Job title: Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement Responsible to:Director of Communications and Engagement Accountab.....
Job title: Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement Responsible to:Director of Communications and Engagement Accountable to:Director of Communications and Engagement Band:8D 1.Job Summary JOB SUMMARY This role will play a key role in NHS North West London and the North West London Integrated Care System (ICS), leading communications and engagement. The team will deliver a complete communications service on behalf of NHS North West London and the NW London ICS, including: Strategic communications and engagement advice and planning Stakeholder management Proactive and reactive media management Department of Health, MP, council and stakeholder briefings Internal communications Resident involvement, engagement and equalities Freedom of Information requests Website management and corporate publications Branding and corporate identity for the Integrated Care System. The post holder will also lead engagement for the ICS across NWL and be professionally accountable for borough level engagement. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The Assistant Director of Communications is a critical member of the senior team both within the communications directorate and within the North West London ICS. The postholder will: Lead as the expert; driving the communications and community engagement strategy supporting NHS and social care improvements across North West London Ensure effective co-production throughout the directorate Engage with key strategic regional and national policy makers to inform development of strategy and policies Develop and champion both internally and externally new initiatives or projects within the Directorate to drive awareness and understanding Provide relevant expertise of best practice, regulatory requirements and learnings from other NHS and public sector communication and engagement programmes Build and maintain good working relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including service users Manage the ICS Communications Leads (2) and the Internal Communications Manager and be responsible for their annual appraisal and development. Deputise for the Director of Communications and Engagement. 2Key responsibilities 2.1 Community and stakeholder involvement Lead community involvement and engagement, including line management of the involvement function. Lead on development and publication of regular insight reports, sharing what people and communities are telling us about our services. Manage contracts and relationships with external providers relating to public and community involvement (e.g. the voluntary sector) Oversee responses to ministerial briefings, PQs, MQTs and OSC requests Build and maintain key relationships including NHS provider trusts, local authorities, Healthwatch, the voluntary sector and other public services services Develop strategic alliances with partner agencies to share best practice and work together to improve communications functions across the health and social care economy and beyond. Ensure a best practice approach to public and stakeholder engagement. 2.2 External communication Develop a strategy for proactive positive communications and reputation management around local improvements across integrated care, mental health, primary care, service reconfiguration and other projects as required Establish and communicate the key messages and objectives of NW London in order to promote a consistent message. Responsible for communicating highly sensitive, complex and contentious information to a wide variety of individuals and groups, such as the media, public involvement and third sector representatives, senior managers, Trusts, Local Authorities and CCGs. Develop clear working processes and a workflow plan for the Communications and Engagement team. Plan, develop and implement public education campaigns regarding service changes and behaviour change. Ensure the development and maintenance of an effective and relevant website to support the work of the CCG/s and the ICS Commission and deliver relevant, high quality, accessible and timely publications for diverse audiences which effectively support, promote and raise awareness of the improvements in North West London. Oversee responses to media and Freedom of Information requests as required. 2.3 Internal NHS relations Work in partnership with local borough-based teams across NHS NW London. Ensure the development of strong working relationships with all levels of the NHS including developing and maintaining relationships with Department of Health, NHS England, NHS England (London) and the Trust Development Authority Provide high quality, timely specialist advice on corporate, internal and online communications to the Executive Team, ICS and workstream leads Facilitate and support the development of communication networks within the geographical locality that span health and social care organisations. Oversee internal communications across NHS North West London, including managing the Internal Communications Manager. 2.4 Media relations Build and maintain relationships with regional, national and trade media ensuring the provision of effective, timely and responsive media relations to ensure balance in all media coverage Brief key spokespeople to ensure the organisation is represented appropriately in its communications with the media Oversee the provision of an effective press office function which gives accurate and timely responses to media enquiries and monitor media coverage to identify weak areas and develop and maintain strong areas Ensure that there is 24/7 communications support to deal with urgent press enquiries. 2.5 Stakeholder involvement Oversee the relationship with, work programme of, and papers submitted to the NW London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Oversee responses to ministerial briefings, PQs, MQTs and OSC requests Build and maintain key relationships include the media, MPs, Local Authorities and other ambulance and emergency services Develop strategic alliances with partner agencies to share best practice and work together to improve communications functions across the health and social care economy and beyond. Ensure a best practice approach to public and stakeholder engagement. 3. Functional responsibilities 3.1 Operational Link with managers and members of other workstreams to address inter-dependencies and ensure alignment Represent the organisation in sensitive and political situations, delivering difficult messages where required to high-level audiences and members of the public Accountable for developing and delivering strategy, promoting innovation and supporting operational excellence around communications, engagement and co-production in the organisation Support all workstreams and inputting into wider ICS strategy. 3.2 Financial & physical resources Accountability and sign off for all projects and initiatives Constantly strive for value for money and greater efficiency in the use of budgets Manage the communications and engagement budget to ensure a planned, managed and balanced budget is maintained. 3.3 Staff management Manage, motivate and develop staff within the team to ensure that they are able to deliver the responsibilities of the team. Recruit as necessary and performance manage a team that delivers a range of tasks within a matrix structure in a challenging environment. Manage ICS Communications Leads and Internal Communications Manager. Ensure the provision of regular supervision, objective setting, appraisal and personal development plans to all direct reports and their staff 3.4 Research & development Incorporate research in all strategies to ensure continuous learning and improvement within communications, engagement, equalities and the NW London EPIC programme. Analyse strategy implementation, monitor and evaluate to ensure that communications, engagement, equalities and co-production through public involvement programme leads to positive changes and modernisation within service delivery. Draw from experience and expertise of other NHS and public sector organisations. As appropriate, undertake evaluation of the views of key audiences, including service users and members of the local population, in order to continually improve on our reputation and impact of our work programmes. 4. Operational Responsibilities 4.1 Planning and Organisation Accountable for developing and owning the operational strategy Develop plan for the delivery of the roles responsibilities including identifying interdependencies, managing risks, determining resource requirements and building in contingency where necessary Be a senior leader in the Directorates strategic planning process and delivery of priorities, managing consequential adjustments to activities responsible for as required.