Senior Communications Officer

West London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

West London NHS Trust is seeking an experienced communications professional to join our team as a senior communications officer. You will advise services, develop engaging content for internal and external channels and help deliver trust priorities across media relations, digital, events and internal comms.

You will work closely with colleagues and Senior Communications Officers to ensure clear, timely communications that support our strategic aims, while maintaining confidentiality and

Qualifications

• Relevant degree and/or relevant experience in communications, journalism, public relations or marketing
• Experience of working in a communications role or team
• Experience publishing content to digital channels and social media
• Experience with media relations and handling enquiries
• Ability to plan under time pressures and deliver materials for multiple channels
• Experience delivering multi-channel campaigns and working with NHS/public/charity sectors
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive issues and complex environments

Responsibilities

• Provide communications advice and support to services across the Trust
• Help colleagues identify best ways to communicate with audiences and achieve outcomes
• Develop content for internal and external channels that is clear and accessible
• Coordinate with Senior Communications Officers to support strategic objectives
• Work 60% on-site across Trust sites in line with agile working

Skills

Media relations

Internal communications

Stakeholder engagement

Content creation

Digital & social media

Crisis communications

Education

Relevant degree in communications

Job description

Site Trust HQ Town London Salary £45,953 - £54,254 per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer) Salary period Yearly Closing 23/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 02/12/2026

West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

Job overview

We’re a friendly and supportive Communications Team, working across the organisation to help deliver the Trust’s strategic priorities and tell the story of the work happening across our services.

I’m looking for an experienced communications professional with skills across a broad range of disciplines, including media relations, internal communications, events, digital and social media. In short, we’re looking for a strong all-rounder. You don’t need to know everything, but you should be curious, willing to learn and happy to get stuck in, whether that means leading a key project or working alongside colleagues to help deliver it.

Main duties of the job

In this role, you’ll provide communications advice and support to services across the Trust, acting as a key point of contact and helping colleagues identify the best ways to communicate with their audiences and achieve the right outcomes.

You’ll also play an important role in developing content for our internal and external channels, helping us communicate in ways that are clear, engaging and accessible.

Working closely with me and our other Senior Communications Officers, you’ll ensure the communications activity you lead supports the Trust’s strategic objectives and priorities, while contributing to a responsive, creative and high-quality communications service.

It’s important to note that the role requires you to work from one of our Trust sites for at least 60% of your working time, in line with our agile working policy.

If you’re an experienced communicator who enjoys variety, likes working collaboratively and is looking for a role where you can make a real contribution, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Relevant degree and/or relevant experience in communications, journalism, public relations or marketing

Experience

• Experience of working in a communications role or team
• Experience of publishing content to digital communications channels, including websites & social media platforms
• Experience of working with the media, including writing press releases and handling media enquiries
• Experience of planning and delivering, often under significant time pressure
• Experience of producing a wide range of communications materials for different channels
• Experience of multi-channel campaign delivery
• Evidence of design creativity both in briefing external suppliers and in developing in-house materials
• Content creation for digital channels, including video production and editing
• Experience of working in the NHS, wider health, public and/or charity sectors
• Demonstrable ability to deliver results when dealing with highly sensitive issues in a complex environment
• Experience of effectively managing challenging issues and people
• Previous project management experience or experience of supporting large-scale projects that have a communications element

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to digest, analyse and interpret complex information and turn it into plain English
• Excellent and highly developed time management skills with the ability to prioritise a varied workload and meet deadlines
• Ability to work effectively with uncertainty, manage conflicting priorities or sudden unexpected demands and adjust work as required
• Ability to use own judgment to determine the appropriate course of action
• Good interpersonal, negotiating and influencing skills, with the ability to work with people in a diplomatic manner and establish positive relationships
• Knowledge of website, social media & email newsletter content management systems
• Knowledge of branding and style guidelines
• Good understanding of evaluating and measuring performance and improving engagement across digital channels
• Good working knowledge of maintaining confidentiality and implementing data protection legislation requirements
• IT literacy and competency
• Understanding of the NHS & wider health environment, including current issues, priorities and strategic change.
• Specialist photography and/or filming skills.
• Specialist knowledge of website & social media metrics e.g. Google Analytics

As an employee of West London NHS Trust, you have a responsibility to maintain a sound understanding of, and a commitment to uphold the National Health Service values and principles set out in the NHS Constitution.

We reserve the right to close adverts prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to West London NHS Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, you will be required to undergo a pre-employment checks which can take between 4-8 weeks . After which your information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system (ESR ).

Please ensure you include email addresses for your referees which MUST be at supervisory or managerial capacity covering the last 3 years of employment to date to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

West London NHS Trust is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We encourage the thoughtful use of technology as a demonstration of strong time management and a commitment to innovation. However, we encourage applicants to personalise your recruitment application to showcase your unique skills and experiences.

While AI-generated content can be a helpful tool, relying solely on generic responses instead of highlighting your own strengths and achievements may impact the success of your application. The success of an application will always be assessed against the essential and desirable criteria for the role, so it is important to ensure that your application and any supporting information clearly demonstrate how you meet these requirements.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

At West London NHS Trust, we want you to support you to build a career you can be proud of and this starts before your first day with us. Our people live our values every day as they deliver, manage and work to improve our services to patients, carers, families and other professionals.

We’re committed to making our recruitment process clear and efficient. It’s in everyone’s interest that we get the very best people on board as soon as we can.