The Communications Officer is responsible for supporting the development and delivery of public health communications strategies.....
The Communications Officer is responsible for supporting the development and delivery of public health communications strategies and action plans. The role will provide and receive highly complex, sensitive information where cooperation and/or agreement is required; and deliver presentations; and influence and persuade committees and staff on the appropriate communications approach, and journalists on high profile issues; and make presentations on sensitive issues to staff and media. In particular the Communications Officer will: Media relations Implement media relations programmes by: Supporting the development and implementation of plans in relation to particular high profile, complex, contentious and/or challenging issues Drafting press releases, statements and features Interpreting specialist clinical information into easy-to-understand messages for the public; and promoting them Liaising with journalists to promote feature and news ideas, and to set up pictures and interviews Advising and supporting staff in drafting press releases and media responses on improvement wide range of issues including those which are complex, contentious and/or challenging Advising and supporting staff on the delivery of health advice through the media Working in partnership with communications officers of partner organisations who have different, and sometimes contradictory, perspectives Liaising with journalists, pressure groups and the public on issues which may be distressing, emotional, unwelcome and/or stressful as well as complex, contentious and/or challenging Receive media enquiries on behalf of Public Health Wales and advise on, develop and manage responses on behalf of the organisations including lines to take on complex, contentious and/or challenging issues Develop and manage a media monitoring system which reports on the media profile of Public Health Wales and the messages reported Marketing Communications Create, write and edit content for Public Health Wales channels to be sent to stakeholders and the public Support sustained engagement with local government, the third sector, the public and other stakeholders in relation to public health Assist in the development, delivery and evaluation of marketing campaigns Support work to integrate social marketing approaches into our marketing campaigns Partnership Communications Strengthen the partnership between the divisions of Public Health Wales and its stakeholders by supporting and promoting open and proactive communications between them Internal Communications Liaise with staff in Public Health Wales and its web team to create, write and edit content for its digital channels Create, write and edit content for Public Health Wales staff bulletins and newsletters External Communications Liaise with staff in Public Health Wales and its web team to create, write and edit content for its internet sites Web sites Liaise with staff in Public Health Wales and its web team to create, write and edit the content of its internet sites Social media Promote and use social media to promote engagement Standards for Health Services Implement processes and systems in line with action plans to achieve the Standards for Health Services which relate to communication and citizen engagement Collect evidence to demonstrate that Public Health Wales meets the Standards for Health Services which relate to communication and citizen engagement Other Attend, report to and contribute to discussions at meetings of the Public Health Wales Communications Team Deputise for the Senior Communications Manager and / or Communications Manager at meetings and in other communications work in his/her absence Knowledge, Training and Experience Specialist knowledge across range of work procedures and practices, underpinned by theory or experience. Knowledge of communications, public relations, journalism and marketing communication techniques, approaches and procedures: acquired through training to relevant degree level or equivalent plus training and/or experience in communications field to postgraduate diploma level Knowledge of public sector organisations and the external political environment Able to provide training and to impart knowledge to build communications and public health capacity in the public sector workforce and community Analytical and Judgemental Skills Comfortable with complex facts or situations requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of options. Decides how to run communications campaigns (external, internal, stakeholder, media), how to respond to media requests on sensitive or complex issues. Evaluate the implications of the Standards for Health Services which relate to communication and citizen engagement for Public Health Wales and advise on a response Analyse the communication implications of policy proposals (from within Public Health Wales and stakeholders) and provide advice on managing the implications Planning and Organisational Skills Plan complex activities. Organises, project manages communications campaigns, manages events, press conferences, photo calls and visits. Develop and manage annual proactive programmes of communications and media relations activity promoting action to improve peoples health and to reduce health inequities Physical Skills Use of advanced keyboard skills for designing and producing presentations and processing documents Responsibility for Patient/Client Care Assist patients, service users and the public with incidental and general public health advice Incidental contact with patients/ clients/ provide advice to patients, clients, members of public contacting department Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Follow policies in own role, may be required to comment. Follows communications department procedures and protocols and implements Public Health Wales policies Provide input and advice to policy development Responsibility for Financial and Physical Resources Maintain stock control; safe use of expensive equipment/purchase of some assets and supplies. Order printing, publications; use of digital cameras, projectors/ purchase printing, design and similar services Take responsibility for managing nominated project budgets Responsibility for Human Resources Demonstrate own activities to new or less experienced employees/day to day supervision. May demonstrate duties to new starters and other staff/ responsible for supervision of other team members. Allocate and share tasks while working as a member of a number of teams Deliver communications training and development to employer and partner organisation staff Responsibility for Information Resources Regular requirement to use software to create reports; maintain one or more information systems: this can be a significant job responsibility. Develops media releases, publications, presentations using desk-top publishing, website software; maintains press cuttings, photo library, departmental databases Collect, analyse, interpret and disseminate information for promoting health Responsibility for Research & Development Undertake surveys and audits as necessary for communications work Provide a knowledge base on key communications initiatives to inform research and implementation of effective practice Freedom to Act Clearly defined occupational policies/Broad occupational policies. Works independently, work managed rather than supervised/manages area of communications, may be lead specialist for e.g. internal communications, publications. Manage public health communications Develop appropriate partnerships in communications and with internal clients. Physical Effort Required to use a computer and office equipment on a daily basis There is a frequent requirement to exert light physical effort for short periods of time i.e. manoeuvring resource equipment etc. Mental Effort Concentration required for drafting communication materials and researching content Interpretation of complex issues into easily understood materials Working on a number of issues at a time and responding to urgent requests and interruptions Emotional Effort Manage challenging and occasionally distressing circumstances Respond to difficult organisational situations internally and between partner organisations Working Conditions Undertake communications and related work activity in a modern office environment. During each working day there will be a frequent requirement to use a computer and related IT technology and equipment.
