Job vacancy: Communications Officer, Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield

Job summary

Main area: .
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract: 12 months (This is a 9 month fixed term contract until the end of the 25/26 financial year with the opportunity for extension.)
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Hybrid)
Job ref: 457-25-7289980

Employer: Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Centre Court
Town: Sheffield
Salary: £29,970 - £36,483 pa
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 03/07/2025 23:59
Interview date: 15/07/2025

Communications Officer

NHS AfC: Band 5

About us

At Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust we provide a range of mental health, learning disability, substance misuse, primary care and other specialist services designed around the needs of people in our city.

We have a dedicated and skilful team of people caring in Sheffield, which you could become a part of.

Our values are at the heart of everything we do. These are: working together for our service users, respect and kindness, everyone counts, commitment to quality, improving lives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person Specification

Our values
Here at Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust, your values are as important as the skills and competencies you bring with you and will learn here.

At the heart of our organisation are the values that guide how we work and interact with others. As a Communications Officer, you will be expected to demonstrate these values in your day-to-day work:

We are respectful and kind

We treat everyone with dignity and compassion, creating a positive and supportive environment.

This means:

You communicate with empathy, professionalism, and courtesy.
You value the perspectives and contributions of others.
You are mindful of how your actions and words affect those around you.
You challenge disrespectful behaviour and promote a culture of kindness.

We are inclusive

We embrace diversity and ensure everyone has equal access to opportunities and services.

This means:

You actively consider and respond to the diverse needs of your audiences.
You create accessible and inclusive communications.
You involve others in decisions that affect them.
You celebrate difference and promote equity in all aspects of your work.

We work together

We collaborate to achieve the best outcomes for our communities and colleagues.

This means:

You build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
You share knowledge and support others to succeed.
You contribute to a team culture that values openness and trust.
You recognise and celebrate collective achievements.

We keep improving

We are committed to learning, innovation, and delivering high-quality services.

This means:

You seek feedback and use it to improve your work.
You are proactive in finding new and better ways to communicate
You take responsibility for your development and performance
You support others to grow and succeed

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Assessed via Application and Interview

Qualifications & Training

Educated to degree level in communications, public relations, journalism, marketing or a related field, or equivalent experience
A Level English or equivalent
High level of competency in Microsoft Office and publishing software

Knowledge & Experience

Strong understanding of communications, public relations, media relations, and marketing communication techniques and procedures
Experience in writing and editing content for a range of audiences and channels
Experience managing events
Experience working with the media and liaising with journalists
Understanding of design, branding, and print processes
Experience working both independently and collaboratively across organisational boundaries
Ability to manage multiple priorities, including urgent and unanticipated requests

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to convey complex or sensitive information clearly and persuasively
Skilled in influencing, negotiating, and briefing staff and media contacts
Confident in providing specialist communications advice and training to colleagues
Able to build effective relationships and work as part of a team

Analytical & Judgement Skills

Ability to analyse and evaluate communication activities and recommend improvements
Skilled in interpreting audience needs and tailoring content accordingly
Creative and lateral thinker with strong problem-solving abilities
Able to assess and respond to media enquiries appropriately

Planning & Organisational Skills

Proven ability to plan, develop and implement a wide range of communication activities
Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise under pressure
Experience arranging meetings, events, press conferences and photo opportunities
Experience of managing budgets and contracts for communications services and materials

Digital & Technical Skills

Proficient in using digital tools including website content management systems, social media platforms, Canva, and analytics tools such as Google Analytics
Experience managing multiple corporate social media accounts
Competency in Adobe Creative Cloud (desirable)
Understanding of web software and accessibility standards (desirable)

Other Requirements

Ability to travel within Sheffield and occasionally to regional or national meetings
Flexible and responsive to changing priorities and urgent requests

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential criteria

Qualifications & Training

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

Knowledge & Experience

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

Essential criteria

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

Analytical & Judgement Skills

Essential criteria

Analytical & Judgement Skills

Planning & Organisational Skills

Essential criteria

Planning & Organisational Skills

Digital & Technical Skills

Essential criteria

Digital & Technical Skills

We aim to be an organisation that is diverse and inclusive and to meet this aim we welcome applications from people with a wide range of life experience and whose diversity echoes the diversity of Sheffield, that of the people who use our services, and that of the people who may need to use our services but face barriers to access. Please think about your personal values and how these align with our values when you are applying. Find out more about our organisation through our website.

We are a Disability Confident employer level 2 and hope to achieve level 3 this year. We offer a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet all of the essential criteria for a role. When you apply you will have the opportunity to let us know if you require adjustments to be made, please contact us if you are not sure or if you require adjustments to the application process itself.

Our six staff network groups welcome new members, these are:

The Ethnically Diverse Staff Network Group
The Disability Staff Network Group
The Lived Experience Staff Network Group
The Rainbow Staff Network Group
The Staff Carers Staff Network Group
The Women’s Staff Network Group

We know how important flexible working can be to applicants and therefore we encourage you to discuss any working arrangements as part of this process. We will always aim to accommodate requests, wherever possible.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children and as part of our safe recruitment practice the successful applicant(s) will be subject to a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if it is deemed appropriate for the role. The cost of the DBS check (currently up to £48.23) must be met by the successful applicant(s).

When applying for this post you will redirected to complete your application in our preferred applicant management system, Trac. If you are successfully offered a role, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. In addition, in submitting an application, you authorise our Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the ESR IAT process should you be appointed.

Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting statement.

While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for, nor can they accurately reflect your skills, knowledge, and experience. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice.

Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting statement is not advocated by SHSC and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

For example, AI responses…

• usually lack relevance and fail to address the key criteria outlined in the job description and person specification.

• may come across as generic and fail to distinguish you from other applicants.

• may be ambiguous or open to misinterpretation. Without careful review and editing, the supporting statement could convey messages that are unclear or misconstrued by hiring managers.

• may include qualifications, skills, knowledge or experience that you do not possess, potentially leading to misrepresentation.

Supporting Statement

The supporting statement is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person.

Recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. Managers will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Share work-related successes and challenges you’ve navigated that align with the criteria. These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.

Consider structuring your statement with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.