Job summary
A rare opportunity has arisen for an experienced communications manager to join our busy and vibrant communications team. As a senior manager in the team you will be have a key role in the supporting the communication strategy and will oversee the day to day running of the communications team. The successful postholder will be an experienced communications professional, and will be able to demonstrate a range of communications skills in developing and measuring communication and campaigns on and offline.
It's an exciting time to join our team as the Trust is making great progress in improving hospital and community health services for the population in north cumbria - and you can be part of telling that story. We have been very successful in securing capital funds for a number of projects including a new build for our Endoscopy unit at Carlisle and Community Diagnostic Centre in Workington. We are also about to open a new £40m redevelopment of West Cumberland Hospital and are working with our medical directors to develop the clinical strategy. You'll be surrounded by an exceptional team of supportive communications colleagues including experts in digital and graphic design to help bring your work to life.
To find out more or to have an informal discussion please contact Rhia Heron, Head of Corporate Communications at [email protected] or on 07825974114.
Main duties of the job
- Liaising with external organisations such as the media and local politicians to successfully manage the Trust's reputation
- Supporting and participating in the department's senior leadership team - to effectively ensure the department achieves its overall goals, objectives and strategy
- Deputising for the Head of Communications when requested to do so
- Working closely with Collaboratives and other Trust departments to ensure successful delivery of communications and engagement services for the public, patients, staff members and governors - being a point of specialist expertise on matters relating to comms and engagement
About us
At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.
Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':
- Being a clinically led organisation
- Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
- A positive patient experience every time
- A great place to work
- Managing our money well
As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.
Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.
Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.
If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.
Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.
Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.
If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.
Important Information
Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.
For candidates applying using a Hotmail account or have strict firewall settings please ensure the following:
- Junk Mail is checked regularly
Disclosure and Barring Service:
On 28 November 2020, the new Disclosure and Barring Service filtering rules will come into effect.
The changes mean that:
- youth cautions, reprimands and final warnings will no longer be subject to automatic disclosure
- the multiple conviction rule has been removed, meaning that if an individual has more than one conviction, regardless of offence type or time passed, each conviction will be considered against the remaining rules individually, rather than being automatically disclosed.
If you are unsure about whether you need to disclose certain criminal record information, free confidential advice may be sought from one of the charity bodies listed below. These bodies can advise you on what you are legally required to declare and may also be able to advise you on how you can disclose criminal record information to a prospective employer and your legal rights when doing so.
Nacro Tel: 0300 123 1999, or email: [email protected]
Unlock Tel: 01634 247350, email [email protected] or complete the online form on the Unlock website
The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children therefore if the post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended) the successful candidate(s) will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:
Standard Check: £18 + Administration cost of £3.85 = £21.85. Deducted at £6.85 from 1st month salary and £5 deducted from salary over following 3 months.
Enhanced Check: £38 + administration cost of £3.90 = £41.90. Deducted at £11.90 from 1st month salary and £10 deducted from salary over following 3 months.
As part of the one of the largest employers in the UK NCIC future employees will have also access to the following benefits.
A lease car may be available for this position; further details will be provided upon appointment if applicable.
27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
Flexible working Scheme
Excellent opportunities for development
Competitive NHS Pension scheme
Access to NHS discounts with retailers and leisure companies
EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problem
These schemes are subject to availability
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to a postgraduate level or equivalent experience
- IT literacy for web and office based software
- Experience of digital and visual communications practices
Desirable
- A communications or marketing based qualification
- IT skills commensurate with the level of the role
- Professional membership of a body relevant to engagement, communications or marketing
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of communications work environments
- Knowledge of Information Governance and Data Protection principles
- Knowledge of public services and the NHS
- Relevant experience in a role for the NHS or public service setting
- Specialist experience in delivery and running of communications services
- Previous project management experience
- Previous experience of line managing staff
- Previous experience of evaluating projects and writing high level reports
Desirable
- Knowledge of communications and engagement best practice in the NHS
Skills and Aptitudes
Essential
- Good IT skills
- Able to learn new technology
- Organised in administrative processes while being responsive to deadlines
- Able to work using own initiative, both unsupervised and as part of a team
- Accuracy in written work
- Well-developed interpersonal skills
- Excellent customer service skills
- Able to write successful communications plans
- Able to adapt to new situations
- Able to work independently with minimal supervision
- Ability to network and use networking skills to successfully implement a project
- Able to successfully implement policy into practice
Personal circumstances
Essential
- Flexible approach on working hours
- Able to travel to sites in across Cumbria
- Able to attend work-related training courses as required
- Demonstrates the ability to be flexible in meeting the needs of the service
- Warm, approachable and empathetic personality
Other requirements
Essential
- Readiness to adapt to change
- Will be expected to attend management supervision as per Trust policy
- Have a duty to maintain personal professional knowledge updates and attend appropriate courses to maintain competence
Desirable
- Driving licence with access to transport
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 .
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 .
Employer details
Employer name
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Parkhouse building, Kingmoor Park, Carlisle
Carlisle
CA6 4SJ