Transforming Care Digitally - Communications Lead

This post is fixed term for up to 12 months.

Working within the Communications Team but with close liaison with the Digital Services team, the Communications Specialist will ensure the Trust has effective communications processes in place for digital projects, which actively support its strategic objectives, its internal management and relationships with all stakeholders. This will include project managing, producing and publishing high quality communication materials for internal and external purposes on digital projects. They will provide hands on support to deliver appropriate communications to all relevant audiences and use a content driven approach across multiple and integrated channels.

Communications, Engagement and Digital Support

• Prepare clear, engaging copy for a range of internal communications including staff bulletins, posters, newsletters, intranet content, digital screensavers and campaign materials, ensuring consistency with Trust messaging and priorities.
• Regularly review, update and improve intranet content relating to digital projects, working with project teams to ensure information remains accurate, accessible and up to date.
• Organise and support stakeholder engagement sessions linked to digital initiatives, including planning, promotion, development of supporting materials and follow up activity.
• Produce eye catching and accessible materials to keep colleagues informed of digital project progress and encourage feedback, questions and suggestions.
• Work with internal stakeholders to plan and deliver engaging staff events, supporting agenda development, logistics, communications and on the day delivery.
• Attend meetings and events as required, providing communications support and producing clear, timely briefings for stakeholders.
• Collect and analyse feedback from engagement activities and events, using learning to improve future communication and event planning.
• Write and produce information leaflets, posters, briefings and other materials to support internal communication projects.

We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services over 55 sites and within people's homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust.

Annual staff surveys, regular Pulse surveys and other engagement opportunities provide our people with lots of opportunity to tell us about their experiences of working with us.  In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views.  It was great to hear that:

• 72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, ranking us 1st for Provider Trusts in the South West region on this question.
• 76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services if a friend or relative needed treatment, also ranking us 1st in the South West region.
• 81% said that care of patients and service users is the Trust's priority, compared with an average in comparable NHS Trusts in England of 64%.

 This high-level overview shows we are in a healthy position, with higher scores than average for comparable organisations, alongside a great response rate, indicating good staff engagement.  However, we also know we have plenty of room for improvement in many areas. To that end, we continue to prioritise and invest in our commitment to genuinely becoming a Great Place to Work with consistent top-quartile performance in the annual staff survey and Pulse surveys.

The post holder will:

Produce and coordinate communication activities including e-flyers, newsletters, and material for digital channels

Coordinate events, including engagement sessions and workshops

Work in partnership with colleagues to advise, influence and support them on communications and engagement issues as required. This will include writing communication plans and projects, and advising on reactive, sensitive and high-profile issues

Support the digital services team to ensure projects are planned, managed and delivered effectively using a range of media, including the production of informative films

Initiate opportunities for internal awareness including the development of articles for newsletters and intranet copy

Analyse complex facts or situations, comparing options and evaluating the best approach to deal with technical, clinical or sensitive issues

Ensure all Trust information meets NHS corporate identity guidelines and the Trust's own style guide.

Monitor, and evaluate communication activities, providing regular updates and recommendations

Help the team(s) fulfil objectives and promote good relations with all stakeholders both internal and external

Contribute new ideas and use appropriate resources to deliver and manage engaging content for multiple projects

Manage ad hoc communications campaigns for Trust digital projects making sure that they are visible both within and outside of the organisation as appropriate.

DIMENSIONS

The Communications Team's main role is to lead how the Trust interacts with our community and how we communicate with patients, staff and other interested groups, such as the media and local politicians. The Digital Services team provides all of the IT systems colleagues need to perform their roles, including clinical systems.

Our main areas of work for communications include:

managing the reputation of the organisation

developing, implementing and evaluating communications strategies

ensuring effective two-way internal communications

planning proactive communications

responsibility for the organisation's intranet, website, and associated websites

managing the Trust's social media channels

co-ordination of printing/advertising/surveys

co-ordinating the appearance of all Trust printed and electronic materials

producing high quality information for service users, carers and other audiences

managing the Trust and NHS brand identity

planning and support of various events

managing membership and communicating with members of our Trust

social marketing campaigns

Providing professional, timely and supportive communications advice to our stakeholder