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Job summary

Main area
Securing the future
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8b
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
423-6427485
Employer
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Airedale General Hospital
Town
Steeton
Salary
£58,972 - £68,525 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/08/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust logo

Head of Communications and Engagement (Band 8b)

NHS AfC: Band 8b

Be part of our future landscape

At Airedale, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We actively encourage applications irrespective of people’s age, lived experience of living with a disability or long-term conditions, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.

Increasing our diversity and supporting our organisation to be more inclusive is a key priority here at Airedale and our teams are at the centre of how we work towards this.  

We appreciate all people may have diverse and individual needs and we pride ourselves on supporting all people to thrive and flourish at work. We have frameworks in place that support reasonable adjustments and flexible working for colleagues throughout their working lives which starts at recruitment.

These are exciting times for Airedale.  We have the once-in-a-career opportunity to be involved in the planning and building of a completely new hospital here on our Steeton site by 2030.  By joining us now you’ll be a key part of our journey over the next few years, with the chance to input into a state-of-the-art, modern healthcare facility that will deliver care to our communities for decades to come. We are also on the journey to a new electronic patient record, part of our wider ambition for our digital future – a future that builds on our significant telemedicine and digital care success. Ultimately, what makes Airedale special is our people. Not just our staff, but our volunteers, patients, visitors, and wider population who make up the Airedale family. This is a Trust that sits at the heart of our community, and our communities are very proud of their Trust.

 

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of Communications and Engagement to join us in developing our plans for a new hospital for Airedale. On 25 May 2023, the Government announced that Airedale General Hospital will be rebuilt by 2030, in recognition of the current structural issues facing the existing hospital. 

This is a once in a generation opportunity to be involved in a major hospital development and we are seeking an enthusiastic Head of Communications and Engagement to join our team and help to take our scheme forward.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is responsible for leading an effective communications and engagement service to and on behalf of the Securing the Future Programme to our staff, patients, public and stakeholders with regards to the New Hospital Project.   

Leading a team, the role will involve providing expert communications and engagement advice to the Programme Director and senior stakeholders within the Trust. The role will be responsible for the preparation and delivery of the Communications Strategy and Plans, planning and organising high-profile visits and events, and perform an active delivery role.

The focus of the role is to ensure that patients, visitors, staff and stakeholders understand the services offered by the Trust, understand the Trust’s vision for its new hospital, are able where appropriate to influence the development of both these services and of facilities at the new hospital, and are well informed and engaged about the StF programme. 

A key part of this role is to ensure that messages are consistent and consistently delivered to ensure inclusion and involvement on all aspects of the StF programme.  The post holder will work closely with the Trust Head of Communications to ensure that communications and engagement activity works in tandem with the day to day running of the Trust and associated communications activity. 

 

Working for our organisation

We are always looking for enterprising and innovative approaches to the way we provide our services. We are a national centre for telemedicine and introduced telehealth to the UK offender healthcare sector and also provide the service to patients in their care homes. Community matters to us and we are supported by 400 dedicated volunteers and have strong links with Bradford University, Craven College and Leeds City College to ensure we inspire the workforce of the future.

We want to attract staff who embrace our Right Care behaviours of compassion, a commitment to quality of care and working together for patients we want to make these part of our DNA.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information and full details of the job role please see the attached job description and person specification.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Masters Degree in Communications, PR, Marketing, Journalism or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of continuing professional and/or personal self-development
Desirable criteria
  • Professional Certifications, e.g. CIPR, IABC, CIM, IDM

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience in NHS or other politically high-profile organisations
  • Proficiency in using digital communication tools, including social media
  • Senior level experience in leading communications efforts in complex projects
  • Expertise in stakeholder engagement
  • Good knowledge of engagement strategies, methodologies, and best practices, with a track record of effectively implementing them
  • Expertise in crisis communications
  • Expertise in research, evidence and data collection
  • Expertise in risk and issue management
  • Proficiency in knowledge management
  • Proficiency in governance

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardDisability Confident - two yearsNHS Employers Diversity and Inclusion PartnersVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleInvestors in PeopleDisability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Happy to Talk Flexible WorkingArmed Forces Covenant

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Alastair Stewart
Job title
Programme Director
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
00000000000
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