About this role
Job summary
Are you ready to help shape the future of community-based health services across Oxfordshire during a rewarding 6 month contract?
We're looking for an experienced, creative and highly motivated Communications and Engagement Manager to lead communications and engagement for our Community Health Services, Dentistry and Primary Care Directorate alongside our health and care partners and local communities.
This is a fantastic opportunity to lead communications and engagement across some of the Trust's most exciting programmes. Working with senior leaders, clinicians, communities and partners across the health and care system, you'll help bring change to life, build trusted relationships and ensure local voices are at the heart of service improvement.
No two days will be the same. One day you could be supporting a major neighbourhood health programme, the next engaging with community groups, developing compelling content or working alongside partners to tackle health inequalities.
If you're a strategic thinker who enjoys getting stuck in, thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about making a real difference for local communities, we'd love to hear from you.
This is a 6 month fixed term contract to support engagement across this directorate and funding is in place until the end of March 2027.
Interviews will take place in Witney, Oxfordshire on 15th September.
Main duties of the job
Lead strategic communications and engagement for major transformation and service improvement programmes across the Directorate, including neighbourhood health and care initiatives. Build trusted relationships with patients, carers, communities, VCFSE organisations and system partners, ensuring meaningful involvement of seldom-heard groups and those experiencing health inequalities. Work closely with leaders, partners and patient experience teams to strengthen co-production and lived-experience involvement.
Provide expert advice to senior leaders and programme teams on communications, engagement, stakeholder management, change and reputation. Develop and deliver integrated communications plans across digital, social media, print, events and stakeholder channels, tailored to different audiences.
Coordinate activity with Trust and partner communications teams to ensure consistent messaging and effective reputation management. Produce toolkits, briefings, engagement resources and promotional materials, and support the delivery of events, workshops and stakeholder meetings.
Manage multiple priorities and projects, identifying risks, resolving issues and adapting plans to meet changing needs. Oversee relationships with external organisations and suppliers, including budget and administrative processes. Monitor and evaluate communications and engagement activity, using insight to demonstrate impact and drive continuous improvement.
About us
Please note that this role will require us to undertake a DBS check as a part of your onboarding.
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application please read the "candidate guide to making an application" and ensure your supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses any essential criteria.
As a Trust we provide physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and Northeast Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible. Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: "Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"
Our values are: "Caring, safe and excellent"
We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
o Opportunities for career progressiono Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and developmento 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous serviceo NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailerso Competitive pension schemeo Lease car schemeo Cycle to work schemeo Employee Assistance Programmeo Mental Health First Aiderso Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Job description Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will lead communications and engagement activity across the Community Health Services, Dentistry and Primary Care Directorate, supporting major programmes of transformation centred on neighbourhood health and care.
Reporting directly to the Head of Communications and Engagement, you will play a key role in bringing programme activity to life through engaging communications and meaningful involvement of patients, communities, staff and stakeholders. You will work across organisational boundaries to strengthen partnerships, support co-production and ensure communications and engagement activities contribute to improved experiences, outcomes and reduced health inequalities.
The successful candidate will be confident operating at a senior level, influencing a wide range of stakeholders and managing communications and engagement activity across multiple priorities and programmes.
We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.
The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. We kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of their experience and must take care to ensure the use of AI tools does not generate an application that does not accurately reflect their knowledge, skills and values.
Person Specification
Knowledge requirements Essential
Highly specialist knowledge and experience of internal and external communications, public relations, stakeholder engagement particularly with the voluntary and community sector and working with the media. Extensive knowledge of developing and contributing to communication and engagement strategies and plans from interpreting national policy, local strategies and complex projects and programmes. A good understanding of the relationship between system partners - including the Thames Valley ICB, local councils, acute Trust, Ambulance Trust, Primary Care, voluntary and community sector providers - as well as regional bodies like NHSE/DHSC.
Desirable
.3+ years' public sector experience
Experience Essential
Evidence of using a wide range of communications and engagement tools and channels (including digital) with the ability to identify the right channel for the particular audience, including a good knowledge of the principles of stakeholder analysis. Ability to translate complex projects, programmes and information to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders in an engaging and suitable format using both written and visual styles. Ability to use informed persuasion to influence others on appropriate communications and engagement approach.
Qualifications - Academic/Skills/Professional Essential
Educated to Master's level or equivalent experience of working at a senior level in communications. Extensive knowledge of communications and engagement, acquired through postgraduate diploma or equivalent experience or training, plus further specialist knowledge or experience to Master's level equivalent. Evidence of continued professional development.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check 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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Oxford Health NHS Trust
Address Littlemore Mental Health Centre
Oxford
OX4 4XN
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)