Main area: Communications
Grade: NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
Job ref: 301-JP-24-6620554
Employer: Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: St George's Hospital, Mellor House
Town: Stafford
Salary: £26,530 - £29,114 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 01/11/2024 23:59
Communications Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 4
Job overview
We are looking for someone whose passion for communications is matched by their ability to be well organised and resourceful to join Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust’s Communications team.
As Communications Assistant you will play an important role in supporting the delivery of the Trust's new Communications Strategy. Alongside being the first point of contact for the team, you will help to ensure its administrative tasks and processes are delivered efficiently.
As well as producing internal and external communications activities, such as the weekly staff bulletin, duties will include handling the team’s email inbox, maintaining databases, handling media enquiries and providing the administrative function for Trust/team meetings and events; e.g. staff awards. In addition, you will support with the creation of digital and traditional communications and marketing content.
Main duties of the job
Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust’s communications team is responsible for internal and external communications. The team manages a wide range of communications channels including the Trust’s website, intranet, mobile app, and a variety of social media channels. In addition, the team is responsible for wider public affairs and media relation activity. Working closely with internal and external partners, the communications team works to promote the organisation and the services it provides to local communities.
As Communications Assistant, the post holder will work as part of a busy team in supporting administrative tasks and internal and external communications activities, in line with the Trust’s Communications Strategy. This will include:
1. Production and distribution of the weekly staff bulletin
2. Handling the team’s email inbox
3. Maintaining photo library and contact databases
4. Providing the administrative function for Trust/team meetings and events; e.g. staff awards
5. Handling media enquiries, drafting press releases and responses, and maintaining an accurate record of enquiries
6. Supporting with digital content generation; e.g. video, design for use in social media/marketing etc
7. Contributing to graphic design, creation of marketing products and development of specialist communication products
Working for our organisation
By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by:
* Supporting your career development and progression
* Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
* Options for flexible working
* Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional leave
* Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
* If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
* Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
* Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates
* Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
* Free car parking at all trust sites
* Free flu vaccinations every year
* Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one-off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)
And more. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.
Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main duties and responsibilities
1. Act as the first point of contact for the communications team via email, phone, MS Teams. Answer and deal with general enquiries independently and draft correspondence. Handle media enquiries and sensitive issues as appropriate; liaising with colleagues when a strategic input/sign off is required. Monitor press coverage as requested.
2. Arrange and co-ordinate meetings, events and campaigns in line with team/Trust priorities.
3. Produce communications for internal use, such as the weekly staff bulletin, case studies, presentations etc.
4. Produce communications documents for external audiences, including publications, presentations, press releases and other documents using appropriate IT systems and software.
5. Contribute to graphic design, creation of marketing products and development of specialist communication products.
6. Maintain stakeholder databases and video/photo libraries.
7. Publish information on the Trust intranet, public-facing website and social media channels as appropriate.
8. Monitor and manage office resources and stocks, including raising purchase orders.
9. Undertake evaluation as necessary for own work and wider team’s work; e.g. evaluation of events.
10. To be familiar with and work within all MPFT/Inclusion policies.
11. Contribute to a positive working environment, focusing on high performance and delivery of results.
12. Work as part of the wider communications team to support and meet Trust priorities/objectives.
Person specification
Qualifications & Training
* Diploma or equivalent qualification/experience in a relevant field
* IT literate, including MS Office applications, written English skills and numerate
* Experience working in communications, PR or media environment
Experience
* Experience of supporting corporate communications teams
* Experience of delivering high-quality administrative support
* Experience of producing staff bulletins, case studies, presentations etc
* Experience of producing communications documents for external audiences; e.g. presentations, press releases
* Experience of evaluating options and making judgements
* Experience of working with other partners to deliver high-quality products
* Good telephone skills and ability to liaise via email
* Experience of organising meetings, managing databases
* Experience of using social media channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and YouTube
* Experience of delivering proactive support and guidance on corporate communications
* Experience of developing and supporting social media communications projects
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
* Sound knowledge of communications methods
* To have knowledge of print and broadcast media
* To have knowledge of design/print production procedures
* To have a good understanding of NHS agendas, drivers and quality standards
* To have good communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels, including key stakeholders and hard to reach, disadvantaged groups and communities using a variety of methods to meet the needs of the target audience
* To be proficient in the advanced use of MS Office applications – Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook with daily VDU usage
* Highly organised, with the ability to utilise Outlook for purposes of arranging meetings etc
* Ability and desire to learn new skills, such as video content development/production
* Ability and desire to contribute to graphic design, marketing products and specialist communications
* To be a good team player
* Good organisational, time management and work to tight deadlines
* Ability to show a commitment to the inequalities agenda and demonstrate an understanding of equality and diversity
* Able to share ideas and respond to the needs of the team
* Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate
* Understanding of website development
* Proficient in the use of Adobe Creative Suite
Personal Attributes
* Flexible working to help cover colleagues' workloads and meetings if necessary
* Alternate between proactive planned work and reacting to urgent ad hoc requests
* Willing to vary duties in accordance with the needs of the department
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