Job vacancy: Communications Officer, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Redhill

Job summary

Main area: Communications
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref: 326-7917012-AW

Employer: Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: East Surrey Hospital
Town: Redhill
Salary: £32,073 - £39,043 per annum plus high cost allowance
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 26/04/2026 23:59
Interview date: 11/05/2026

Communications Officer

NHS AfC: Band 5

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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.

Person specification

Criteria

Essential criteria

Evidence of a good standard of written English appropriate to the role
A complete and accurate application
Suitability for role evidenced in supporting statement
Evidence of essential experience for role
Meet the essential education/qualifications required for the role
Hold the necessary mandatory professional/clinical registration
Evidence of the Trust values and behaviours
Evidence of any other essential criteria outlined in the person specification

Additional information

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust operates a 24-hour service, 365 days a year. As such, all nursing, clinical, and operational roles may involve working on a 24/7 shift basis, unless otherwise specified during the recruitment process. We are proud of our diverse and inclusive workforce and actively encourage applications irrespective of age, disability, gender, race and ethnicity, religion or belief and sexual orientation. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process.

Successful candidates will be appointed to the first pay step within the band when they start with the Trust (unless they have previous relevant NHS continuous service), thereafter individuals will progress up the pay steps in accordance with NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) terms and conditions. For part time roles you will receive a pro rata'd (proportional) salary payment based on the appropriate pay step/point and hours worked in accordance with AfC and all medical and dental terms and conditions.

Note: Some vacancies may receive a high volume of applications. In such cases, the vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

We take our responsibilities to the environment extremely seriously and have an ambitious Green Plan that we’re delivering. Actions include having uniforms made from recycled plastic, 100% renewable electricity and planting 150 trees at East Surrey Hospital. Read our plan here.