Communications and Engagement Officer

VerseOne Group; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Communications and Engagement Officer to support internal communications and staff engagement across Basildon, Broomfield or Southend Hospital sites. The role involves developing communications releases, digital content, and staff newsletters, with a focus on engaging the workforce and local community.

The post requires excellent written and relationship management skills, experience with content management systems, and the ability to deliver

Qualifications

• Experience delivering effective communications in a complex organisation.
• Experience using content management systems.
• Knowledge of how the NHS works.

Responsibilities

• Edit and write content for the weekly staff newsletter.
• Write and edit stories for internal communications.
• Advise colleagues on the best engagement methods and channels for staff.
• Maintain up-to-date staff contact lists.
• Produce staff and senior leader briefings.

Skills

Effective communications

Content management

NHS knowledge

Staff engagement

Relationship management

Tools

CMS

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is one of the biggest trusts in the country, following the merger of Mid Essex, Basildon and Southend hospitals in April 2020.

Site MSE wide - Basildon, Broomfield or Southend Hospital Town Southend Salary £28,392 Per Annum (Pro Rata for Part Time) Salary period Yearly Closing 03/11/2026 23:59

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the onlyacute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

Job overview

Reporting to the Communications Manager, the Communications and Engagement Officer will play an important role in making sure our staff and local community are engaged and involved in the Trust’s vision, strategy and objectives.

The post holder will maintain and improve internal communication and staff engagement channels on an ongoing basis. This includes supporting the Communications Manager and wider team to develop communications releases spanning a range of subject areas and requires excellent written and relationship management skills.

The Communications and Engagement Officer will support the delivery, implementation and evaluation of various communications activities. This could include high profile strategic projects such as the annual staff survey, staff recognition activities, management briefings involving presentations to large groups of people, newsletters, small scale events and creating digital content.

Main duties of the job

Help to deliver the internal relations strand of our communication and engagement service. This will include activities such as:

• Editing and writing content for the weekly staff newsletter
• Writing and editing stories
• Advising colleagues about the best methods and channels to engage with staff
• Maintaining up-to-date contact lists
• Producing staff and senior leader briefings

Working for our organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description.

We look forward to your application.

Please be aware that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a suitable number of applications.

Unfortunately, there is no Visa Sponsorship available for this role. Whilst we are able to employ candidates on a graduate Visa, we are unable to offer sponsorship once the graduate visa expires. – for some roles – i.e. roles for band 2 to 4, inclusive.

Work related knowledge and experience

• Experience of delivering effective communications in a complex organisation
• Experience of using content management systems

Communication and interpersonal skills

• Confidence in dealing with senior staff
• Knowledge of how the NHS works

Please be aware as per the new Immigration guidelines we cannot sponsor candidates with a salary (full time or pro Rata) under the current minimum threshold.

Please note, the selection processes at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right skills and values, please be advised that the use of AI in applications are monitored. We remain vigilant against candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills, and you will be required to declare on your application if AI has been used before submitting your application.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.