Head of Communications

The Head of Communications is responsible for leading the busy, fast-paced communications and engagement team at University Hospitals of North Midlands.
Providing strategic professional advice and expertise on all aspects of communication, staff and stakeholder engagement for the Trust, the role requires the candidate to demonstrate leadership to both the department and within the wider organisation and health system.
The Head of Communications should have a helicopter view of the political landscape and the health and care system and utilise this knowledge to advise and influence senior leaders across the hospital as well as the local health economy.
The role requires the post holder to ensure the delivery of the trust's communications and engagement strategy and to manage and develop our talented communications team; prioritising and assigning projects/tasks, ensuring delivery of objectives, and nurturing a great team dynamic. They'll also have plenty of opportunities to develop their own skills and be proactive in shaping their career., Establish and communicate the key messages and objectives of the Trust in order to promote a positive image and, when necessary, limit adverse publicity using a range of media including website, stakeholder newsletters, social media and special events.
Develop procedures, standards and policies around media management, events, VIP visits, corporate identity, patient communications and other areas of communications and ensure they are implemented consistently and appropriately.
Ensure that publicity/marketing materials and patient information are of a high standard and accessible to and appropriate for relevant audiences and reflect the diversity of the communities served by the Trust
Lead on communications for responding to a crisis or handling major/ serious incidents.
Provide strategic advice and expertise to help build an engaged, informed and motivated workforce, developing opportunities for staff to give feedback and contribute to decision making
Develop and maintain positive relationships with the media, maximise positive coverage and ensure balance in all media coverage, in order to promote public confidence in the Trust.
Manage and oversee consultation responses, statements, Freedom of Information requests from the media, and ministerial briefings.
Lead an effective, professional communication team, ensuring all Trust HR policies are adhered to., · The role reports to the Deputy Director of Communications.
· Head of Communications leads the Trust's Communications Department, providing professional expertise, advice and leadership on all aspects of communication, staff and stakeholder engagement and maximising the opportunities to promote the work of the Trust.
· Establish and communicate the key messages and objectives of the Trust in order to promote a positive image and, when necessary, limit adverse publicity using a range of media including website, stakeholder newsletters, social media and special events.
· Develop procedures, standards and policies around media management, events, VIP visits, corporate identity, patient communications and other areas of communications and ensure they are implemented consistently and appropriately.
· Define and deliver a compelling brand for the Trust which clearly supports the mission, vision and values.
· Ensure that publicity/marketing materials and patient information are of a high standard and accessible to and appropriate for relevant audiences and reflect the diversity of the communities served by the Trust.
· Lead on communications for responding to a crisis or handling major/ serious incidents.
· Develop and lead the internal communications strategy and support the Trust's leadership team to deliver its programme of organisational change.
· Provide strategic advice and expertise to help build an engaged, informed and motivated workforce, developing opportunities for staff to give feedback and contribute to decision making.
· Develop and maintain positive relationships with the media, maximise positive coverage and ensure balance in all media coverage, in order to promote public confidence in the Trust.
· Manage and oversee consultation responses, statements, Freedom of Information requests from the media, and ministerial briefings.
· 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.
· Oversee the production, content and distribution of the core elements of the annual report and other publications as required.
· Lead an effective, professional communication team, ensuring all Trust HR policies are adhered to.
· Exercise ability to analyse and interpret highly complex facts, situations or communications to provide sound communications and engagement advice to the senior leadership team to ensure a best-practice approach to communications is adopted across all projects, programmes and engagement forums.
· Manage ongoing service contracts and the procurement of news goods/services, and display good fiscal responsibility to ensure that value for money is delivered.
· Lead on the negotiation of major contracts against that budget, such as for production of the staff magazine and hosting and support of the Trust's website and email distribution.
· Works closely with the Trust's Chief Executive, Chairman and other Directors and Senior Managers, providing advice and expertise on a wide range of communications issues.
· Deputise Deputy Director of Communications where necessary; attend and contribute to meetings of the Trust Board and Executive Board and any other senior meetings as required.
· Make decisions on the action to take on communications issues in the best interests of the Trust.
· With Deputy Director of Communications, responsible for the development and implementation of the Trust's Communications Strategy, including appendices such as the Media Policy
· Co-operation and collaboration with other departments and directorates, such as Organisational Development and Care Groups on communications initiatives and campaigns
· Leading on agreed training, such as media awareness and performance
· Liaison with key stakeholders such as ICB, local authorities and MPs
Important information about your application
1. All correspondence will be sent to you via the email address you applied from. Please ensure you check your emails regularly.
2. References - please ensure you provide email addresses for all referees for the last three years of employment.
3. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from everyone regardless of ethnicity, disability, gender, age, faith or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.
4. Flexible working will be considered in line with Trust policies
5. New recruits are required to pay for their Disclosure and Barring Service check (and admin fee) prior to starting if the role requires a DBS check.
6. We work with 'trac.jobs' to support out recruitment process. If you have any queries regarding this please read this privacy notice.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been awarded the Gold Award for proudly supporting those who serve. We actively encourage applications from the Armed Forces community.
We will communicate with you regarding your job application via email. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee the security of any emails sent/received via non encrypted format.
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At UHNM we are fortunate to receive a high volume of applications for many of our roles, on this occasion we would reserve the right to close any advert early, therefore please apply without delay!
If you obtained your qualifications overseas, you will be required to provide an official government translation through ECCTIS (formerly known as NARIC). Please note, this is in addition to any professional registration requirements and not a replacement for your qualifications.
If you are currently in the UK on a visa, you must have at least six months remaining on your visa at the time of your start date to ensure sufficient time for the operational and training process associated with the role. The requirement of at least six months remaining on your visa does not apply to a Skilled Worker Visa, as a new Skilled Worker Visa would be required for a new role.
In line with the change of Immigration rules on 8th January 2026 if you require Sponsorship through the Skilled Worker Visa you must be able to provide B2 English evidence before a Certificate of Sponsorship can be issued.
Visa eligibility notice:
The UK Home Office has imposed an emergency brake on specific visa routes.
1. Skilled Worker visas cannot currently be issued to Afghan nationals.
2. Study visas cannot currently be issued to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar or Sudan.
As a result, we are unable to progress applications requiring sponsorship under these routes.
UHNM supports the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist in preparing your supporting statement. However, we reserve the right to reject applications where AI has been used in a misleading manner, for example, by implying experience or understanding that the applicant does not possess or where its use is excessive or unfair. If AI has been used to support your application, you must declare this within your submission.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.
All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.
UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.
At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.