Head of Communications - Cambridge Children's Hospital

This role will lead the delivery of an ambitious communications programme aligned to CUH's major building, modernisation and service development programme - including Cambridge Children's Hospital and Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.Main duties of the jobYou will provide expert and strategic communications and engagement advice and leadership to the delivery boards of Cambridge Children's Hospital. This will be achieved through developing strategies for communications and and leading their delivery across our wide range of building programmes. You will be accountable for ensuring the smooth and timely delivery of internal, external and communications priorities in line with the agreed strategy for Cambridge Children's Hospital. You will collaborate across the multiple parties involved in our projects and work closely with our commissioners, who have overall responsibility for consulting on service change. This will involve the development, planning, co-ordination, delivery and evaluation of operational activity, ensuring highly effective communication channels are established and ensuring work is completed within deadlines. You will line-manage the major projects communications and engagement manager and will deputise for the head of external affairs in her absence. You will be the first point of contact for any questions about Cambridge Children's Hospital communication from either our internal, external (including media) and other stakeholder audiences. This post is based at Addenbrooke's Hospital, but with a significant proportion of remote working from home, and the ability to work across external sites as needed. You will need to work flexibly including out of hours working as required by the role.About usOur Trust Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 12000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population. CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesPlease see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities. Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can only apply for this post as a secondment and must have the approval of your current line manager before applying This vacancy will close at midnight on the 25th April 2024. Interviews are due to be held on w/c 6th May 2024. Benefits to you We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse, day nurseries and access to a great transport system with easy access to airports and rail travel. Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered. We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
Educated to masters level and/or equivalent level of skills or experience plus training and/or experience in the communications field to degree-level equivalent. Evidence of continuous professional development.
Desirable
Either an under-graduate or post-graduate qualification in journalism, marketing, public relations or related field.
ExperienceEssential
An all-round communications professional with proven track record in planning and delivering successful communications campaigns. Significant recent experience of successfully operating in politically sensitive environment. Significant experience of leading public engagement and consultation exercises. Experience of a broad range of communications and engagement disciplines including internal communications, media management, stakeholder management, campaign development and evaluation, use of social media and public relations. Substantial experience of media relations and profile raising on a national level. Experience of managing the reputations of organisations. Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at senior level. Experience of co-ordinating projects in very complex and challenging environments. Experience of dealing with conflict and working across large or cross-organisational teams to achieve desired outcomes. Experience of managing own workload and making informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales. Experience of line management/supervisory responsibilities. Experience of creating and giving presentations. Experience of managing within a budget, making adjustments as required.
Desirable
Experience of managing and reporting risks. Experience working in a healthcare / NHS / public sector environment. Experience of leading communications strategies for major capital projects on the public sector.
KnowledgeEssential
Evidence of solid understanding of patient confidentiality and relevant aspects of libel law, Freedom of Information Act, Equality Act and Data Protection. Understanding of public sector and awareness of the relevant social and political environments and impact on the health economy. Knowledge and understanding of the law and national guidance as it relates to the duty of health bodies to engage with and consult patients and the public with respect to significant service changes.
SkillsEssential
Excellent written and verbal skills. Confident and able to establish credibility quickly at all levels of the organisation including senior and Trust Board level. Ability to use communications packages and ability to change at short notice, ensuring modern technology is utilised appropriately. Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful comms for dissemination to broad range of stakeholders as required. Able to influence and interact with a diverse customer group. Ability to promote quality of opportunity and good working relations (providing practical leadership). Ability to manage multi-agency, multi-disciplinary project teams. Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources.
Additional RequirementsEssential
Determined and self-motivated. Able to travel across the region and potentially wider as required to role. Able to participate in the on-call rota and be flexible with hours potentially at short notice.
Employer detailsEmployer nameCambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation TrustAddressAddenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate Hills Road Cambridge CB2 0QQAny attachments will be accessible after you click to apply. 180-F-245162
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