Job summary
We are recruiting for a Communications Officer based at our Bedford Hospital site, with occasional travel to our Luton & Dunstable site.
If you can balance staff communications and engagement, deliver effective campaigns, and develop compelling online content, this could be the ideal role for you.
This position offers an excellent opportunity for someone with the right skills, experience and drive to design and deliver communications and marketing initiatives that help position Bedfordshire Hospitals as the NHS Trust of choice for patients across Bedfordshire and beyond.
We welcome applications from candidates with experience in stakeholder engagement, marketing, communications, digital media or journalism. You will be an exceptional written and verbal communicator, highly organised, and committed to building a career in communications. Strong initiative, administrative capability and organisational skills are essential.
This is a unique chance to shape and influence a developing communications agenda, lead on internal communications, stakeholder relations and community engagement, and make a meaningful contribution to the Trust's vision and future plans.
This is a part time vacancy, and we can be flexible with how the hours can be worked. However, we would also consider applicants who want to work full time.
Main duties of the job
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Manage the communications inbox, responding promptly to staff and external enquiries.
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Source, write and edit content for the Trust's staff magazine, and support the production of material for the members' magazine.
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Lead or advise on the planning and delivery of promotional events, including liaison with stakeholders and the media.
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Interpret and present complex information in clear, accessible formats for press releases, newsletters, advertisements, website content and other materials, ensuring positive representation of the Trust.
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Provide guidance to managers and departments on producing patient information materials, including leaflets and other publications.
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Update and maintain content across the Trust's internet and intranet sites.
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Provide communications support to key priority projects such as digitisation, redevelopment and merger integration.
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Contribute to the development of the Trust's communications and marketing strategies, campaigns and plans.
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Co-ordinate photography and photo opportunities, and support the team with filming and interview arrangements.
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Work to tight deadlines, manage competing priorities and handle an unpredictable workload effectively
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities
- Manage the communications inbox, responding to staff and external enquiries
- Source, write and edit the Trusts staff magazine and assist with producing material for the members magazine;
- Lead or advise on the planning of promotional events including liaison with stakeholders and the media;
- Understand and present often complex information in more accessible forms in the preparation of press releases, newsletters, advertisements, web site content etc in such a way as to maximise positive coverage of the Trust;
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities
- Manage the communications inbox, responding to staff and external enquiries
- Source, write and edit the Trusts staff magazine and assist with producing material for the members magazine;
- Lead or advise on the planning of promotional events including liaison with stakeholders and the media;
- Understand and present often complex information in more accessible forms in the preparation of press releases, newsletters, advertisements, web site content etc in such a way as to maximise positive coverage of the Trust;
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in relevant subject area (e.g. Communications, marketing, media etc..) or equivalent qualification, or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Relevant postgraduate or industry-recognised qualification (CIM/ CIPR)
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of managing digital content and development
- Experience of using Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Experience of managing content for social media
- Experience within corporate communications
- Experience of working across Departments/ organisations to deliver projects and plans
- Experience of working in a politically sensitive environment
- Experience of working in a high pressure environment
- Experience of event organisation and management
Desirable
- Experience working within NHS Communications
- Experience of developing new websites and intranets
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of principles of media relations work
- Competent in working across multiple teams and projects
- Competent in researching and writing materials for use in corporate communications channels
Desirable
- Advanced IT skills, especially Adobe design, video editing sites, Microsoft packages including Word, PowerPoint and Excel
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in relevant subject area (e.g. Communications, marketing, media etc..) or equivalent qualification, or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Relevant postgraduate or industry-recognised qualification (CIM/ CIPR)
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of managing digital content and development
- Experience of using Content Management Systems (CMS)
- Experience of managing content for social media
- Experience within corporate communications
- Experience of working across Departments/ organisations to deliver projects and plans
- Experience of working in a politically sensitive environment
- Experience of working in a high pressure environment
- Experience of event organisation and management
Desirable
- Experience working within NHS Communications
- Experience of developing new websites and intranets
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of principles of media relations work
- Competent in working across multiple teams and projects
- Competent in researching and writing materials for use in corporate communications channels
Desirable
- Advanced IT skills, especially Adobe design, video editing sites, Microsoft packages including Word, PowerPoint and Excel
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).
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