Job summary
Do you want to join an exciting transformational programme at an award-winning mental health, learning disability and community trust?
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust's plans to redevelop the acute wards in its main mental health hospital that serves communities across Bradford District & Craven.
You'll be joining a multi-disciplinary redevelopment team, that combines clinical & design expertise, construction/project management excellence, and specialist roles. It works in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with responsibility for the phased planning, design and redevelopment/ construction of Lynfield Mount Hospital's acute wards over three years.
We are looking for a Communication and Involvement Officer with the skills, passion and creativity to help advance our plans to the next stage and beyond.
Reporting to the Trust's Head of Communication and Marketing but working closely with Project Director, you will be responsible for delivering high quality and effective communications, engaging key stakeholders and raising awareness of the Trust's ambitious redevelopment plans and activity. It will require you to be creative, to maximise engagement through a range of online and offline communication channels.
The role offers the opportunity to take advantage of the Trust's flexible working policies but will be required to work from any of the Trust's premises, with regular travel to Lynfield Mount Hospital, Bradford.
Main duties of the job
Delivering high quality and effective communications for Lynfield Mount Hospital's redevelopment, creating, project managing and delivering communication activity/ campaigns.
Continuing to develop and agree the headline communications and engagement involvement strategy and tactical plan.
Engaging key stakeholders and raising awareness of the ambitious phased three-year redevelopment plans.
Providing communications' advice and counsel to the project team on the most effective communication and engagement tactics to meet their needs, in-line with the Trust's style and branding guides. This may include the need to influence and persuade on the most appropriate communications approach.
Sustained involvement of the Trust's Patient and Carer Experience and Involvement team to ensure continued proactive engagement of services users, carers and families, alongside wider engagement activity.
Developing and delivering creative approaches to maximise awareness and engagement through a range of internal and external online and offline communication channels including traditional media, print, digital (website/intranet, Facebook, X, Vimeo), promotional material, events, stakeholder engagement and e-bulletins.
Closing Date: 9th October 2025
Shortlisting Date: 10th - 13th October 2025
Interview Date: 23rd October 2025
About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -
We Care- We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen- We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver- We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 3500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).
Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.
As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).
Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A' Levels or equivalent. Degree or equivalent knowledge (through experience) in communication and involvement activity.
Desirable
Training
Essential
- Undertaken necessary training as required by this role, to maintain and enhance service delivery.
- PR / journalism/ communication, inc. digital media, design/print, stakeholder engagement.
- Qualification in/ or experience of broad-based communications activity
- Continued professional development.
Desirable
- Has a good knowledge of the NHS and/ or public sector/ voluntary communications and engagement.
- Experience of working with media, inc trades, print and broadcast - understands different media needs.
- Good working knowledge of broad range of communication tactics (events, stakeholder engagement, print, digital, film).
Experience
Essential
- Experience in a communications and involvement role, leading the development/delivery of plans with quantifiable results; evidence of measuring and tracking impact against agreed objectives; seeks continuous improvement.
- Experience of working with/engaging teams to deliver activity.
- Experience of delivering broad-based communication tactics inc traditional and digital media, design/print, events, stakeholder etc.
- Effective handling of crisis/issues, working with relevant agencies - pre-emptive approach, guiding at a senior level.
- Able to produce and tailor content for use across a range of communication channels - web, print, e-bulletins etc.
- Working to tight deadlines, juggling several projects; able to prioritise own work and work of others.
- Able to take a strategic view alongside tactical delivery.
- Leading development and delivery of communication projects and successfully engaging colleagues - and managing suppliers - in the work.
- Experience of budget management and delivering activity within agreed costs.
- Experience of using own initiative but knows when to escalate.
- Internal communications activity.
- Experience of producing reports to a high standard.
- Experience of building effective networks and relationships.
Desirable
- Has a good knowledge of the NHS and/ or public sector communications.
- Experience of working with regional and national media, inc. trades, print and broadcast - understands different needs of different media.
- Good working knowledge of broad range of communication tactics (events, stakeholder, print, digital, social, media, film)
Knowledge
Essential
- Microsoft Office, Excel, CMS, SharePoint.
- Understanding of developing broad-based campaigns and tailoring/maximising content across different channels, to amplify impact.
Desirable
- Design skills
- Film editing skills
Skills
Essential
- Able to communicate effectively and professionally at all levels.
- Strong influencing skills; able to engage others and give clarity on communications and engagement role and value.
- Excellent organisational and project management skills; taking a strategic approach to communications.
- Ability to exercise initiative and work to tight deadlines whilst remaining calm.
- Excellent team player.
- Able to manage and engage others.
- Able to communicate complex information clearly and appropriately, in a range of formats.
- Good judgement skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Able to establish and maintain good/ effective relationships - strong customer focus.
- Knows when to escalate issues.
- Strong project management skills - able to deliver on time and budget.
- Able to take a broader view outside own work (and organisational) areas.
Desirable
- Engaging external partners in delivering joint communication activity.
Attitude and approach
Essential
- Motivated and resourceful - can-do approach; solutions orientated. Able to maintain high standards of diplomacy and confidentiality.
- Ability to contribute effectively in meetings.
- Able to work autonomously and manage own workload and priorities (current and longer term).
- Meet tight deadlines
- The ability to work consistently and effectively, covering several projects.
- Flexible working patterns.
- Mature/professional approach to work.
Physical
Essential
- Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary). Able to travel to different Trust sites.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A' Levels or equivalent. Degree or equivalent knowledge (through experience) in communication and involvement activity.
Desirable
Training
Essential
- Undertaken necessary training as required by this role, to maintain and enhance service delivery.
- PR / journalism/ communication, inc. digital media, design/print, stakeholder engagement.
- Qualification in/ or experience of broad-based communications activity
- Continued professional development.
Desirable
- Has a good knowledge of the NHS and/ or public sector/ voluntary communications and engagement.
- Experience of working with media, inc trades, print and broadcast - understands different media needs.
- Good working knowledge of broad range of communication tactics (events, stakeholder engagement, print, digital, film).
Experience
Essential
- Experience in a communications and involvement role, leading the development/delivery of plans with quantifiable results; evidence of measuring and tracking impact against agreed objectives; seeks continuous improvement.
- Experience of working with/engaging teams to deliver activity.
- Experience of delivering broad-based communication tactics inc traditional and digital media, design/print, events, stakeholder etc.
- Effective handling of crisis/issues, working with relevant agencies - pre-emptive approach, guiding at a senior level.
- Able to produce and tailor content for use across a range of communication channels - web, print, e-bulletins etc.
- Working to tight deadlines, juggling several projects; able to prioritise own work and work of others.
- Able to take a strategic view alongside tactical delivery.
- Leading development and delivery of communication projects and successfully engaging colleagues - and managing suppliers - in the work.
- Experience of budget management and delivering activity within agreed costs.
- Experience of using own initiative but knows when to escalate.
- Internal communications activity.
- Experience of producing reports to a high standard.
- Experience of building effective networks and relationships.
Desirable
- Has a good knowledge of the NHS and/ or public sector communications.
- Experience of working with regional and national media, inc. trades, print and broadcast - understands different needs of different media.
- Good working knowledge of broad range of communication tactics (events, stakeholder, print, digital, social, media, film)
Knowledge
Essential
- Microsoft Office, Excel, CMS, SharePoint.
- Understanding of developing broad-based campaigns and tailoring/maximising content across different channels, to amplify impact.
Desirable
- Design skills
- Film editing skills
Skills
Essential
- Able to communicate effectively and professionally at all levels.
- Strong influencing skills; able to engage others and give clarity on communications and engagement role and value.
- Excellent organisational and project management skills; taking a strategic approach to communications.
- Ability to exercise initiative and work to tight deadlines whilst remaining calm.
- Excellent team player.
- Able to manage and engage others.
- Able to communicate complex information clearly and appropriately, in a range of formats.
- Good judgement skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Able to establish and maintain good/ effective relationships - strong customer focus.
- Knows when to escalate issues.
- Strong project management skills - able to deliver on time and budget.
- Able to take a broader view outside own work (and organisational) areas.
Desirable
- Engaging external partners in delivering joint communication activity.
Attitude and approach
Essential
- Motivated and resourceful - can-do approach; solutions orientated. Able to maintain high standards of diplomacy and confidentiality.
- Ability to contribute effectively in meetings.
- Able to work autonomously and manage own workload and priorities (current and longer term).
- Meet tight deadlines
- The ability to work consistently and effectively, covering several projects.
- Flexible working patterns.
- Mature/professional approach to work.
Physical
Essential
- Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary). Able to travel to different Trust sites.
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.
