Job summary Are you passionate about celebrating our NHS and staff and improving the health of local people?
Can you take information and turn it into a story that captures the interest of our communities?We are recruiting a Communications Assistant to help Hywel Dda University Health Board achieve its vision of a happier, healthier mid and west Wales.We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is able to work flexibly and in a high paced environment, with the ability and desire to get 'out and about' across our three counties.
You will be an excellent communicator with experience in writing, marketing or public relations and practical skills to reach different audiences on multiple platforms.
Main duties of the job The role will provide an opportunity to work as part of a busy communications team, supporting all aspects of local NHS delivery in our communities, health centres, hospitals and back office environments.This will involve staff facing communications, health campaigns, planned and reactive work with the media, and working with partners to achieve common goals.The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply About us Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties.
Our 12,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services to almost 400,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales.
We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest.Five community hospitals: Amman Valley Hospital and Llandovery Hospital in Carmarthenshire, Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire.Two integrated care centres (Aberaeron and Cardigan, Ceredigion).Community facilities, including:48 General Practices (GP surgeries), 49 Dental Practices, 98 Community Pharmacies (chemists), 44 General Ophthalmic Practices (including eye health and low vision services), 38 sites providing mental health and learning disability services, care within your own homesHighly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.
Job description Job responsibilities You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents: Work autonomously within sign-off policies and frameworks as part of a reactive communications team within office hours.
Inform and suggest appropriate communication approaches and brief staff and journalists, accordingly, using agreed key messages Issuing proactive staff and public communication, monitoring and responding to media and social media enquiries and stories in an open and honest way, often on sensitive and potentially contentious issues.
Contribute to a forward look plan of proactive work/content according to annual communications plan, which delivers on organisational objectives.
Suggest, plan, deliver, assess and adapt (within team policies and procedures) new or different communication mechanisms for continuous dialogue with staff and the local population.
Use a full range of communication methods, depending on a given situation, to target audiences and ensure effective two-way communication, including writing content, taking basic photos, planning, shooting and editing basic videos, and basic graphic design for promotional materials.
Contribute ideas and deliver content for communication plans as outlined in the teams annual plan.
Support editorial, design and proof reading for key organisational publications and other promotional materials.
Work in accordance with Crisis Response Communications, and follow that strategy and any guidance within, in the event of an incident.
The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences.
In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.
The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post.
If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Interviews will be held on 19/12/2024.
Person Specification Qualifications and Knowledge Essential Educated to diploma level or equivalent knowledge and experience in the communication field (communications, public relations, journalism, digital communications) Knowledge of tools and techniques of traditional and new media Qualification or demonstrative knowledge of the legislation governing media and publishers (slander/libel, copyright, accessibility) Good knowledge of the NHS in Wales Desirable Degree in communications field Understanding of Editor's Code of Conduct and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations professional code of conduct Understanding of local and national politics Experience Essential Experience as part of a communications team delivering campaigns.
Experience of creating excellent communication content for different audiences and using different mechanisms and platforms Desirable Experience of working with journalists Experience of working in or with public sector Other Essential Ability to travel frequently and in a timely manner between sites across the three counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, and occasionally elsewhere in Wales.
Flexible approach to needs of the service, including willingness to work outside of normal working hours when required (evening and weekends).
Desirable Welsh speaker (Level 1)