systems and website content management system
- Understanding of Welsh legislation and WG delegated powers, particularly within health, and of political environment within Wales.
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in a communications team or evidence of leading communication campaigns across internal, external, and digital channels, including using social media, with a proven track record.
- o Practise or equivalent knowledge of using communications as an enabler of behavioural change.
- Experience of creating basic graphic design to help communicate messages.
- Experience in taking basic photos, video shooting and editing.
- Experience of line management of staff.
Desirable
- Evidenced ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries in an atmosphere of change/ complex structures and partnership working.
- Experience of working with staff and journalists in a responsive role for the NHS or another large public sector organisation.
Skills and attributes
Essential
- Strong communication and influencing skills - both written and oral - to communicate and engage positively with leading clinicians and professionals, wider staff, the public and other internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to convey complex information accurately, clearly, and concisely, to wide range of audiences and tailored to their needs.
- Evidenced ability to meet deadlines and manage workload effectively.
- Ability to remain calm in charged emotional and challenging circumstances (e.g. public meetings with people potentially opposed to the organisation and/or our actions).
Desirable
- Higher levels of skills in filming, graphic design, or marketing
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Educated to degree level in relevant field (public relations, communications, media or marketing) or equivalent qualification or experience of working at this level.
- Knowledge of communication approaches and delivery obtained through either postgraduate level education or professional CPD in relevant field, or evidenced experience working at this level.
- Specialist knowledge and experience of communication in fields of internal communications, media communications, or digital communications.
- Qualification or demonstrative knowledge of the legislation governing media, and slander/ libel laws for publishers. Understanding of Editor's Code of Conduct and the Chartered Institute of Public Relation's professional code of conduct and a willingness to act within accordance of them
- Demonstrable continued professional development.
Desirable
- Certified member of Chartered Institute of Public Relations or Chartered Institute of Marketing.
- Working knowledge of media relationship systems and website content management system
- Understanding of Welsh legislation and WG delegated powers, particularly within health, and of political environment within Wales.
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in a communications team or evidence of leading communication campaigns across internal, external, and digital channels, including using social media, with a proven track record.
- o Practise or equivalent knowledge of using communications as an enabler of behavioural change.
- Experience of creating basic graphic design to help communicate messages.
- Experience in taking basic photos, video shooting and editing.
- Experience of line management of staff.
Desirable
- Evidenced ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries in an atmosphere of change/ complex structures and partnership working.
- Experience of working with staff and journalists in a responsive role for the NHS or another large public sector organisation.
Skills and attributes
Essential
- Strong communication and influencing skills - both written and oral - to communicate and engage positively with leading clinicians and professionals, wider staff, the public and other internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to convey complex information accurately, clearly, and concisely, to wide range of audiences and tailored to their needs.
- Evidenced ability to meet deadlines and manage workload effectively.
- Ability to remain calm in charged emotional and challenging circumstances (e.g. public meetings with people potentially opposed to the organisation and/or our actions).
Desirable
- Higher levels of skills in filming, graphic design, or marketing
- Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh.
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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
Hywel Dda University Health Board
Address
Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire - Hybrid home and office working
TBC
SA31 3BB
Employer's website
https://hduhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)
