Communications Officer - Living Well programme

at  Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

We only accept candidates from Derbyshire Healthcare, relevant VCSE partners and both local authorities
The Communications Officer will have a key role within Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (DHCFT), supporting in particular on the communications around a key public-facing project: supporting the continued implementation and delivery of the Community Mental Health Framework (Living Well Derbyshire/Derby Wellbeing) in Derbyshire and Derby city. The postholder will work closely with the Living Well programme team and support a multi-agency approach to communications, which consists of health, social care and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.
The role would involve co-ordinating internal and external communications activities and developing a range of communications materials for use by organisations within the partnership.

• Preparing internal and external communication updates to be used through all partners channels, aiding consistency of message and promoting a partnership approach
• Providing opportunities to capture questions and answers, compiling a regular set of FAQs
• Developing appropriate web/intranet content for colleagues and sharing any assets across the system
• Supporting the programme team on any internal or external communication requirements, working with partner organisations to ensure consistency of message
• Continuing the existing external communications approach to promote the service and single point of access across our communities
• Oversee Task and Finish Groups, when required
• Development and maintenance of external facing website content
• Supporting the promotion of new recruitment opportunities, using social media alongside other traditional mechanisms
• Analysing the effectiveness of various social media platforms in their reach and success
• Producing engaging content and promotional materials to support with events
• Supporting the Communications and Engagement Manger with internal communications and engagement
• Promoting the Trust as a ‘ good ’ place to work.

As an employee of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust you are required to adhere to the Trust’s values. In recognising both the values expressed in the NHS Constitution and the Trust Values you will be:

• Caring -

We provide safe care and support people to achieve their goals

• Inclusive -

We respect everyone in all we do

• Ambitious -

We offer high quality services, and we commit to ongoing improvement

• Belonging -

We come together to create a culture that is welcoming, open and trusting
Collaborative -
We work together to achieve the best outcomes for our people and communities.
The postholder will also form part of a wider Communications team and will support with the delivery of a range of professional internal and external communications, including liaising with the Joined Up Care Derbyshire system. This will include community and stakeholder communications, media relations, online developments, social media and publications. The postholder will be required to support effective strategies and determine appropriate means to disseminate internal and external messages to key audiences.

Social/digital media

• To support with operating and monitoring the programmes/Trust’s social media sites, namely the corporate Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin and YouTube accounts, issuing content promoting the Living Well programme and celebrating success to stakeholders and the public
• Prepare and develop content for external websites, working with partner organisations
• Identifying relevant platforms to promote the programme
• Analysing statistics and analytical figures to understand the programme and target audiences’ needs, and offering guidance to colleagues, where appropriate; and deciding on an appropriate response at pace and responding to social media activity on behalf of the Trust, sometimes out of hours where necessary
• Produce short videos to disseminate key information to promote the programme
• Provide and share expertise, advice and practical support to staff on communication issues, digital media and on the development of digital communication
• Provide advice to staff on the best and most appropriate ways of displaying content online
• Take photographs using the team’s digital SLR camera, ensuring consent is given and recorded, and maintain a well-structured photo library
• Produce and edit videos of staff and patients, in line with consent requirements
• Research and development of the latest digital trends and technologies. Ensuring digital communications provide accurate, up-to-date information that is well presented and easy to access.

Media Management

• Supports the media relations service by preparing press releases/statements, arranging interviews, providing a media enquiry answering service and undertaking other procedures to ensure the best possible coverage of Trust business
• Enhance the programme’s profile and reputation through the generation of positive media coverage and developing effective relationships with key media contacts
• Identify opportunities for members of staff to contribute to wider media features on a national or specialist platform
• Collaborate with colleagues within the team and across the services to develop an appropriate response to journalists on behalf of the services, working in an accurate and timely manner, often to very tight deadlines
• Accompany journalists and reporters to programme events to provide practical support, clarity and information and ensure patient confidentiality and consent is maintained at all times.

Publications

• Prepare content and undertake production arrangements for specific corporate and external publications, ensuring that the diverse needs of the community are reflected
• Understanding the varying needs of the target audience when producing official external publications and be creative in approach to ensure the format is in line with people’s needs and the brand.

Stakeholders and the public

• Develop communications aimed to promote Living Well to stakeholders and members of the public across Derby and Derbyshire. Monitor the effectiveness of projects and campaigns through measurement and evaluation
• Produce a monthly newsletter
• Support, and advise, the Living Well programme team regarding sensitive messages
• Support with maintaining and promoting the Living Well microsite for all audiences
• Working with the Communications and Engagement team, research, plan and develop relevant awards entries and conference opportunities for promotion of the programme
• Assist with the production of publicity and other material (written and electronic) in support of events and campaigns.

Internal communications

• Develop communications aimed at promoting Living Well to DHCFT staff, and celebrate success. Monitor the effectiveness of projects and campaigns through measurement and evaluation
• Support with options to sustain the achievements and processes put in place once the programme is ‘business as usual’, post March 2027.

General/administrative

• Deal with incoming communication - related enquiries from staff and being responsible for responding with an accurate and appropriate reply in a timely manner
• Monitor the general communications email inbox, including messages sent by external stakeholders, service receivers and members of the public via the website ‘contact us’ facility, and ensure enquiries are handled appropriately by responding in a timely manner or working with other teams as necessary to co-ordinate appropriate and professional responses
• To handle telephone calls, emails, post and direct contacts with staff and internal and external agencies in an appropriate and professional manner, using judgement and discretion where necessary, referring complex matters to relevant senior members of staff.
• To process all orders, processing invoices and creating requisitions for the team to ensure payment is made in a timely manner.
• To be responsible for maintaining stakeholder contact databases, and media contacts.
• To be responsible for maintaining filing systems, including a magazine, local newspaper and promotional materials archive (electronic and physical) and photographic library.

To have an understanding of health and safety and fire regulations and to assist in maintaining a safe environment for service users, staff and visitors to the service.

Other

• Working in a pressured environment where deadlines and tight timescales are common practice
• Occasionally dealing with sensitive, distressing and confidential issues.
• Ensuring that workload is prioritised and managed effectively with regularly changing demands
• Liaising with colleagues to gain feedback on personal performance and identifying their findings as areas of personal development of own work
• The Trust covers a geographically diverse area and the post holder will be required to travel throughout the County of Derbyshire in the course of their duties.