Communications Officer

If you're a talented communications professional passionate about making a difference - someone who thrives in a busy and fast-paced environment - now’s your chance to join us.

We have a small but high-performing Communications Team - delivering communications using a variety of channels, including news stories, social media, our website and our newsletter for staff. We must get our internal and external communications right and you will play a key role.

We need an experienced, dynamic communications professional, with an eye for a good story, to contribute to internal and external projects. You’ll be required to work with teams across the trust to understand what their good news stories are and to develop communications projects that fit with our strategic priorities.

Does this sound like you? We'd love to hear from you.

Your main duties relate to increasing external and staff engagement through producing high-quality engaging content and by developing creative ways of conveying important news and information.

You’ll also support and promote events, including our internal staff awards and recognition schemes.

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the BAME network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our armed forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The role will support the communications and engagement team in the delivery of the Trust’s communications, marketing and involvement. This is key for the effective and efficient development and maintenance of the Trust’s reputation with the public and the media and provides an excellent opportunity to develop skills in an interesting, diverse and challenging area of professional public relations practice. This includes:

- Support the delivery of the trust’s digital communications programme by creating content for the website, intranet, and social media channels and ensuring that information is accurate and up to date
- Creating and repurposing content for different channels and audiences, and coordinating the distribution of content, as appropriate
- Handling day-to-day media enquiries and producing news releases and media statements
- Collating, writing and editing content for all internal and external channels including all forms of media e.g. video
- Provide planning and research to support the team including liaising with colleagues across the trust to provide content for the communications and engagement planner
- A broad range of day-to-day communications activity, including keeping Trust colleagues up to date with media coverage and interest, working proactively with a wide range of staff to ensure appropriate positive publicity for Trust achievements
- Liaising with communications leads in local NHS organisations and partner organisations such as Gateshead Council

Duties and responsibilities
- Help maintain effective administrative systems within the communications team including electronic systems for media enquiries, press cuttings, distribution lists and internal communications.
- Overall responsibility for developing and managing the trust’s profile across multiple digital channels, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn.
- Write proactive news stories and media releases, including background research on content, proactively searching out regular opportunities to promote the positive achievements of the Trust.
- Support with media inquiries and secure a suitable response within the deadline. This would include: judging the level of urgency, identifying any sensitivities involved and liaising with the most appropriate colleague/s to arrange interviews or statements as appropriate.
- Research, draft and distribute publications for internal audiences, external stakeholders and local, national and specialist media.
- Write and produce high-quality information for internal and external audiences, including articles, staff briefings, display boards, leaflets and presentations.
- Responsible for continued development and maintenance of the trust’s website and intranet, including ensuring content is up to date and responsive to audience needs, search engine optimisation and ensurin