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We're looking for a dynamic and experienced communications leader to join us as Head of Communications. This role is the Trust’s professional communications lead accountable for all aspects of internal and external communications and is critical in building and managing the profile and reputation of the Trust.

The post holder will lead on providing strategic communications advice and delivery, proactively helping the Trust to tell a coherent and compelling story both internally and externally and making sure the right audiences receive the right information at the right time. This includes responsibility for developing our communications strategy, internal colleague communications and external communications, including with partner organisations and local/regional/national media.

In the next year the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital will deliver its Electronic Patient Record system, an exciting milestone for the Trust. Communications will play and integral role in ensuring a safe roll-out of the system and making sure staff and patients know how this will affect them. Additionally, while we continue treating highly complex patients, we’re also diversifying our services to make our expertise available in community settings.

Our transformation journey comes at a time when NHS Change 10-year plan is also in development. We will need you to bring energy, drive and positivity as the NHS transforms and your creativity to help us to engage with our audiences.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

You will be the professional lead for communications in the Trust, adding significant value to the Trust through providing outstanding and timely strategic communications advice, through the planning and delivery of our strategic communications activity and leadership for the Communications Department.

At the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH), we are committed to achieving the best staff experience in the NHS. In the 2023 NHS Staff Survey, we proudly:

Scored above the national average for the People Promises: "We are recognised and rewarded," "We are always learning," "We work flexibly," "We are a team," and for staff engagement.
Ranked #1 among all Trusts in North and Central London for all People Promises and themes.
Ranked #1 among all Acute Specialist Trusts for "We work flexibly."

At RNOH, we’re committed to being actively anti-discriminatory and actively inclusive. We recognise our brilliant people do brilliant work, and we offer rewarding careers, no matter what their background. We continue to strive to break down barriers to be the Trust where people come together because what they do matters, makes a difference and where they can thrive. ​

Joining our organisation means enjoying a wide range of staff benefits, including:

24/7 access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme.
A Rewards & Recognition platform, offering opportunities to thank colleagues, send gifts, and access exclusive discounts.
A dedicated Staff Wellbeing Hub, providing a space to relax and recharge away from the work environment.
Salary sacrifice schemes for transport (season ticket loans, car and bike), electrical goods, and childcare

At RNOH, we are more than a workplace—we are committed to patients, to excellence and the wellbeing of our staff.

Person Specification

Description

Essential

Desirable

A/I

Communication & Relationship Skills

Exceptional communication skills, orally and written with an ability to talk fluently, confidently and succinctly to a wide range of people including journalists, senior stakeholders and colleagues. Ability to write clearly and concisely and in a range of formats for different audiences.

A/I

Excellent interpersonal, skills, including the ability to work with a wide range of external and internal stakeholders from different backgrounds.

A/I

Ability to build and maintain relationships with different groups of stakeholders, including journalists

A/I

Ability to maintain credibility amongst all levels of staff, and external contacts.

A/I

Ability to set high standards for self and others to deliver priorities.

A/I

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Educated to degree level or equivalent plus training and/or experience in communications field to master’s level equivalent.

Recognised post graduate qualification in public relations / marketing / communications

A/I

Extensive knowledge and experience of the communications and media landscape, including best practice principles

Evidence of commitment to continually update professional practice.

A/I

Extensive experience of leading marketing and communications campaigns/programmes using a range of channels in highly complex organisations

Awareness and understanding of Government Communications Service standards and best practice

A/I

Extensive experience in media handling, crisis and reputation management

Understanding and experience of corporate governance within healthcare or complex organisational setting

A/I

Understanding and experience of delivering business transformation communications

Understanding of healthcare landscape

A/I

Extensive communications leadership experience, including leading a communications team either inhouse or agency side

A/I

Proven track record of improving efficiency and effectiveness of own performance and team

A/I

Ability to work on own initiative to achieve agreed aims, targets and objectives and find creative solutions to problems

A/I

Ability to stay calm and work effectively under pressure, demonstrating resilience in challenging situations and locations.

A/I

Analytical & Judgment Skills

Strategic thinker, analytic mind with the ability to view past and future initiatives holistically aligning to the strategic direction and develop new initiatives to success.

A/I

Able to operate with discretion, diplomacy and tact and maintain confidentiality.

A/I

Planning & Organisational Skills

Excellent planning and organisational skills, with a track record of managing multiple priorities, both independently and within a team

A/I

Proven ability to build consensus and work effectively within a cross-organisational team

A/I

Agility in problem solving and evidenced capacity to take high levels of ownership

A/I

IT skills

Proficient in MS Office and various communications software and tools.

Intermediate to advance knowledge and experience in MS Office and various communications software and tools, including Canva, SharePoint, WordPress, Hootsuite.

A

Responsibility for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Demonstrable commitment to anti-discriminatory and inclusive behaviours and practices

A/I

Responsibility for Policy/Service Development

Experience of putting in place processes/procedures to ensure smooth running of teams, projects.

Experience of developing and embedding communications policies such as communications emergency response strategies, social media policy etc

A/I

Responsibility for financial & physical resources

Effective budget management

Procurement of suppliers and contract management

A/I

Ability to procure value for money and deliver ROI

A

Responsibility for Research & Development

Experience of using research/insight to inform communications strategies

A/I

Freedom to Act

Able to operate with discretion, diplomacy and tact and maintain confidentiality.

A/I

Mental Effort

Ability to concentrate for sustained periods of time, on a range of items each with competing deadlines and requirements for attention to detail.

Ability to apply sound judgment to the resolution of complex issues, managing engagement with stakeholders appropriately.

Emotional Effort

High levels of emotional resilience, able to operate at a senior level and challenge constructively, including those in more senior positions.

Ability to work appropriately and professionally, with teams and individuals who are experiencing extreme emotional distress.