Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

EPR Communications Manager

The closing date is 22 December 2025

Job summary

EPR Communications Manager

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is embarking on its next phase of digital development with the implementation of its new electronic patient record (EPR). The EPR will bring about a transformation to the way the Trust provides care to patients and the programme needs forward-thinkers to join the team.

The EPR Communications Manager will play a key role in the implementation and optimisation of the EPR. Engaging with all stakeholders and delivering high-quality, strategic communications will be vital to the programme's success.

You will have experience of programme communications and the ability to work autonomously, developing and delivering successful communications strategies and producing the full range of communications needed. This is a role for someone who enjoys outputs, who likes to see their work making a difference, who can see the bigger picture and who is able to hit the ground running.

For more information please contact Katie Lister katie.lister2@nhs.net 01535 294541.

Main duties of the job

The Communications Manager will lead the development and delivery of internal and external communications for Airedale NHS Foundation Trust's Electronic Patient Record (EPR) programme.

This programme communications role is pivotal in ensuring that all stakeholders - including clinical and non-clinical staff, patients, and partners - are informed, engaged, and supported throughout the lifecycle of the EPR implementation.

About us

We are delighted to offer a wide range of benefits to employees including:

  • Cycle to Work
  • Travel Scheme
  • Childcare Vouchers with Salary Sacrifice
  • Onsite Nursery
  • Buying and Selling Annual Leave
  • Car Leasing
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Employee Health and Wellbeing
  • Extensive Reward Scheme
  • Counselling Service
  • Financial packages including Vivup and Wagestream
  • Staff Networks, Enable, Rainbow, Gender, Race Equality Ecoaware & Admin Network.

Our values:

We understand that it's down to the hard work, effort and dedication of our staff that makes a difference for our patients. Our people really do make our Airedale experience - we take pride in fostering a friendly, effective and caring work environment. Our values are part of our DNA, which are:

  • Committed to Quality of Care
  • Compassion
  • Working together for patients
  • Improving Lives
  • Everyone Counts
  • Respect and Dignity

Got questions before you apply, please contact the recruiting manager to find out more.

Details

Date posted

05 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

423-7610850

Job locations

Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy for the EPR programme, aligned to the Trusts wider strategy, covering the full gamut of internal and external communications.

Create clear, accessible, and engaging content to explain the purpose, benefits, and progress of the EPR programme.

Work closely with programme leads, IT, clinical teams, the Trusts communications team, communications colleagues at Bradford teaching Hospitals NHS FT and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS FT, and external suppliers to manage and coordinate messaging and updates.

Develop a stakeholder management plan that facilitates two-way communication.

Produce content for MP and Ministerial briefings, Overview and Scrutiny Committee and regulatory bodies as required.

Monitor and manage with support from subject matter experts and workstream leads - programme feedback mechanisms; in particular the EPR programme email inbox.

Develop a responsive approach to requests for communications support, helping workstream leads to create key messages and communications materials to support them to effectively communicate with staff and stakeholders.

Establish KPIs and methods for monitoring the effectiveness of communications activities, using the results to inform and adapt future strategies, contributing to the existing reporting mechanisms.

Provide expert advice to senior leaders on communications risks and opportunities.

Work with the programme team and other communications colleagues to provide coordinated and comprehensive communications support before, during and after the critical go-live period.

Work with colleagues to support the delivery of key events and briefings throughout the programme, developing materials, dealing with event coordination and ensuring participants are fully informed.

Appropriately manage confidential, complex and sensitive information, exercising discretion and upholding high professional and ethical standards at all times.

Please refer to attached Full Job Description & Person Specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy for the EPR programme, aligned to the Trusts wider strategy, covering the full gamut of internal and external communications.

Create clear, accessible, and engaging content to explain the purpose, benefits, and progress of the EPR programme.

Work closely with programme leads, IT, clinical teams, the Trusts communications team, communications colleagues at Bradford teaching Hospitals NHS FT and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS FT, and external suppliers to manage and coordinate messaging and updates.

Develop a stakeholder management plan that facilitates two-way communication.

Produce content for MP and Ministerial briefings, Overview and Scrutiny Committee and regulatory bodies as required.

Monitor and manage with support from subject matter experts and workstream leads - programme feedback mechanisms; in particular the EPR programme email inbox.

Develop a responsive approach to requests for communications support, helping workstream leads to create key messages and communications materials to support them to effectively communicate with staff and stakeholders.

Establish KPIs and methods for monitoring the effectiveness of communications activities, using the results to inform and adapt future strategies, contributing to the existing reporting mechanisms.

Provide expert advice to senior leaders on communications risks and opportunities.

Work with the programme team and other communications colleagues to provide coordinated and comprehensive communications support before, during and after the critical go-live period.

Work with colleagues to support the delivery of key events and briefings throughout the programme, developing materials, dealing with event coordination and ensuring participants are fully informed.

Appropriately manage confidential, complex and sensitive information, exercising discretion and upholding high professional and ethical standards at all times.

Please refer to attached Full Job Description & Person Specification.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to master's level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in communications

Desirable

  • Project management qualification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Expert knowledge of communications tools and techniques, including PR and media relations management.
  • Knowledge of digital communications tools and techniques.
  • Knowledge of internal communications tools and techniques.

Desirable

  • Understanding of digital and technical subjects

Experience

Essential

  • Proven experience of managing successful communications for large-scale change programmes.
  • Experience of high-profile reputation management, including strategic stakeholder and media management.
  • Experience of using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods/techniques to analyse, evaluate and enhance communications.
  • Experience of managing confidential, complex and sensitive information.
  • Experience of managing budgets and resources
  • Expert knowledge and awareness of communications tools and techniques, and digital and social media developments
  • Experience of managing confidential, complex and sensitive information

Desirable

  • Experience within the NHS/civil service/public sector
  • Experience of communicating digital/technological developments

Skills

Essential

  • Expert written communications skills and editorial judgement to ensure high-quality, well-articulated and compelling content for a range of audiences.
  • Advanced relationship building and influencing skills at all levels.
  • Excellent organisational, planning and project management skills.
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities under pressure.

Desirable

  • Advanced IT skills including infographics, editing software, AI and the MS suite including Sway.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to master's level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in communications

Desirable

  • Project management qualification

Knowledge

Essential

  • Expert knowledge of communications tools and techniques, including PR and media relations management.
  • Knowledge of digital communications tools and techniques.
  • Knowledge of internal communications tools and techniques.

Desirable

  • Understanding of digital and technical subjects

Experience

Essential

  • Proven experience of managing successful communications for large-scale change programmes.
  • Experience of high-profile reputation management, including strategic stakeholder and media management.
  • Experience of using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods/techniques to analyse, evaluate and enhance communications.
  • Experience of managing confidential, complex and sensitive information.
  • Experience of managing budgets and resources
  • Expert knowledge and awareness of communications tools and techniques, and digital and social media developments
  • Experience of managing confidential, complex and sensitive information

Desirable

  • Experience within the NHS/civil service/public sector
  • Experience of communicating digital/technological developments

Skills

Essential

  • Expert written communications skills and editorial judgement to ensure high-quality, well-articulated and compelling content for a range of audiences.
  • Advanced relationship building and influencing skills at all levels.
  • Excellent organisational, planning and project management skills.
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities under pressure.

Desirable

  • Advanced IT skills including infographics, editing software, AI and the MS suite including Sway.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD


Employer's website

https://www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD


Employer's website

https://www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Communications

Katie Lister

katie.lister2@nhs.net

01535294544

Details

Date posted

05 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

423-7610850

Job locations

Airedale General Hospital

Skipton Road

Steeton

BD20 6TD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)