HealthJobsUK

Job overview

We are looking for communication professionals who want to make a difference through their work and contribute to improved health and well-being for our communities.

Two Senior Communications Officer roles are available.

They will support us in our ambition to  shift from a service focused on treating illness, to one focused on preventing ill health, or worsening of ill-health.   

You will need to deliver proactive and integrated communication campaigns on a variety of health issues as part of these roles. You will also help manage challenging situations, where good communications is critical. This could range from managing the communications around a local public health risk to supporting with a change in how health services are provided.

We really want to hear from people who can evidence how their communication work has delivered positive outcomes, and have experience of supporting behaviour change.

If this sounds like you, please tell us in your job application how you meet the essential criteria. We would love to hear about your relevant experience and ideas.

Main duties of the job

The role requires an experienced communications professional who can provide leadership within the communications team and advise senior managers within the organisation on their approach to open, transparent, and honest communication, in line with our Duty of Candor.

You will use communications to influence behaviour change that benefits the health of our communities. You will need to provide our internal and external audiences with clear information and creative content, using integrated communication approaches and campaigns. This could include communication on improving health, accessing services, service change, or in a major incident, in line with our Warning and Informing duties.

You will need to be able to demonstrate experience of using varied mechanisms for dialogue with staff, patients, our communities, and stakeholders, and you will need to evaluate this to show outcomes and continuously learn and improve.

You will deliver a programme of content and communication which also recognises and celebrates staff and UHB achievements, which benefit the local population and wider health service. 

You will provide a reactive service to respond effectively to what can be complex and sensitive enquiries from staff, journalists and social media users.

Working for our organisation

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:  

Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;

Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;

 48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;

Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services; Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.