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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.

We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good'.

We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone's potential as change makers.

The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.

As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

The Senior Communications Manager plays a crucial role in enhancing and protecting the reputation of the organisation. The postholder will provide expert communication management support for the Trust's internal programmes and transformational programmes including leading Listening into Action, Anti-Racism and Anchors programme. They will work proactively senior clinical, corporate, and operational stakeholders to manage various major communications programmes across the organisation to support the delivery of the strategic ambition Building a Culture of Trust alongside the organisation's strategic objectives.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will work towards the implementation of the Trust's communications strategy, supporting the delivery of corporate objectives, delivering against personal objectives and ensuring the successful delivery of the team's annual objectives.

They will oversee the development, implementation and evaluation of communications and engagement plans to support the Building a Culture of Trust ambition alongside major trust-wide programmes
They will drive delivery of a range of initiatives and projects, ensuring all work is delivered to agreed standards and timelines
They will conduct regular supervision and annual appraisals for direct reports
They will support team members to gather, analyse and prepare intelligence, ensuring effective and timely responses to queries from internal and external stakeholders
They will work with colleagues (including Internal Communications and Listening into Action teams) across the Trust to ensure appropriate support at key corporate events such as the CEO/Chair broadcasts, staff awards and high-profile internal forums e.g., Leadership Forum.
They will oversee the development and management of the Trust's staff engagement programme
The post-holder will need to use their specialist expertise to influence and persuade senior colleagues on a wide range of complex and sensitive communications issues.
The post holder will also deputise, where appropriate, for the Director of Communications and Engagement.

Working for our organisation

Our values, Kindness, Respect and Together, are in keeping with the NHS Constitution and set the standards for how we plan and make decisions; deliver quality care; behave with each other and service users and recruit, induct, appraise and develop our staff. We are looking for staff who will help us live these values and help to make South London and Maudesley NHS Foundation Trust a better place for everyone.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key result areas

To oversee the development, delivery and evaluation of communications and engagement plans that support the Trust's strategic objectives and build the Trust's reputation as a leading organisation within the NHS, ensuring that activity is in line with the Trust's overall communications and engagement strategy.
To ensure that relationships with key stakeholders are maintained and proactively developed.
To oversee the development and delivery of communications and engagement plans to support major trust-wide projects, providing leadership and expert advice, ensuring communications plans align with broader communications strategies including staff engagement and involvement programmes.
To work with senior managers to identify and develop communications campaigns to support the organisation in meeting its strategic objectives, providing strategic advice and expertise to enable opportunities for feedback, involvement and contribution to decision-making.
To ensure that all communications materials and channels help build the Trust's reputation as a leading organisation within the NHS, that they are correctly tailored for the appropriate target audiences, including hard to reach audiences, and are in line with the Trust's overall communications strategy.
To ensure the Trust brand and visual identity are protected, including supporting other staff in the correct application of corporate style guidelines, ensuring compliance and addressing inconsistencies.
To ensure the organisational internal and external channels are kept uptodate with the relevant information from the clinical programmes and workstreams

Policy and Service Development

To understand the internal environment, organisational development, and principles of culture change to ensure best practice is brought into internal programmes.
To review and draft changes to existing policies, guidelines and service level agreements (SLAs) which may impact service delivery, drafting new policies and SLAs where
To lead the development and implementation of the communications and engagement sub strategies ensuring compliance with disability legislation and that the Trust meets itsstatutory obligations in terms of accessibility.
To work with senior colleagues to develop new business proposals where needs have been identified.
To be responsible for the development and implementation of protocols to ensure the Trust's patient information complies with best practice guidance.
To ensure organisational compliance with NHS and Trust Brand and Identity.
The post holder will need to maintain a good knowledge of emerging policies and guidance from government departments such as DHSC, NHSE, ICB interpreting the guidance, assessing any impact and ensuring effective communication to the organisation.

Information Resources

To draft reports summarising status on issues, appraising outcomes, and providing progress reports for the Director of Communications and Engagement and, where necessary, attend relevant meetings to deliver those reports and advise on communications issues.
To provide regular analysis and reports to senior managers on the use of the website, intranet, staff apps etc, suggesting improvements where necessary.
To prepare briefings for regulatory and advisory bodies in respect of updating them on complex issues.
To analyse complex statistical data to inform the development of communications strategies, plans and reports and support decision making, highlighting issues and risks and identifying mitigating action.
To collate as required, a range of information and lead appropriate analysis to develop robust business cases
To undertake audits, surveys and utilise other feedback techniques to evaluate the communications function both internally and externally.
To ensure key corporate documents are managed through version control measures.

Finance

To plan and manage the Listening into Action budget and be responsible for managing the finances of the Change Makers programme on behalf of Maudsley Charity.
To monitor and assess the required financial investment for communications activities in order to inform budget setting and to manage resources within the agreed budget identified.
To commission and brief designers, developers, communications agencies and other external suppliers; ensuring that expenditure stays within agreed budget.
To ensure administrative and financial integrity as expected within a public sector organisation following Trust and national guidance.
To be responsible for achieving financial savings targets as required.

Research and Development

To be responsible for keeping up to date with best practice and new techniques in internal communications including the use and application of AI to achieve greater efficiency.
To keep up to date with national policy, new health initiatives and partner organisations strategies and plans and how these impact locally on the Trust

Managerial Responsibilities

Deputise for the Director of Communications and Engagement as required.
Manage direct reports, assessing and allocating work and ensuring regular supervision and appraisals (PADR).
To support, motivate and develop people within the team.
To work with senior colleagues to scope out the communications potential of new projects and determine appropriate staffing levels, assessing line management structures necessary to deliver to these projects where appropriate.
Managing third parties (such as consultants/interims) to ensure deliverables are met in a timely manner and within budget.

Training and Development

To undertake Mandatory and Statutory training (MAST) as required by Trust Policy
To contribute and commit to undertaking and Performance Appraisal and Development Review (PADR).
To undertake personal development as identified in the PADR.
To introduce new starters to the communications and engagement function at corporate inductions.
To train colleagues at all levels across the Trust in internal communications and digital skills as required.

General

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties which fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.
This job description will be reviewed regularly in the light of changing service requirements and any such changes will be discussed with the postholder.
The postholder is expected to comply with all relevant Trust policies, procedures and guidelines, including those relating to Equal Opportunities and Confidentiality of Information.
The postholder is responsible for ensuring that the work that they undertake is conducted in a manner which is safe to themselves and others, and for adhering to the advice and instructions on Health and Safety matters given by Manager(s). If postholders consider that a hazard to Health and Safety exists, it is their responsibility to report this to their manager(s).
The postholder is expected to comply with the appropriate Code(s) of Conduct associated with this post.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust operates a no smoking policy. We are an equal opportunities employer. It is the policy of the Trust to ensure that no user of the service, past, present or future employee, or job applicant, receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex, sexual orientation; in line with the Trust's Equality and Diversity Strategy

Other

The post holder will occasionally be exposed to distressing situations which may include suicides and absconds as well as dealing with sensitive staffing issues and managing communications, particularly with the media, in times of crisis.

Person specification

Training and Qualifications

Essential criteria

Educated to Masters level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualifications or significant experience working at a similar level in specialist area
Evicentce of continuing professional and personal development in the field of marketing, journalism or public relations - CIM, CAM, IPR or similar

Desirable criteria

CIPR diploma or advanced certificate
Prince 2 practitioner
Professional qualification in marketing, journalism or public relations (CIM, CAM, IPR or similar)
Professional qualification in ecommunications

Experience

Essential criteria

Demonstrable experience of working in a communications / PR / Senior journalist role within a large and complex organisation
Experience working in NHS communications
Experience of writing excellent copy for a wide range of outlets and for a wide range of target audiences
Demonstrated experience of managing communications projects including development, planning, implementation and evaluation
Experience of managing relationships with design and print agencies
Experience of managing website and/or intranet development projects
Experience of successfully delivering communications strategies and implementing communications programmes
Experience of operating in a politically sensitive environment
Experience of managing/supervising staff
Experience of successfully managing large scale stakeholder events, launches and campaigns

Desirable criteria

Experience of working in mental health
Excellent presentation skills
Understanding of brand management
Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at a senior level
Understanding of best practice in social media

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria

Good understanding of the national government and the NHS, how it works, the issues it faces and how to communicate within it
Excellent written and verbal communications skills
In-dept knowledge and understanding of current communications practice and theory
Knowledge and understanding of digital communications including public websites, intranets and social media
Ability to grasp complex issues and concepts
Ability to prepare and produce concise and insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required
The ability to identify the target audience for any given issue, understand their needs and the best channels to reach them, adapting writing styles to suit and developing copy with speed and accuracy
Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders
Report writing skills
Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workload
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
Ability to think creatively and to assess the merit of design work
Ability to demonstrate a high level of attention to detail
Policy design, development and implementation skills
Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with people at all levels
Ability to remain calm under pressure
Ability to work both independently and as part of a small team

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of HTML coding
Knowledge of website content management systems
Knowledge of Microsoft SharePoint

Behaviours and Values

Essential criteria

Ability to behave in accordance with our Trust values

Other

Essential criteria

Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems
Carry out responsibilities in such a way to minimise risk of hard to children and young people and promote their welfare

Desirable criteria

Personal experience of mental health problems

The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:

Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity

Please note:

That all applications for this post will need to be made online
That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
That we are a smoke-free Trust

SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe'

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Documents to download

Senior Communications Manager job description (PDF, 792.5KB)
SLaM Staff Benefits (PDF, 1.1MB)
Happy to Talk Flexible Working (PDF, 680.1KB)

Senior Communications Manager

Senior Communications Manager

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