This is a great opportunity to join our busy communications team. As communications lead for one of our key digital programmes (our electronic patient record) you'll create clear, engaging communications that explain what's changing, why it matters, and what it means for people's day-to-day work and care. You'll work with the programme team, senior leaders and clinical teams to plan campaigns, shape key messages and produce high-quality content across different channels. You'll help colleagues feel informed, listened to and supported through change, using feedback and insight to keep improving.If you enjoy fast-paced work that makes a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.
You must have the Right to Work in the UK in order to be successfully appointed to this role. Please note, this role does not meet the required eligibility criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa and therefore the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular role.
The communications lead will be responsible for communications and engagement for our trust's electronic patient record (EPR) programme.
You'll plan and deliver clear, timely and accessible communications from early planning and readiness through to go-live and implementation. Working closely with communications colleagues and the programme team, you'll develop objectives, key messages and a comprehensive communications and engagement plan aligned to our trust's communications strategy.
The role requires strong judgement, excellent communication skills and the ability to explain complex and sensitive information clearly to a wide range of audiences, including staff, clinicians, patients, carers, partners and the public.
You'll provide expert communications advice to senior colleagues, use insight and evaluation to improve communications, and contribute to building trust and confidence in our trust.
There is a requirement to work from the office at least 2 days per week.
We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.
From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care -our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.
We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.
We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.
10 June 2026
Agenda for change
Band 7
£49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum
Fixed term
12 months
Full-time
346-CORP-051-26
West Park Hospital / Flatts Lane
Darlington
DL2 2TS
United Kingdom
Main responsibilities include:
- Lead communications and engagement for our trusts EPR programme, ensuring clear, timely and accessible communication that supports successful delivery and builds confidence in the programme.
- Develop objectives, key messages and delivery plans aligned to our trusts communications strategy.
- Lead communications handling for sensitive, complex or high profile issues relating to the EPR programme, providing clear, timely and accurate information to maintain staff, stakeholder and public confidence.
- Provide expert advice to senior leaders and clinicians, and use insight and evaluation to continuously improve communications activity
- Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring people are engaged and supported through change
- Use data, insight, measurement and evaluation to guide our communications approach.
- May be required to deputise for the trusts head of communications.
- Build trust and public confidence in our trust, both internally and externally.
- Promote a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities at all times.
Main responsibilities include:
- Lead communications and engagement for our trusts EPR programme, ensuring clear, timely and accessible communication that supports successful delivery and builds confidence in the programme.
- Develop objectives, key messages and delivery plans aligned to our trusts communications strategy.
- Lead communications handling for sensitive, complex or high profile issues relating to the EPR programme, providing clear, timely and accurate information to maintain staff, stakeholder and public confidence.
- Provide expert advice to senior leaders and clinicians, and use insight and evaluation to continuously improve communications activity
- Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring people are engaged and supported through change
- Use data, insight, measurement and evaluation to guide our communications approach.
- May be required to deputise for the trusts head of communications.
- Build trust and public confidence in our trust, both internally and externally.
- Promote a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities at all times.
- Educated to degree level
- A professional qualification in marketing/public relations/social media/
- Evidence of continuous professional development in communications/ social/digital media
- Significant experience in communications or engagement within a large, complex organisation
- Experience of leading communications for major change or digital transformation
- An understanding of the NHS
- An understanding of the role of a mental health trust and the wider health and social care sector
- Awareness and knowledge of the political environment, locally and nationally.
- Experience using insight, data and evaluation to inform communications activity.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
- Proven organisational skills.
- Be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with people at all levels.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, including advising senior leaders.
- Be able to understand complex information and its implications and adapt it for a range of different audiences.
- Experience of successfully developing and implementing communication strategies/plans.
- Experience of using intranets, websites and social media as a communications tool
- Up to date knowledge of current communication channels and how to use them effectively
- Proven ability to use initiative, think strategically, and take a proactive approach to problem solving.
- Ability to work within agreed parameters and with minimal supervision.
- Ability to manage time effectively, take a broad view of team resources and organisational objectives and allocate priorities.
- Highly self-motivated, able to work to strict deadlines and shift and allocate priorities when needed.
- Ability to respond calmly to difficult situations, identify issues and provide appropriate level of advice and support.
- Diplomatic and politically sensitive
- Highly organised and proactive.
- Able to work independently and manage competing priorities.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Be able to demonstrate a high level of creativity and initiative, whilst also being a team player.
- Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
- Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
- Self-aware and committed to continual professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
- Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
- Committed to promoting a positive image of the communications team and the wider trust.
- Ability to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes.
- Educated to degree level
- A professional qualification in marketing/public relations/social media/
- Evidence of continuous professional development in communications/ social/digital media
- Significant experience in communications or engagement within a large, complex organisation
- Experience of leading communications for major change or digital transformation
- An understanding of the NHS
- An understanding of the role of a mental health trust and the wider health and social care sector
- Awareness and knowledge of the political environment, locally and nationally.
- Experience using insight, data and evaluation to inform communications activity.
- Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
- Proven organisational skills.
- Be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with people at all levels.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, including advising senior leaders.
- Be able to understand complex information and its implications and adapt it for a range of different audiences.
- Experience of successfully developing and implementing communication strategies/plans.
- Experience of using intranets, websites and social media as a communications tool
- Up to date knowledge of current communication channels and how to use them effectively
- Proven ability to use initiative, think strategically, and take a proactive approach to problem solving.
- Ability to work within agreed parameters and with minimal supervision.
- Ability to manage time effectively, take a broad view of team resources and organisational objectives and allocate priorities.
- Highly self-motivated, able to work to strict deadlines and shift and allocate priorities when needed.
- Ability to respond calmly to difficult situations, identify issues and provide appropriate level of advice and support.
- Diplomatic and politically sensitive
- Highly organised and proactive.
- Able to work independently and manage competing priorities.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Be able to demonstrate a high level of creativity and initiative, whilst also being a team player.
- Able to work in accordance with the Staff Compact and Trust Values and Behaviours.
- Committed to continual quality and service improvement.
- Self-aware and committed to continual professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision.
- Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
- Committed to promoting a positive image of the communications team and the wider trust.
- Ability to travel independently across the locality and have access to a suitable vehicle for business purposes.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
West Park Hospital / Flatts Lane
Darlington
DL2 2TS
United Kingdom
https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
West Park Hospital / Flatts Lane
Darlington
DL2 2TS
United Kingdom
https://www.tewv.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
