Recent events have shown how vitally important communicating clearly and effectively with patients, staff and members of the public is when it comes to the NHS. Never before has the opportunity been so great to really make a mark and share our messages with the people who need to hear them the most.

If you're a passionate, creative and experienced communications professional, with an eye for a good story and the ability to communicate complex topics in a simple and engaging way - we have just the job for you.

We have an exciting opportunity to join a small but expanding communications team, celebrating mental health, learning disability and autism services in Lincolnshire.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential too, as is the ability to work across the organisation at all levels - bringing staff with you and helping them to share more of the good work they do every single day.

No two days are ever the same in the NHS so being able to adapt is key. You will often need to work with complex briefs and tight deadlines, so a close attention to detail is imperative.

Sound like someone you know? Then come help us drive excellent communications every day.

For an informal discussion please call Jo Walker, Head of Communications on 07966 969907 or email joanna.walker2@nhs.net.

Main duties of the job

The role is instrumental in keeping staff, patients and the public up-to-date with all of the great things happening within the Trust. Of course you'll have an excellent standard of written work, be used to liaising closely and working proactively with local media and key stakeholders, along with experience of writing and delivering communications project plans.

The post-holder will deliver a professional communications service to Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT).

To provide expertise on communication with a range of different audiences and to develop effective communication channels with stakeholders, such as Trust members and governors, service users and carers, GPs, other agencies and the voluntary sector.

To undertake evaluation of the Trust's communications mechanisms and ensure continuous improvement.

About us

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health services and a number of learning disability, autism and social care services in the county of Lincolnshire. Employing around 2,800 staff, and serving a population of over 766,000, our people lie at the heart of everything we do.

You could be part of a Trust rated by staff as one of the best mental health and learning disability trusts in England, in an area heralded as a fantastic place to live and work. We firmly believe the key to high quality care is a contented workforce. This is reflected in our Care Quality Commission rating of 'outstanding' for well-led and 'good' overall. In the most recent National NHS Staff Survey, our staff rated us as the number one trust nationally for staff morale and one of the top scoring NHS Trusts in the Midlands for being compassionate and inclusive. We're really proud of this!

We are also leading the way in transforming care, with multi-million-pound transformation of patient environments and radical redesign of community services.

This is the time to join and help redesign our services of the future. We offer options for flexible working and provide a wide range of training and promotion opportunities in all professions. We support and celebrate diversity, have active staff networks groups and are always looking at what more we can do to support our staff.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Support the Head of Communications to ensure that the Trusts communications systems are consistent with our vision, values and strategic objectives promoting and enhancing the reputation of the Trust.

Provide advice to Trust managers and staff on appropriate communication techniques and how to communicate high impact issues, ensuring that confidential and sensitive information is handled effectively and appropriately.

Deal with journalists, including on sensitive and confidential issues, to ensure they are responded to appropriately.

Write, edit, proof-read and coordinate publications, including weekly staff e-newsletter (weekly word), members magazine Better Together and team brief key messages. Ensure clear layout of content, appropriate use of corporate branding and design guidelines.

Support the Trusts development and use of digital and social media to communicate with all audiences.

Produce and publish material for the LPFT website, intranet and social media and ensure accessible information standards are met and adhered to.

Support and provide advice to Trust services on transformational change projects. Write and deliver clear communications plans to effectively communicate change in a timely and effective manner internally and externally.

Provide communication lead for any forthcoming Care Quality Commission visits, quality improvements and supporting communication activity.

Co-ordinate events, photo calls, high-profile visits such as MP/ministerial visits.

Assist in the development and implementation of communication standards for the Trust and help to ensure the meeting and maintaining of those standards ensuring that any communications follow corporate brand guidelines.

Coordinate campaigns within the Trust, delivering both internal initiatives and tailoring national campaigns.

Support the communications team and other clinical teams with promoting and coordinating events i.e. conferences and annual staff excellence awards.

Assist with the design and print of patient and carer information, including editing copy to improve readability (Plain English) and setting in Trust template designs. Where required procure professional design and print.

Film and edit internal video blogs and short films for social media using camcorder (or ipad) and appropriate video editing software. Procure the services of professional video production where required.

Managing the Trusts print catalogue and associated procurement and invoicing.

Support clinical teams to write and submit compelling awards submissions for local, regional and national awards.

Supervise and support junior members of the team on a day to day basis.

May be required to work out of core office hours to attend or assist with evening or weekend meetings and events when necessary.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Writing and presentation skills, with the ability to present sensitive items to staff and media
• Excellent IT skills, including all Microsoft office programmes
• Excellent influencing, negotiating and persuasive skills
• Excellent presentation skills
• Able to work to tight deadlines and under pressure
• Media handling knowledge and experience
• Management/supervisory skills and experience
• Social media management
• Desktop publishing skills
• Website content management systems

Desirable

• Ability to motivate and inspire
• Resilience
• Ability to drive projects
• Use of Adobe Creative Cloud products
• Database skills
• Video production and editing

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level in relevant communications, marketing or other relevant subject (or relevant experience)
• Professional qualification in communications, public relations or marketing (or relevant experience).

Desirable

• Evidence of continued professional development

Experience

Essential

• Relevant work experience in a complex organisation.
• Experience of dealing effectively and professionally with a wide range of issues, including highly complex, sensitive information where cooperation and agreement are required.
• Knowledge of communications, public relations, journalism and marketing communications techniques and approaches
• Proven track record of developing and implementing effective communications plans and tracking and managing project delivery and evaluation.

Desirable

• Working in the NHS or other complex environment
• Project management skills.
• Event management.

Special Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel to locations across the county without the use of public transport.

Desirable

• Knowledge of key issues facing the NHS

Employer details

Employer name

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Communications Team

Trust Headquarters, St George's, Long Leys Road

Lincoln

LN1 1FS

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

274-10832-COR