
Job requirements
Essential
16 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Training
Commitment to continually update professional practice.
- Experience
Demonstrable experience in communications role.
- Experience
Evidenced experience of writing clear and coherent copy for a variety of audiences.
- Experience
Experience of interpreting complex material into a format relevant for difference audiences.
- Experience
An understanding of media demands and motivations.
- Qualifications
Educated to degree level OR substantial experience in a communications role.
- Personal Attributes
Ability to travel across the Trust as appropriate to the role.
- Physical Attributes
Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
- Physical Attributes
Team player.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Excellent interpersonal skills.;
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Ability to work flexibly, using own initiative to produce accurate work, with competing priorities including urgent arising issues.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Computer literate.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Ability to manage own time and prioritise workload.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Ability to talk to a wide range of people for example service users, carers, staff, members, colleagues in partner organisations.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Ability to handle sensitive communications issues and ensure confidentiality.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
A proactive approach, with the ability to generate new ideas and carry them forward.
Desirable
9 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Experience
Experience of public sector communications.
- Experience
Experience of proof reading.
- Experience
Experience of providing online copy.
- Experience
Experience of managing multiple projects.
- Experience
Experience of Microsoft SharePoint and WordPress.
- Qualifications
Degree in related discipline Eg PR, journalism, English or communications.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Ability to update web and intranet pages.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
Understanding of working in an environment influenced by political and social agendas.
- Special Knowledge/Skills
An understanding of health and wellbeing issues.
Job summary
37.5 hours per week
As a marketing and communications officer you will be joining a multi-skilled and award-winning team who are focused on providing strong people-focused communication.
You will play a lead role in developing and delivering communications across internal and external platforms, with a specific focus on digital communications (including web, intranet, podcasts, films, social media).
The role will require an ability to produce complex and sensitive information to multiple audiences including all levels of staff, public, patients, stakeholders and partners.
You will help us to provide comprehensive specialist communications support, working with our mental health, learning disability, community, wellbeing and forensic services, and our health, care and community partners.
You will be responsible for producing high quality content for digital communications platforms and materials for publication; providing advice to staff on communications issues; reputation management, and media relations.
Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is only available for experienced applicants if they qualify for a higher Band 5 salary of £33,400.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
Main duties of the job
You'll provide specialist marketing, communications and engagement support to our mental health, learning disability, community and wellbeing services and our corporate teams.
You'll provide support in all aspects of marketing, communication and engagement; through our internal, external and digital channels.
You'll proactively seek out good news across the Trust and work with staff at all levels to celebrate achievement and success.
You'll work collaboratively with staff, people who use services and their carers to share lived experiences, increasing public confidence and awareness of our services.
The role will involve content creation and determining where this should be placed for maximum benefit and impact.
You'll be a champion of online and digital communications producing high quality content for channels such as the intranet, website and social media.
You'll work collaboratively with other members of the communications team to jointly deliver projects.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Details
- Date posted: 14 October 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 5
- Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
- Reference number: C9378-QA01526
- Job locations: Block 6, Fieldhead Hospital, Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield, WF1 3SP, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.
The post holder will be an integral part of the communications team, supporting the delivery of the Trusts communication strategies, in a varied and diverse role.
The post holder will play a key role in delivering effective internal and external communications using a variety of methods. This will include producing publications that are reflective of the Trusts services and current issues, the production of timely web based information, social media messages, weekly updates, corporate documents and service user information, as well as assisting in event and campaign management.
The post holder will be responsible for raising the profile of the Trust, promoting the positive achievements across all Trust services, and reinforcing an anti-stigma message regarding mental health and learning disability issues. They will work proactively with the media and monitor the effectiveness of this work through monthly media analysis.
The post holder will be expected to develop a broad range of skills and knowledge to enable optimal performance in the role.
KEY RESULT AREAS
- Play a key role in the production of information for service users, carers, members of the public, staff and other key stakeholders. This will include agreeing content, generating ideas for stories, producing clear, engaging copy from a range of sources.
- Support staff in the Trusts Business Delivery Units (clinical services) and in support functions in communicating their key agendas.
- Contribute proactively to the on-going development of the Trusts website and intranet site providing accurate and timely information for staff, members, service users, carers and the public through the use of content management software. This will include monitoring existing online copy and reviewing as necessary, linking to social media as appropriate.
- Support the ongoing development of the Trust's online profile including our presence on social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube; provide content such as case studies and news stories for all of the Trust's digital platforms.
- Collate a weekly email brief for staff, highlighting key news and information from across the organisation, tailoring the information and communicating it in the most effective way.
- Support and encourage staff, service users and carers to share their stories and news through internal and external communication channels, researching and producing stories that maximise potential for coverage and conform to house guidelines.
- Support key Trust initiatives such as Creative Minds, Transformation and Values into Excellence.
- Develop and maintain positive relations with local, regional and specialist media, to raise the profile of the Trust and its services, highlight achievements and promote and encourage understanding of Trust services including mental health and learning disability issues. Deal with follow-up calls to proactive media stories, including requests for interviews and photos, ensuring deadlines are met.
- Provide design studio staff with verbal and written briefs for photographic shoots, ensuring that appropriate consent issues are adhered to. On occasion, take digital photographs for internal and external use and upload and correctly tag them in the internal photo library.
- Support, as appropriate, the production of a range of high quality corporate documents and literature. This includes proof reading to ensure Trust material is of a consistently high quality and conforms to house guidelines, working with staff on amendments.
- Support the production of high quality information for service users and carers on Trust services and health conditions
- Liaise, as appropriate, with communications colleagues in partner organisations to ensure consistent messages.
- Provide a cuttings service for the Trust, to monitor positive and negative media coverage of Trust services. Produce a monthly media analysis that includes benchmarking against other local organisations.
- Support staff, service users and carers in entering awards, by promoting awards, assisting in the completion of entries and providing advice on categories and formats.
- Assist in the organisation of specific events such as official openings, staff events, members events and health promotion campaigns.
- Contribute to specific projects as required.
Trust Values:
The Trust is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care and treatment and expects that all staff treat people e.g, service users, their carers, relatives, friends, colleagues, visitors etc, with dignity and respect at all time. The post holder must at all times act in accordance with the Trusts Values:
We put the person first and in the centre
We know that families and carers matter
We are respectful, honest, open and transparent
We improve and aim to be outstanding
We are relevant today and ready for tomorrow
Safeguarding:
Report any concerns regarding the safety or wellbeing of children, adults service users, members of their families etc, in accordance with Trust Policy.
Prevent and respond appropriately to abuse and understand own role in this by undertaking Safeguarding training.
Trust policies and commitments to be read in line with the relevant Trust Policy:
All staff employed by the Trust must comply with the Trusts policies and procedures, undertake appropriate training required for their role and commit to:
ensure they are aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and how they raise concerns;
maintain confidentiality, in line with the Trusts Confidentiality Policy and Code of Conduct;
understand their personal responsibilities with regards to data quality for any information which they create, use or process in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and Trust Data Protection Policy;
comply with the provisions of The Trusts Health and Safety Policy and Protocol. Ensuring their own safety and that of colleagues, service users and visitors. Know the action to be taken in the event of a fire and must undertake fire training annually;
receive supervision in line with the Trusts Supervision Policy and an annual Appraisal in line with the Trusts Appraisal Policy, during which mandatory, role specific and personal development needs should be identified and agreed;
understand their responsibilities under the Trusts Equal Opportunities in Employment Policy and ensure that they adhere to the provisions of the policy;
recognise, respect and support the equality diversity of staff, colleagues, service users, carers and the public. Contribute to a working environment which promotes and responds positively to difference and diversity;
ensure they carry out their duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18 years, as issued under Section 11 of The Children Act 2004, by being familiar with and adhering to Trust safeguarding policies and participating in relevant training;
comply with their professional responsibilities to develop their practice and deliver care through a Clinical Governance framework (i.e. CPD, Audit, Supervision);
demonstrate, through practice and practical understanding, the importance of the continual development of individual, team and service wide quality improvement;
abide by relevant codes of professional practice, with the organisation taking action when codes of conduct are breached;
work flexibly to meet the needs of the service/organisation, whilst working within a culture of progressive employment practices and commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) Standards.
adhere to the Trusts smoke free policies, which prohibits smoking anywhere on Trust grounds;
being socially responsible by complying with measures that support the Trust in reducing or offsetting our environmental impact;
Identify and report risks, hazards, incidents, accidents and near misses promptly;
In addition to the Trusts own responsibilities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, for your safety, ALL staff (and contractors) are responsible for ensuring their work adheres to this Code in the delivery of safe patient care.
This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the band as directed. The content of this post will be reviewed in consultation with the postholder when necessary and in line with the service developments.
For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.
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This advert is for Marketing and Communication Officer with South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Wakefield, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Communications officer role. The advertised salary is £32073.00 to £39043.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 28 Oct 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (14 Oct 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHSjob search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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