Our trust has around 10,000 staff serving 1.6 million patients. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.
Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers’ money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation. Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
Position: Band 4 Communications Assistant
Salary: £31,944 to £34,937 a year
Job Type: Full Time
Location: London, UK
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This is a fantastic opportunity for somebody who is interested in developing a career in communications to get ‘on the job’ experience at one of the most prestigious organisations in NHS.
The Royal Free London is always in the spotlight for its pioneering approach to healthcare and there is never a dull or quiet day in the communications team.
The successful candidate will:
- Work with colleagues to support the communications function of the organisation and help with the day-to-day running of the team.
- Provide administrative support as appropriate including: diary management; organising meetings and administrative written work; ordering communications materials; maintaining our stakeholder databases.
- Support colleagues with editing and proofreading of content.
- Write press releases, take photographs, post on social media, help to organise events.
- Update the staff intranet with news and events.
- Support the development of patient information, including liaising with content authors and reviewing, editing and feeding back on content.
- Monitor media in local and national press and provide a summary to the team, while also helping with key tasks from the media inbox, including handling simple media enquiries.
- Help and support the team to build on the good reputation already established via the media, direct marketing material and social media platforms.
Key Tasks
- Provide general administrative support to the whole communications team.
- Support the head of digital engagement and senior digital communications manager to develop, proof-read and monitor the RFL’s patient information.
- Write communications pieces for internal use via the intranet and publications to promote positive messages internally.
- Manage the media summary and understand media on a local and national level.
- Manage and help to organise events and VIP/ministerial visits, often at short notice, liaise with staff and manage any media on site.
- Supervise filming activity on site, ensure the most positive outcomes for the trust and build on our excellent reputation.
- Liaise with senior colleagues and Pas to book meetings and get documents including letters and releases signed off.
- Learn and enforce the trust house style and help maintain the corporate identity of the trust in keeping with the trust brand and NHS identity guidelines.
- Work with the digital team to help ensure that the trust’s website enhances the reputation of the trust and conforms with trust house style.
- All communications office staff are expected to deal with a range of telephone enquiries, do their own typing, maintain office systems and cover for other team members when necessary.
- Undertake any other duties which might reasonably be required commensurate with the post.
Person specification
Royal Free World Class Values
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values
Education & professional Qualifications
Essential criteria
- A-levels or equivalent experience
- Desirable criteria
- Relevant degree or equivalent experience
- Evidence of continuous professional development in communications/PR
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working to deadlines and prioritising work
- Experience of managing key diaries
- Experience of organising events
- Experience of managing team administration
Desirable criteria
- Experience in a role supporting a communications function
- Experience of working with confidentiality issues
- Experience of working within the NHS/public sector
Skills and aptitudes
Essential criteria
- Excellent written and oral communications skills
- Ability to brief communications colleagues clearly and concisely
- Well organised, with an attention to detail and ability to maintain effective office systems
- Ability to organise events
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of media and public relations techniques
- Knowledge of social media
- Experience of using a content management system
Personal qualities and attributes
Essential criteria
- Strong interpersonal skills and diplomacy
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team
- Self-motivated and able to act on own initiative
- Ability to work under pressure
Other
Essential criteria
- IT literacy
- Understanding of equality and diversity issues
- Flexible approach to work irregular hours as required
Covid-19 Vaccination
Getting vaccinated, and getting a booster, remains the best defence against COVID-19.
We encourage and support staff to get COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose as and when they are eligible.
AT* – Apprenticeship Training. Where AT* is entered next to the job title indicates that this vacancy is for an apprenticeship role.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers. Therefore we require you to complete your stat and Man e-learning modules prior to joining our organisation.
If you are an EU/EEA citizen who does not have EU Settlement or Pre-Settled status, you will require a visa to work in the UK.
Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
If you are offered a role with one of the NLPSS partner trusts, as part of pre-employment checks your identity and right to work documentation will be verified remotely (in most circumstances), using a certified identity verification service provider TrustID. You will be asked to capture an image of the relevant documents as well as a “selfie” using your smartphone/tablet (if available) for facial matching. TrustID will also perform a digital address check using Trunarrative and Equifax, which is a soft check and does not leave a footprint on your credit rating. For more information, visit www.trustid.co.uk
The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
The Trust will request a DBS (CRB) if post involves regulated activities. The Trust is compliant with the Disclosure and Barring Service Codes of practice and the Rehabilitation of offenders act.
By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.
Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.
Please note:
Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification
Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
Interview arrangements will be communicated via email so please check your email regularly following the closing date.
Please be advised that due to exceptionally high demand, all Royal Free accommodation is at full capacity and waiting lists are being held. Average waiting times are 12 months. Please do not rely on Trust accommodation when you commence your role and ensure you investigate alternative accommodation for your arrival.
Application Process
Interested and qualified candidates should kindly CLICK HERE to learn more and apply
Application Deadline
December 19, 2024