Senior Communications Officer - Public Health

Are you passionate about helping to improve the health and well-being of our communities in mid and west Wales? We are looking for a communication professional who wants to make a difference through your work and contribute to improved health and well-being for our communities. The Senior Communications Officer - Public Health will support us in our ambition to shift from a service focused on treating illness, to one focused on preventing ill health, or worsening of ill-health. You will need to deliver proactive and integrated communication campaigns on a variety of health issues as part of the role. You will also help manage challenging situations, where good communications is critical. This could range from managing the communications around a local public health risk to supporting with a change in how health services are provided. We want to hear from people who can evidence how their communication work has delivered positive outcomes and have experience of supporting behaviour change. If this sounds like you, please tell us in your application how you meet the essential criteria. We would love to hear about your relevant experience and ideas., The role requires an experienced communications professional who can provide leadership within the communications team and advise senior managers within the organisation on their approach to open, transparent, and honest communication, in line with our Duty of Candour. You will use communications to influence behaviour change that benefits the health of our communities. You will need to provide our internal and external audiences with clear information and creative content, using integrated communication approaches and campaigns. This could include communication on improving health, accessing services, service change, or in a major incident, in line with our Warning and Informing duties. You will need to be able to demonstrate experience of using varied mechanisms for dialogue with staff, patients, our communities, and stakeholders, and you will need to evaluate this to show outcomes and continuously learn and improve. You will deliver a programme of content and communication which also recognises and celebrates staff and UHB achievements, which benefit the local population and wider health service. You will provide a reactive service to respond effectively to what can be complex and sensitive enquiries from staff, journalists and social media users.

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties. We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services. We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers. Our services are provided in:

• Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
• Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
• Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
• 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
• Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services