Head of Communications

The Head of Communications is responsible for leading the busy, fast-paced communications and engagement team at University Hospitals of North Midlands.

Providing strategic professional advice and expertise on all aspects of communication, staff and stakeholder engagement for the Trust, the role requires the candidate to demonstrate leadership to both the department and within the wider organisation and health system.

The Head of Communications should have a helicopter view of the political landscape and the health and care system and utilise this knowledge to advise and influence senior leaders across the hospital as well as the local health economy.

The role requires the post holder to ensure the delivery of the trust’s communications and engagement strategy and to manage and develop our talented communications team; prioritising and assigning projects/tasks, ensuring delivery of objectives, and nurturing a great team dynamic. They’ll also have plenty of opportunities to develop their own skills and be proactive in shaping their career.

Establish and communicate the key messages and objectives of the Trust in order to promote a positive image and, when necessary, limit adverse publicity using a range of media including website, stakeholder newsletters, social media and special events.

Develop procedures, standards and policies around media management, events, VIP visits, corporate identity, patient communications and other areas of communications and ensure they are implemented consistently and appropriately.

Ensure that publicity/marketing materials and patient information are of a high standard and accessible to and appropriate for relevant audiences and reflect the diversity of the communities served by the Trust

Lead on communications for responding to a crisis or handling major/ serious incidents.

Provide strategic advice and expertise to help build an engaged, informed and motivated workforce, developing opportunities for staff to give feedback and contribute to decision making

Develop and maintain positive relationships with the media, maximise positive coverage and ensure balance in all media coverage, in order to promote public confidence in the Trust.

Manage and oversee consultation responses, statements, Freedom of Information requests from the media, and ministerial briefings.

Lead an effective, professional communication team, ensuring all Trust HR policies are adhered to.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.

At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Jessie Dickson Job title: Deputy Director of Communications Email address: [email protected] Telephone number: 01782 672472