Job summary
Are you passionate about leading impactful communication and involvement strategies within the health and care sector? Do you excel at building strong partnerships that help improve the lives of people? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced, confident and skilled professional to be responsible for the strategic delivery of internal and external communications and involvement across the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and award-winning Integrated Care System.
Accountable for delivering West Yorkshire communication and involvement strategies aligned to clear objectives and priorities, within budget, you will collaborate closely with health and care leaders and partner colleagues to make our strategic health and care plans for people a reality.
Reporting to the Director of Strategy and Partnerships and Deputy Chief Executive, you will work closely with the Chief Executive, Chair, members of the Board and other senior leaders across the wider Partnership.
You should have a set of values aligned to those of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership. We welcome applications from people who bring experience in a variety of sectors, not necessarily directly in the NHS, demonstrating skills that are relevant and transferable.
Main duties of the job
You will contribute to key discussions and decision-making processes and as a trusted experienced advisor to leaders on statutory public involvement duties and media handling, you will be responsible for giving sound advice, whilst demonstrating the positive difference the partnership makes at a regional and national level.
Managing the communications involvement budget, ensuring value for money, planning, performance management and evaluation, means that strong leadership skills and the ability to inspire, influence and motivate others are a must. Resilience and the ability to cope under pressure with determination, perseverance, and flexibility are also important qualities for success in this role.
Leading and motivating an innovative and talented team covering all aspects of communications and involvement, you will be a compassionate, sensitive leader who can foster a culture of excellence in all you do, alongside effective coordination of partnerships across a large professional network.
If you meet the criteria to do the job, we would love to hear from you. Please refer to the attached job description (including person specification) and applicant information pack for more information regarding the position.
About us
NHS West Yorkshire ICB is responsible for improving population health and reducing inequalities to meet the diverse health needs of its population and is part of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership which includes organisations, local councils, health and care providers and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.
We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity; we see this as a strength and part of our founding mission, values and behaviours. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers patient outcomes.
We are committed to creating the best place to work, where your contribution is valued, your wellbeing is supported and all our colleagues can reach their full potential. We welcome and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of their protected characteristics.
We operate a Carer friendly working environment that is supportive and inclusive. We actively encourage Carers to self-identify themselves and are offered a working Carer passport.
As a Mindful Employer we are positive and enabling towards all employees and job applicants with a mental health condition.
We are a Disability Confident Employer and commit to shortlisting suitable applicants who meet the essential criteria for an interview. Please inform us of any adjustments you may require.
Job responsibilities
The post holder will:
Lead the operational and strategic delivery of multi-channel internal and external communications across the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and ensuring effective and efficient mechanisms for delivery across the ICB, measurement and managing risk.
Working closely with the Executive Management Team, lead the delivery of the communications and involvement strategies required for effective communication with all stakeholders aligned to the objectives of the Integrated Care System (ICS) and for the provision of a leading edge, proactive communications and involvement function.
Contribute at senior levels to the core purpose and objectives as appropriate and will be expected to contribute to key discussions and decision-making processes outside their immediate portfolio that relate to the delivery of the organisations strategic plans.
Be the professional lead responsible and accountable for all aspects of internal and external communications, public involvement assurance, engagement and statutory consultation for the West Yorkshire ICB and Integrated Care Partnership.
Develop and manage a team across the ICB function, covering all aspect of communications and involvement. The postholder will be responsible for the leadership of a team of 16 members of staff.
Be a member of the senior leadership team within the ICB/Partnerships core team and be accountable to the ICB Executive Group /Strategy Director, Chairs of Boards and CEO
Work with key stakeholders in developing effective partnerships to support the integration of health and care across the area and most importantly to improve peoples lives on behalf of all organisations within the Partnership.
Work closely with inspiring and motivated CEOs, directors and communication and engagement leads across health and care partners and voluntary and community organisations to provide high quality strategic advice, expertise and leadership on communications and engagement to the ICB, Partnership and programmes. You will have the ear of the executive team and a voice at the table.
Oversee the media, PR and social media function, ensuring an agile, proactive and responsive service (including media training), identifying and pursuing opportunities to promote the work of the organisation and managing its reputation.
Oversee specific research and insight projects aimed at improving our understanding of citizen needs to inform our strategy and priorities.
Oversee the development and delivery of effective, interactive internal communications across the organisation. Including management of the ICB communications involvement budget, planning and performance management.
Be the communication lead for incident management communications and be the main contact for the ICBs EPPR arrangement on call rota for communications.
Have appropriate expertise of specific communications and insight IT packages. Be experienced in website design and social media.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to masters level and /or equivalent level of communication and involvement experience of working at a senior level in large organisation / specialist area
- Evidence of continuing professional development (ahead on future developments in their area of expertise)
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience of working with senior executives in and outside of public sector organisations
- Experienced budget holder with appropriate financial management and a track record of driving value for money from projects
- Significant knowledge/experience of developing strategic models for public involvement, marketing and communications and experience in applying such models in a work environment to deliver results
- Experience of leading and managing teams across all communication and engagement disciplines
- Significant expertise in successful media relations including in times of crisis with confident and calm handling of press, radio and TV interviews on contentious subjects
Desirable
- Practitioner of internal and external communications best practice and development. Able to demonstrate this through campaign successes and awards
Skills & behaviours
Essential
- Exceptionally high communication skills with the ability to communicate, influence and engage on highly complex matters and difficult situations
- Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious information to large groups, responding openly to executive and public questions to ensure understanding
- Demonstrates sound judgement in the absence of clear guidelines or precedent, seeking advice as necessary from peers when appropriate
- Leadership, vision, strategic thinking and planning with highly developed political skills
- Highly resilient individual with the ability to cope under pressure
- Flexibility, and the ability to handle a rapidly changing and ambiguous environment
- Leading and encouraging the team to produce innovative initiatives and campaigns that are insight driven and measurable
- Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload, whilst leading and supporting the team, allocating work as necessary, working to tight and often changing and challenging deadlines
- Ability to make decisions autonomously on difficult issues
- Will consider the most effective way to promote equality of opportunity and good working relationships in employment and service delivery and has the ability to take actions to support this agenda
