Communications officer

Cornwall Partnership; Bodmin; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development plans

Protected CPD time

Development fund

Leadership programmes

Coaching and mentoring

Clinical induction programme

Care certificate programme

Preceptorship programme

Health and wellbeing initiatives

DBS checks

Retail discounts

Salary sacrifice car scheme

Cycle to work

EU settlement costs reimbursed

Job summary

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Communications Officer to support high‑quality communications and engagement across the Trust. The post holder will plan, coordinate and deliver campaigns that raise awareness of services and strengthen the Trust's reputation with staff, patients, partners and the wider community.

Working with the Communications Team, you will create engaging content for media, website, social channels and internal platforms, providing professional advice and

Qualifications

• Must be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines with minimum supervision.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be accurate and pay attention to detail.
• Must be able to build good working relationships with employees and members of the public.

Responsibilities

• Plan, deliver and evaluate communications projects and campaigns that support Trust priorities.
• Write, edit and proofread a wide range of content, including news articles, press releases, patient information and staff communications.
• Manage the production and distribution of publications, promotional materials and communications resources.
• Respond to media enquiries and build positive relationships with journalists and media organisations.
• Provide expert communications and media advice to managers, teams and senior leaders.
• Monitor media coverage and communications performance, using insight to improve future activity.
• Support the management of sensitive, high-profile and crisis communications issues when required.

Skills

Under pressure

Meet deadlines

Written communication

Verbal communication

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Education

Degree-level or equivalent in journalism, English, marketing, communications or business

Tools

PowerPoint

Desktop publishing

Job description

Thank you for your interest in joining us at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

We pride ourselves in striving to be an employer of choice.

Strategic Themes

• Care based on what matters to people.
• Care provided at home or close to home.
• Improvement through learning, research and innovation.
• Prevention and alternatives to hospital.

Great Organisation

• Buildings that support health and wellbeing.
• Technology enabled care.
• Care teams are supported by responsive corporate services.
• Safe, efficient, effective and productive.

Great People

• A place people love to work and feel valued.
• Living our values with staff (all voices count).
• Attract, grow and develop talent.
• Leaders with compassion, who continuously learn and listen.

Great Partner

• Encourage and enable effective partnerships.
• Joined-up community services.
• Work with others to maximise workforce opportunities.
• Reduce our impact on the environment.

At the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Job overview

Job overview

The communications officer plays a key role in supporting the delivery of high-quality communications and engagement activities across the Trust. The post holder will plan, coordinate and deliver communications projects and campaigns that help raise awareness of services, support organisational priorities, and strengthen the Trust's reputation with staff, patients, partners and the wider community.

Working as part of the Communications Team, the post holder will create engaging content for a range of channels, including the media, website, social media, publications and internal communications platforms. They will provide professional communications advice and support to colleagues across the organisation and help ensure information is accessible, accurate, timely, and aligned with Trust objectives.

The role requires excellent writing skills, strong organisational abilities and the confidence to manage competing priorities within a fast-paced environment. The post holder will also support the management of media enquiries, campaigns, events and sensitive communications issues as required.

Main duties of the job

• Plan, deliver and evaluate communications projects and campaigns that support Trust priorities.
• Write, edit and proofread a wide range of content, including news articles, press releases, patient information and staff communications.
• Manage the production and distribution of publications, promotional materials and communications resources.
• Respond to media enquiries and build positive relationships with journalists and media organisations.
• Provide expert communications and media advice to managers, teams and senior leaders.
• Monitor media coverage and communications performance, using insight to improve future activity.
• Support the management of sensitive, high-profile and crisis communications issues when required.

Working for our organisation

We’re an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people’s physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.

We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you’ll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.

Over 5,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.

We work in people’s homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 10 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.

Approximately 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increase the numbers of people who use out services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see ‘supporting documents’.

Person specification

Education

• Degree-level or equivalent qualification in journalism, English, marketing, communications or business

Skills and aptitude

• Must be able to work well under pressure and meet deadlines with minimum supervision
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Must be accurate and pay attention to detail
• Must be able to build good working relationships with employees and members of the public

Knowledge and abilities

• Knowledge of communications, public relations, journalism and marketing techniques, approaches and procedures
• Experience and confidence in dealing with the media and press
• Must be familiar with PowerPoint and desktop publishing packages, and able to produce high quality presentations

Other

• Enthusiasm and self-motivation

At Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust we are proud to prioritise the development of our people. To support this, the following opportunities are available:

• Career conversations and individual development plans for succession planning and talent management
• Protected CPD time for registered staff
• Access to a dedicated central development fund supporting CPD for all staff
• Leadership and Management development programmes
• Coaching and mentoring opportunities
• A full clinical induction programme for operational skills
• Access to a care certificate programme for our band 1-4 clinical staff
• A bespoke and robust preceptorship programme to support newly qualified staff

Being part of a successful NHS Foundation Trust brings a portfolio of rewards and benefits for our staff. These include:

• Suite of health and wellbeing initiatives to support our colleagues physical and mental health
• Free access to individual HARP portfolios to support revalidation for nursing staff
• Free DBS checks where required
• Discounts available from retailers, UK hotels and main attractions
• Salary sacrifice car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• The Trust reimburses all application costs for staff eligible to apply for EU settlement status.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process you will be contacted via TRAC.jobs email regarding interview details.

Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust welcomes and values individuals with lived experience of mental or physical ill health joining our workforce. We aspire to have a culture that develops, promotes and supports lived experience roles - throughout the organisation.

If you are successful, you agree to Occupational Health accessing your health records from your current or previous employer to check the status of your inoculations and screening tests. Appointments are subject to full three year satisfactory references therefore please ensure you include correct contact details for your nominated referees including email addresses.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The Health Jobs UK website has jobs from numerous employers, within health and care across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute medical, surgical and specialist services to a population of around 500,000 which can increase significantly during the busy holiday periods.