NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit

Senior Communications and Engagement Manager

This job is now closed

Job summary

Are you an enthusiastic communications and engagement professional looking for a challenging new role? Do you want to be a key part of a dynamic team working at the heart of a high-profile organisation? Are you passionate about communicating the work of the NHS in relation to the care and support it provides for those in the criminal justice system and for those who have been sexually assaulted or abused?

London with other bases considered.

Occasional national travel with a mix of home and office working.

Fixed term until 31/03/23

Main duties of the job

As Senior Communications and Engagement Manager, you will work as part of the NHS England and NHS Improvement national Health and Justice, Armed Forces and Sexual Assault Services Commissioning team to support the delivery of a high quality communications and engagement service. This will involve developing and delivering a range of communications and engagement plans to inform the commissioning of services and raise awareness of them across the NHS and externally.

This is a busy role where you will be expected to have a hands-on approach and work under pressure at times. You will need to be able to manage multiple priorities, work well independently and have experience of delivering targeted communications and engagement plans to support organisational priorities. Creativity and the ability to convey complex messages in an engaging, simple way are essential. You will also need to be passionate about championing the voice of patients, service users, families and carers and involving them in the commissioning of services and development of communications and engagement activity.

This role requires an enthusiastic candidate with excellent communications and engagement skills, as well as experience of working with a broad range of stakeholders and dealing with highly political and sensitive areas. In return we can offer a stimulating environment and a highly varied role.

About us

The Health and Justice, Armed Forces Health and Sexual Assault services teams are responsible for the commissioning of specialised healthcare services for people in prisons, immigration removal centres, the children and young people secure estate, sexual assault referral centres (SARCs); and for serving members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families. The teams are split across the regions for operational delivery of services and supported by a national commissioning function.

The business and corporate team for Health and Justice, Armed Forces Health and Sexual Assault services is responsible for ensuring the governance and assurance structures and process are robust and enablers for commissioners to deliver services for our patients. The team is also responsible for ensuring financial balance and corporate financial instructions are adhered to supporting the wider team in the appropriate actions.

The team works across all of NHS England and NHS Improvement's regional and central support teams responsible for the commissioning of Health and Justice, Armed Forces Health and Sexual Assault services and links into the wider NHS England and NHS Improvement areas including mental health, health inequalities and specialised commissioning.

Date posted

22 December 2021

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£45,753 to £51,668 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

13 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

880-3747436

Job locations

London with other bases considered.

london

SE1 6LH

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will:

Provide expert communications and engagement advice to the Health and Justice and Sexual Assault Services teams on all aspects of their business and development and delivery associated strategies and plans.
Working with policy and communications colleagues at the DHSC, MOJ, Home Office, Youth Custody Service and other key stakeholder organisations to brief on and align work.
Support the commissioning of services through development and delivery of associated engagement and consultation plans, ensuring the involvement of patients and public as part of our statutory duties. As part of this, work with patient and public voice groups to support their involvement throughout the commissioning cycle.
Producing a broad range of written communications to the highest standard; using expertise and experience to identify the right channels and styles for specific audiences.
Developing communications for specific projects/campaigns and managing their effective implementation. As part of this, provide expertise in best practice production methodologies and guide the development of highly effective communication outputs. This will include overseeing and drafting content, such as case studies, blogs, news articles, patient information, plans, web copy, infographics and a monthly stakeholder brief, as well as event management.
Supporting colleagues and working across the team and with regional commissioning and communications teams, as well as with the central media, briefings and strategic communications teams to ensure work is joined up and aligned to organisational priorities.
Working with internal teams and Government departments and partners to gather information and intelligence to draft and ensure effective responses to media and parliamentary requests and briefings.
Maintaining excellent contacts and relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, includer Government departments, the voluntary sector, patient and public voice groups, patients and families.
Deputising for the Head of Communications and Engagement Health and Justice, Armed Forces and Sexual Assault Services.
Line management and development of the communications and engagement officer.
Using informed judgement and insight to identify communication opportunities and own these through concept development, production, delivery, and evaluation.
Ensuring spokespeople are engaged to support any activities, are appropriately briefed, and have a comprehensive understanding of the current climate and issues in the given field and beyond.
Identifying internal and external risks at an organisational, directorate, and team level and providing insight based mitigation strategies.
Maintaining the importance of evaluation and ensuring that best-practice and lessons learned are captured, shared, and embedded in future activities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will:

Provide expert communications and engagement advice to the Health and Justice and Sexual Assault Services teams on all aspects of their business and development and delivery associated strategies and plans.
Working with policy and communications colleagues at the DHSC, MOJ, Home Office, Youth Custody Service and other key stakeholder organisations to brief on and align work.
Support the commissioning of services through development and delivery of associated engagement and consultation plans, ensuring the involvement of patients and public as part of our statutory duties. As part of this, work with patient and public voice groups to support their involvement throughout the commissioning cycle.
Producing a broad range of written communications to the highest standard; using expertise and experience to identify the right channels and styles for specific audiences.
Developing communications for specific projects/campaigns and managing their effective implementation. As part of this, provide expertise in best practice production methodologies and guide the development of highly effective communication outputs. This will include overseeing and drafting content, such as case studies, blogs, news articles, patient information, plans, web copy, infographics and a monthly stakeholder brief, as well as event management.
Supporting colleagues and working across the team and with regional commissioning and communications teams, as well as with the central media, briefings and strategic communications teams to ensure work is joined up and aligned to organisational priorities.
Working with internal teams and Government departments and partners to gather information and intelligence to draft and ensure effective responses to media and parliamentary requests and briefings.
Maintaining excellent contacts and relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, includer Government departments, the voluntary sector, patient and public voice groups, patients and families.
Deputising for the Head of Communications and Engagement Health and Justice, Armed Forces and Sexual Assault Services.
Line management and development of the communications and engagement officer.
Using informed judgement and insight to identify communication opportunities and own these through concept development, production, delivery, and evaluation.
Ensuring spokespeople are engaged to support any activities, are appropriately briefed, and have a comprehensive understanding of the current climate and issues in the given field and beyond.
Identifying internal and external risks at an organisational, directorate, and team level and providing insight based mitigation strategies.
Maintaining the importance of evaluation and ensuring that best-practice and lessons learned are captured, shared, and embedded in future activities.

Person Specification

Education/training

Essential

Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
Member of relevant professional body

Experience

Essential

Subject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to communications
Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
Demonstrable experience producing communications outputs
Experience of delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams/individuals
Strong experience of using research, insight and analytics data to inform the development of communications outputs
Experience coaching and directing senior executive members

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.

Person Specification

Education/training

Essential

Educated to degree level or equivalent experience
Member of relevant professional body

Experience

Essential

Subject matter expertise across a number of key areas relating to communications
Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development
Demonstrable experience producing communications outputs
Experience of delivering against competing priorities and deadlines while also directing the work of teams/individuals
Strong experience of using research, insight and analytics data to inform the development of communications outputs
Experience coaching and directing senior executive members

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
Takes decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

Certificate of Sponsorship

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit

Address

London with other bases considered.

london

SE1 6LH

Employer's website

https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Arden and Greater East Midlands Commissioning Support Unit

Address

London with other bases considered.

london

SE1 6LH

Employer's website

https://www.ardengemcsu.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)