Communications Officer Bodmin, England
Job description
Communications Officer
Band 5
Thank you for your interest in joining us at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
We pride ourselves in striving to be an employer of choice.
Strategic Themes
Great Care
We will deliver safe, high quality, consistent and personalised care based on best practice. We are working to be a responsive organisation that listens and learns.
Great Organisation
We work to be a green organisation, and our sustainability plan will deliver NHS net zero targets. We will support quality care, research and innovation. All our work will be underpinned by clear and transparent principles and systems.
Great People
We will work together with our staff to create an organisation that supports our collective health and wellbeing. We will attract, retain and develop great people, and embed a caring, open, inclusive and restorative just culture that supports us to deliver quality care.
Great Partner
With our partners we will deliver health care that improves people’s quality of life, prevents ill health and reduces inequalities. We will spend our money wisely to achieve high quality outcomes that matter to local people.
At the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
The successful applicant will be an NHS employee and may therefore have contact with vulnerable service users. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been necessary to take significant steps to protect the health and safety of our staff, service users and those attending our sites. Unless exempt, we encourage and support staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.
Job overview
If you want to be part of a forward thinking, energetic communications team, which helps to promote our culture and support the delivery of outstanding patient care, we want to hear from you.
As part of a small and busy team, the role will be perfect for someone who has great writing skills, is naturally inquisitive, who can seek out a story and has strong organisational skills.
As a key member of the team, you will help us deliver our communication and engagement plans. You will get to travel our beautiful county and the Isles of Scilly managing media opportunities and collecting stories, and sharing the great work which is happening in our Trust. You will be the first point of contact for our media enquiries, will write press releases and be involved in creating ideas and advising colleagues on the best way to communicate.
If you are proactive, creative, and confident in your approach with demonstrable experience, we want you on our team.
Proposed interview date: 24th April 2023
Main duties of the job
The key role or our communications officer is to plan and implement communications projects.
The post holder will commission, write, edit, proof read, co-ordinate internal and external publications, patient leaflets and advice documents; write press releases, articles; organise print and distribution.
The post holder will respond to media enquiries and brief journalists with relevant department leads where necessary. Provide communications, marketing communications and media advice to managers, staff and committees.
Working for our organisation
We’re an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people’s physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.
We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.
Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.
We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.
Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see ‘supporting documents’.
Person specification
Education and qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree level or equivalent qualification in English/ journalism /marketing/ communications/ business
Desirable criteria
- Experience of providing communications support to business in Cornwall
Skills
Essential criteria
- Must be able to work well under pressure and within time constraints to meet deadlines with minimum supervision
- Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Must be accurate and pay attention to detail
- Must be able to build good working relationships with employees and members of the publi
- Must be able to design publications, presentations using advanced IT skills, desk-top publishing.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Experienced and confident in dealing with the media and press
- Must be familiar with PowerPoint and desk top publishing packages. And be able to produce high quality presentations
- Experience in managing corporate social media presence
Personal
Essential criteria
- Must be willing to participate in additional training in relation to the role itself if required or to gain knowledge of the organisation’s services
- Must be enthusiastic and self-motivated
Desirable criteria
- Must be willing to occasionally work unsociable hours to attend events as required
Other
Essential criteria
- Ability to travel independently
At Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust we are proud to prioritise the development of our people. To support this, the following opportunities are available:
- Career conversations and individual development plans for succession planning and talent management
- Protected CPD time for registered staff
- Access to a dedicated central development fund supporting CPD for all staff
- Leadership and Management development programmes
- Coaching and mentoring opportunities
- A full clinical induction programme for operational skills
- Access to a care certificate programme for our band 1-4 clinical staff
- A bespoke and robust preceptorship programme to support newly qualified staff
- Individual professional development programmes
Being part of a successful NHS Foundation Trust brings a portfolio of rewards and benefits for our staff. These include:
- Suite of health and wellbeing initiatives to support our colleagues physical and mental health
- Free access to individual HARP portfolios to support revalidation for nursing staff
- Free DBS checks where required
- Discounts available from retailers, UK hotels and main attractions
- NHS Pension Scheme
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- The Trust reimburses all application costs for staff eligible to apply for EU settlement status.
The Trust reserves the right to close this advert once a sufficient number of applications have been submitted. It is encouraged that you complete the application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process you will be contacted via TRAC.jobs email regarding interview details.
We are committed to diversity and equality of employment including the employment of current and former service users.
If you are successful, you agree to Occupational Health accessing your health records from your current or previous employer to check the status of your inoculations and screening tests. Appointments are subject to full three year satisfactory references therefore please ensure you include correct contact details for your nominated referees including email addresses.
Any general recruitment queries, please contact our recruitment team on 01208 834644
