Head of Communications

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We are proud to provide 'Outstanding' care and be a great place to work.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.

We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex.

Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people's own homes.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as 'Good' overall, and 'Outstanding' for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated 'Outstanding' and Eastbourne DGH was rated 'Good' Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.

Job overview

The Head of Communications will provide tactical leadership to the Trust's communications function, driving trust-wide campaigns that enhance our reputation, engage internal stakeholders, and support our mission to deliver exceptional integrated care.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Communications (EDC), you will lead a multidisciplinary team to deliver impactful, cohesive messaging across hospital and community services that serves to support the trust values and workplace culture. This role demands a forward-thinking leader who grasps the wider impact that the communications function has in shaping the environment as a 'great place to work'. You will have proven expertise in managing complex campaigns, fostering team development, and ensuring structured, efficient operations in a fast-paced NHS environment.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping the Trust's narrative, collaborating with clinical, operational, and executive teams to amplify our successes and navigate challenges.

This role requires a high level of on-site presence to build relationships and respond to operational needs, with an expectation of approximately 80% of working time based at Trust sites (primarily Hastings and Eastbourne with travel to community locations as required). Hybrid working may be available for the remaining 20%, subject to business needs and agreement.

This role is a job share, split equally between two postholders (one already in post).

Main duties of the job

The post holder will demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in communications, applying them to lead service delivery, manage risks, and drive continuous improvement. Key responsibilities include:

Ensure high quality communications: Maintain appropriate standards across the whole suite of internal communications. This includes ensuring communications support is tactically adept, and extends to overseeing the quality of presentation and content that is produced in the team's name.

Campaigns Leadership: Lead the development and delivery of high-profile, trust-wide communications campaigns that promote integrated hospital and community services, enhance patient and staff engagement, and support organisational priorities such as quality improvement and public health initiatives.

Team Leadership and development: Provide inspirational leadership to a team of communications professionals, fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture. Demonstrate a strong track record of building and motivating diverse teams, with a focus on talent development, performance management, and succession planning to deliver consistent excellence.

Open and proactive communication with the EDC role, ensuring that escalation is structured, solution-focused and proportionate to the scale of the issues at hand.

Line management responsibility for the Communications team - Communications Officer and Communication Support Officers which includes managing performance, absence and undertaking appraisals.

Working for our organisation

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description.

For any further questions or queries, please contact the appointed manager of the vacancy.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Evidence of continued professional development to degree level in relevant subject
• Recognised Leadership and/or Management qualification or equivalent
• Evidence of relevant specialist training and/or experience in the communications field to Masters level or equivalent level of knowledge and experience

Desirable criteria

• Prince 2 or alternative project management qualification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Relevant experience and knowledge of communications, engagement, public relations and marketing techniques and working at a senior level
• Experience of long-term strategic and annual planning processes
• Experience of managing a budget
• Experience of service improvement programme and processes
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries and maintaining credible relationships with partners

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience of managing a team
• Experience of leading engagement with internal stakeholder groups

Skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to prepare and present information to wider audiences in a professional manner
• Advanced computer skills
• Demonstrates excellent communication and highly developed interpersonal skill
• Able to deal with highly pressurised and potentially controversial situations
• Demonstrates a broad range of skills in leadership and people management
• Capable of applying sustained concentration and focus on priorities and outcomes within a diverse workload
• Demonstrates evidence of developing and sustaining innovative practice and is a proactive supportive change agent
• Understanding and application of National and local strategies, legislation, mandatory and accreditation requirements e.g. CQC and their impact on the quality of patient care
• Knowledge and understanding of equalities legislation and guidelines and interest in embedding equality and diversity into how the organisation functions
• Good understanding and overview of NHS structures and organisations
• Ability to develop and present reports to a high standard without assistance and to short timescales
• Ability to produce business cases and bids for new developments
• Excellent negotiating and persuasion skills to enable progress of complex projects

Other

Essential criteria

• Reliable work record
• DBS clearance if applicable
• Evidence that personal behaviour reflects Trust Values
• Ability to travel between sites in an efficient and timely manner

Patients come first at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Our vision is to be:

• The healthcare provider of first choice for the people of East Sussex.

Our mission is to:

• Deliver better health outcomes and an excellent experience for everyone we provide with healthcare services.

Our strategic objectives are to:

• Improve quality and clinical outcomes by ensuring that safe patient care is our highest priority.
• Play a leading role in local partnerships to meet the needs of our local population and improve and enhance patients' experiences.
• Use our resources efficiently and effectively for the benefit of our patients and their care to ensure our services are clinically, operationally and financially sustainable.

Our aims are that all services delivered by the Trust are:

• Safe
• Effective
• Caring
• Responsive and
• Well led

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