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Main duties and key responsibilities

The communications officer will:

• Assist the head of communications and senior communications manager with campaigns and consultations, working to an agreed communications strategy
• Develop innovative ways of engaging with staff and communicating the Trust’s key messages and key objective
• Act as a positive and professional ambassador for the communications department in providing a point of contact
• Lead on the writing, editing and production of creative and engaging content for communications channels
• Provide communications advice and support to Trust staff and its associated charity
• Manage and align communications and engagement within national policy and public opinion
• Deal with issues around confidentiality and data protection, equalities and human rights
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders and audiences
• Maintain communication with staff who do not regularly access email.

Media relations

The communications officer will:

• Identify stories and develop them into news releases and features items
• Participate in researching, drafting and distributing publications for internal audiences, external stakeholders and local, national and specialist media
• Develop good working relationships with key journalists, co-ordinate and deliver proactive news releases and seek new ways of increasing positive coverage
• Identify photography requirements, liaising with service leads and arranging for photography sessions
• Receive and co-ordinate media enquiries and actively monitor media coverage, blogs and social media postings and agree responses
• Ensure that broadcast media adhere to the Trust’s media policy while working on site

Publications

The communications officer will:

• Handle, draft, and process complex and sensitive information, liaising with senior staff including making decisions about how information is presented
• Negotiate the competitive production of communications and liaise with selected agencies in the design and print of items and publications using established Trust brand guidelines
• Support the production of displays and publicity materials
• Write the Trust’s internal newsletter by interviewing staff, drafting articles, overseeing design and distribution.
• Act as guardian of communication through publications and posters.
• Source and create good news material for local, national and specialist media to help raise the profile and reputation of SASH – through news releases, photo/filming opportunities and interviews.
• Maintain and develop content for SASH’s website, Intranet and support with social media platforms.
• Help to develop new opportunities with social and digital media, including the increased use of digital images and video

Digital communications

·       Support the trust’s digital communications manager to maintain digital communications channels. 

Event management

The communications officer will assist in the management of a range of corporate and charity events, including the Trust’s annual general meeting; open days, official openings, VIP, royal and ministerial visits. They will also lead on Your One Team Update, the Trust’s monthly staff forum.

Financial responsibility 

• Assist in ordering of goods and services and maintaining accurate financial records 

Level of clinical responsibility

• No direct clinical responsibility – however the post holder requires an understanding when clinicians need to be consulted or involved in communications projects.  

Leadership and staff management responsibility

• Will be required to act on behalf of the senior communications manager in their absence with support from the head of communications. 

Responsibility for dealing with difficult situations

·       Although this role involves working to meet various fixed project deadlines, a proportion of the post holder’s time will be devoted to ad hoc projects.

·       Little of the work is routine and this calls for flexibility and sound judgement about often complex or sensitive issues.

·       Requires good interpersonal skills. Important when interacting with the public and the media, consultants and other clinical and non-clinical staff.