HEART OF ENGLAND NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Senior Communications Officer (SCO)
GRADE:
Band 6
ACCOUNTABLE TO:
Communications Manager (CM)
Key Working Relationships:
Hospital/Managing Directors,
Group Operational Directors / General
Managers / Medical Directors / Heads of
Nursing and Midwifery
Clinical Directors / Matrons / senior leads in
Corporate Affairs / Internal Governance
Communications Officer (IGC)
Accountable for and manages: Communications Officer (CO)
JOB SUMMARY:
The SCO will cover the day to day activities of the Communications Department
and provide an invaluable support to the CM. To actively support the CM with
the development and implementation of the Trust’s communication strategy. The
SCO is responsible for ensuring that locally, the Trust’s hospitals and community
services communications needs are supported appropriately and are in line with
the Trust’ vision and business plan. The SCO will be expected to develop
working relationships with managing directors of the Hospitals/community
services and other senior leads. The SCO is expected to deputize for the CM as
requested and in the CMs absence will be responsible for the management of all
communication functions within the department. The SCO is expected to be oncall pro rata, respond to out of hours work and attend evening and weekend
meetings/events as and when necessary.
Objectives

To support the CM to implement robust communication/online channels in
order to communicate effectively with staff, patients, partners in care and
the local communities served by the Trust.

To support the CM with the implementation of the Trust’s communications
strategy.

To support the CM in the implementation and evaluation of internal and
external communication/online functions (to include annual review of
communicaiton strategies and policies)
 To adopt a pro-active role in alerting the CM of any internal ‘high risk’
serious clinical negligence incidents.
 To establish robust system for the evaluation of media coverage
 To ensure the department reaches its media/online coverage targets for
the Trusts specialist services.
Key Responsibilities

To directly line manage COs including reviewing their annual objectives,
conducting regular supervision meetings, facilitating the development of
identified training needs and delegating specific tasks / projects as
appropriate.

When acting in the deputy role for the manager, the senior will be
expected to be accessible to the Head of Communications and Director of
Corporate Affairs in order to action urgent request. The senior will be
expected to gain information and draft statements as requested. In
addition, to also manage the IGC

Quality control –to oversee all written work or at least all publications
before they are then sent on to CM for final sign off.

To manage the press office function of the Communications team, acting
as a point of contact for incoming enquiries, ensuring all press office
enquiries are logged and dealt with swiftly.

To act as a key support for senior staff in particular when responding to
‘high risk’ media coverage.
 To take responsibility for originating and planning campaigns in
conjunction with the CM
 To ensure that the work of the IGC officer is widely known so to avoid the
team duplicating work.
 To work closely with web team to ensure an integrated approach to online
communications/engagement within the Trust.
 To oversee and ensure that the department spend is monitored and
appropriately logged.
Duties

Oversee and supervise all external/online and internal communications
activity

To ensure that all communication and Trust policies are adhered to by the
communications team

To provide the CM progress reports on campaigns to ensure effective
departmental communications.

To manage the CO in the execution and evaluation of communications
campaigns

To co-ordinate and oversee the research and articles for the Trust’s
monthly internal magazine for staff.

To develop and maintain a forward planner for Communications PR activity
for the year.

To actively seek proactive opportunities for regional and national media
coverage.

Manage filming requests, arranging for the supervision of film crews when
necessary.

Support the CM and Web Designer in researching, writing and delivering
the Trust internet site.

To oversee and monitor notice board content, both on site and on the
Intranet.