EPR Communications Manager

Main area Communications Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract 12 months (Fixed term for 12 months initially) Hours Full time Flexible working 37.5 hours per week (Hybrid working available, although the postholder will be expected to be on site at least 50% of the time.) Job ref 423-7610850 Employer Airedale NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Airedale General Hospital Town Steeton Salary £47,810 - £54,710 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 22/12/2025 23:59 EPR Communications Manager NHS AfC: Band 7 Be part of our future landscape At Airedale, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. We actively encourage applications irrespective of people’s age, lived experience of living with a disability or long-term conditions, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. Increasing our diversity and supporting our organisation to be more inclusive is a key priority here at Airedale and our teams are at the centre of how we work towards this. We appreciate all people may have diverse and individual needs and we pride ourselves on supporting all people to thrive and flourish at work. We have frameworks in place that support reasonable adjustments and flexible working for colleagues throughout their working lives which starts at recruitment. These are exciting times for Airedale. We have the once-in-a-career opportunity to be involved in the planning and building of a completely new hospital here on our Steeton site by 2030. By joining us now you’ll be a key part of our journey over the next few years, with the chance to input into a state-of-the-art, modern healthcare facility that will deliver care to our communities for decades to come. We are also on the journey to a new electronic patient record, part of our wider ambition for our digital future – a future that builds on our significant telemedicine and digital care success. Ultimately, what makes Airedale special is our people. Not just our staff, but our volunteers, patients, visitors, and wider population who make up the Airedale family. This is a Trust that sits at the heart of our community, and our communities are very proud of their Trust. Please read the attached AI statement prior to submitting any application Job overview EPR Communications Manager Airedale NHS Foundation Trust is embarking on its next phase of digital development with the implementation of its new electronic patient record (EPR). The EPR will bring about a transformation to the way the Trust provides care to patients and the programme needs forward-thinkers to join the team. The EPR Communications Manager will play a key role in the implementation and optimisation of the EPR. Engaging with all stakeholders and delivering high-quality, strategic communications will be vital to the programme’s success. You will have experience of programme communications and the ability to work autonomously, developing and delivering successful communications strategies and producing the full range of communications needed. This is a role for someone who enjoys outputs, who likes to see their work making a difference, who can see the bigger picture and who is able to hit the ground running. The Communications Manager will lead the development and delivery of internal and external communications for Airedale NHS Foundation Trust’s Electronic Patient Record (EPR) programme. This programme communications role is pivotal in ensuring that all stakeholders – including clinical and non-clinical staff, patients, and partners – are informed, engaged, and supported throughout the lifecycle of the EPR implementation. Working for our organisation We are delighted to offer a wide range of benefits to employees including: Cycle to Work Travel Scheme Childcare Vouchers with Salary Sacrifice Onsite Nursery Buying and Selling Annual Leave Car Leasing Employee Assistance Programme Employee Health and Wellbeing Extensive Reward Scheme Counselling Service Financial packages including Vivup and Wagestream Staff Networks, Enable, Rainbow, Gender, Race Equality Ecoaware & Admin Network. Our values: We understand that it’s down to the hard work, effort and dedication of our staff that makes a difference for our patients. Our people really do make our Airedale experience – we take pride in fostering a friendly, effective and caring work environment. Our values are part of our DNA, which are: Committed to Quality of Care Compassion Working together for patients Improving Lives Everyone Counts Respect and Dignity Got questions before you apply, please contact the recruiting manager to find out more. Detailed job description and main responsibilities Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy for the EPR programme, aligned to the Trust’s wider strategy, covering the full gamut of internal and external communications. Create clear, accessible, and engaging content to explain the purpose, benefits, and progress of the EPR programme. Work closely with programme leads, IT, clinical teams, the Trust’s communications team, communications colleagues at Bradford teaching Hospitals NHS FT and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS FT, and external suppliers to manage and coordinate messaging and updates. Develop a stakeholder management plan that facilitates two-way communication. Produce content for MP and Ministerial briefings, Overview and Scrutiny Committee and regulatory bodies as required. Monitor and manage – with support from subject matter experts and workstream leads - programme feedback mechanisms; in particular the EPR programme email inbox. Develop a responsive approach to requests for communications support, helping workstream leads to create key messages and communications materials to support them to effectively communicate with staff and stakeholders. Establish KPIs and methods for monitoring the effectiveness of communications activities, using the results to inform and adapt future strategies, contributing to the existing reporting mechanisms. Provide expert advice to senior leaders on communications risks and opportunities. Work with the programme team and other communications colleagues to provide coordinated and comprehensive communications support before, during and after the critical go-live period. Work with colleagues to support the delivery of key events and briefings throughout the programme, developing materials, dealing with event coordination and ensuring participants are fully informed. Appropriately manage confidential, complex and sensitive information, exercising discretion and upholding high professional and ethical standards at all times. Please refer to attached Full Job Description & Person Specification. Person specification Qualifications Educated to master’s level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in communications Knowledge Expert knowledge of communications tools and techniques, including PR and media relations management. Knowledge of digital communications tools and techniques. Knowledge of internal communications tools and techniques. Understanding of digital and technical subjects Experience Proven experience of managing successful communications for large-scale change programmes. Experience of high-profile reputation management, including strategic stakeholder and media management. Experience of using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods/techniques to analyse, evaluate and enhance communications. Experience of managing confidential, complex and sensitive information. Experience of managing budgets and resources Expert knowledge and awareness of communications tools and techniques, and digital and social media developments Experience of managing confidential, complex and sensitive information Experience within the NHS/civil service/public sector Experience of communicating digital/technological developments Skills Expert written communications skills and editorial judgement to ensure high-quality, well-articulated and compelling content for a range of audiences. Advanced relationship building and influencing skills at all levels. Excellent organisational, planning and project management skills. Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities under pressure. Advanced IT skills including infographics, editing software, AI and the MS suite including Sway. We are happy to discuss flexible working opportunities. NOTE: This vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if sufficient suitable applications are received. If you are offered a position which requires you to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust will administer the DBS check on your behalf and will recover the cost (Enhanced £54.40, Standard or Basic £26.40) from your first full months salary. This is a condition of your employment. In applying for a post that requires a DBS check you are confirming that you have read and understood the DBS Privacy Policy for Enhanced and Standard Checks (Click here for the privacy policy) You are encouraged to participate in the DBS Update Service and pay the £16 cost per year. Employer certification / accreditation badges #J-18808-Ljbffr