Job summary
Are you passionate about celebrating our NHS and staff and improving the health of local people? Can you take information and turn it into a story that captures the interest of our communities?
We are recruiting a Communications Assistant to help Hywel Dda University Health Board achieve its vision of a happier, healthier mid and west Wales.
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is able to work flexibly and in a high paced environment, with the ability and desire to get 'out and about' across our three counties. You will be an excellent communicator with experience in writing, marketing or public relations and practical skills to reach different audiences on multiple platforms.
Main duties of the job
The role will provide an opportunity to work as part of a busy communications team, supporting all aspects of local NHS delivery in our communities, health centres, hospitals and back office environments.
This will involve staff facing communications, health campaigns, planned and reactive work with the media, and working with partners to achieve common goals.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply
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 12,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services to almost 400,000 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.
Five community hospitals: Amman Valley Hospital and Llandovery Hospital in Carmarthenshire, Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire.
Two integrated care centres (Aberaeron and Cardigan, Ceredigion).
Community facilities, including:
48 General Practices (GP surgeries), 49 Dental Practices, 98 Community Pharmacies (chemists), 44 General Ophthalmic Practices (including eye health and low vision services), 38 sites providing mental health and learning disability services, care within your own homes
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:
- Work autonomously within sign-off policies and frameworks as part of a reactive communications team within office hours. Inform and suggest appropriate communication approaches and brief staff and journalists, accordingly, using agreed key messages
- Issuing proactive staff and public communication, monitoring and responding to media and social media enquiries and stories in an open and honest way, often on sensitive and potentially contentious issues.
- Contribute to a forward look plan of proactive work/content according to annual communications plan, which delivers on organisational objectives.
- Suggest, plan, deliver, assess and adapt (within team policies and procedures) new or different communication mechanisms for continuous dialogue with staff and the local population.
- Use a full range of communication methods, depending on a given situation, to target audiences and ensure effective two-way communication, including writing content, taking basic photos, planning, shooting and editing basic videos, and basic graphic design for promotional materials.
- Contribute ideas and deliver content for communication plans as outlined in the teams annual plan.
- Support editorial, design and proof reading for key organisational publications and other promotional materials.
- Work in accordance with Crisis Response Communications, and follow that strategy and any guidance within, in the event of an incident.
The 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 is desirable for 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 19/12/2024.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents:
- Work autonomously within sign-off policies and frameworks as part of a reactive communications team within office hours. Inform and suggest appropriate communication approaches and brief staff and journalists, accordingly, using agreed key messages
- Issuing proactive staff and public communication, monitoring and responding to media and social media enquiries and stories in an open and honest way, often on sensitive and potentially contentious issues.
- Contribute to a forward look plan of proactive work/content according to annual communications plan, which delivers on organisational objectives.
- Suggest, plan, deliver, assess and adapt (within team policies and procedures) new or different communication mechanisms for continuous dialogue with staff and the local population.
- Use a full range of communication methods, depending on a given situation, to target audiences and ensure effective two-way communication, including writing content, taking basic photos, planning, shooting and editing basic videos, and basic graphic design for promotional materials.
- Contribute ideas and deliver content for communication plans as outlined in the teams annual plan.
- Support editorial, design and proof reading for key organisational publications and other promotional materials.
- Work in accordance with Crisis Response Communications, and follow that strategy and any guidance within, in the event of an incident.
The 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 is desirable for 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 19/12/2024.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Educated to diploma level or equivalent knowledge and experience in the communication field (communications, public relations, journalism, digital communications)
- Knowledge of tools and techniques of traditional and new media
- Qualification or demonstrative knowledge of the legislation governing media and publishers (slander/libel, copyright, accessibility)
- Good knowledge of the NHS in Wales
Desirable
- Degree in communications field
- Understanding of Editor's Code of Conduct and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations professional code of conduct
- Understanding of local and national politics
Experience
Essential
- Experience as part of a communications team delivering campaigns.
- Experience of creating excellent communication content for different audiences and using different mechanisms and platforms
Desirable
- Experience of working with journalists
- Experience of working in or with public sector
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel frequently and in a timely manner between sites across the three counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, and occasionally elsewhere in Wales.
- Flexible approach to needs of the service, including willingness to work outside of normal working hours when required (evening and weekends).
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Educated to diploma level or equivalent knowledge and experience in the communication field (communications, public relations, journalism, digital communications)
- Knowledge of tools and techniques of traditional and new media
- Qualification or demonstrative knowledge of the legislation governing media and publishers (slander/libel, copyright, accessibility)
- Good knowledge of the NHS in Wales
Desirable
- Degree in communications field
- Understanding of Editor's Code of Conduct and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations professional code of conduct
- Understanding of local and national politics
Experience
Essential
- Experience as part of a communications team delivering campaigns.
- Experience of creating excellent communication content for different audiences and using different mechanisms and platforms
Desirable
- Experience of working with journalists
- Experience of working in or with public sector
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel frequently and in a timely manner between sites across the three counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, and occasionally elsewhere in Wales.
- Flexible approach to needs of the service, including willingness to work outside of normal working hours when required (evening and weekends).
Desirable
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, Pembrokeshire to be confirmed with candidate
To be confirmed
To be confirmed
SA31 3BB
Employer's website
https://hduhb.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)
