Head of Media and Public Relations (Permanent) in Cheshire, Widnes

Head of Media and Public Relations (Permanent) in Cheshire, Widnes

Widnes +1 Full-Time 40000 - 50000 € / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead media strategy and amplify voices in social care through impactful storytelling.
  • Company: Join one of the UK's largest charities, passionate about making a difference.
  • Benefits: Flexible hours, retail discounts, wellbeing support, and a contributory pension scheme.
  • Other info: Hybrid working with opportunities for national travel and sector events.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by changing perceptions and influencing policy in social care.
  • Qualifications: Proven PR experience, strong media instincts, and exceptional storytelling skills.

The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 € per year.

Do you want your work to genuinely matter - amplifying the voices of people who need to be heard, shifting public perception of social care, and putting a passionate, values-driven charity on the national map? Community Integrated Care is one of the UK's largest social care charities, supporting thousands of people with learning disabilities or mental health conditions to live the lives they choose. We are setting out to be even more creative, courageous and influential in how we champion the people we support and drive change across the sector.

We're looking for an exceptional PR & Media Manager to lead our media function and help us tell our story with ambition, imagination and impact - playing a pivotal role in bringing our Best Lives, Bolder vision to life through powerful storytelling and high-impact media engagement. This is a full time permanent, national role with hybrid working. You will be required to work from our head office at least once a week, so our ideal candidate will be based within an hour's commute of Widnes, Cheshire.

Flexibility: You can work your 37.5 hours over 4 days and enjoy a long weekend, or split the hours over 5 days to accommodate your other commitments.

Pension: contributory pension scheme

Benefits: retail discounts, holiday discounts, cycle to work scheme and travel discounts through our benefits app

Best Lives Possible: You'll be working for an award winning charity who is passionate about ensuring our colleagues and the people we support lead the best lives possible.

Support: From our Employee Assistance Programme (available 24/7), financial support options, and wellbeing fund you'll have the support available to lead an easier (financial) life.

This isn't a press office role. Developing and owning our national and regional Media & PR Strategy, aligned to our influencing and advocacy goals. Proactively pitching compelling stories to secure high-quality national, regional, trade and broadcast coverage. Building and nurturing relationships with journalists, influencers and media contacts across care, sport, culture and nature sectors. Leading crisis communications - protecting our reputation calmly and decisively when it matters most. Translating complex policy and social care issues into accessible, powerful content for diverse audiences. Collaborating closely with our Head of Influencing, Policy and Public Affairs to align media work with policy goals. Working with our Partnerships & Communities team to turn community programmes into media-ready stories. Supporting and developing confident spokespeople at every level of the organisation. Monitoring coverage, producing insight-driven reports and keeping senior leaders informed on media trends and reputational risks.

Track record: Proven experience in a PR, media or communications role in the charity, public, health or social care sector.

Media instinct: You know a story, you know how to place it, and you know when to act fast.

Strategy: Experience designing and delivering media strategies with measurable outcomes.

Crisis management: Experience building proactive processes for reputation risks and leading calm, confident responses when issues arise.

Relationships: A strong network of media contacts or the ability to build one quickly across sectors.

Storytelling: Exceptional writing, from press releases to opinion pieces to compelling human stories.

Policy experience: Ability to turn complex social, regulatory or policy issues into content that lands with public and political audiences.

You'll be working for an award-winning charity that’s passionate about ensuring our colleagues and the people we support lead the best lives possible. Flexible hours - work 37.5 hours over four days for a long weekend, or across five days to suit you. You can also work from home, with at least one day per week at our Widnes Head Office. Opportunities to travel nationally and attend sector events and media moments. A contributory pension scheme to help you plan for the future. Wellbeing support, including a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, financial support options and a wellbeing fund. Retail discounts, holiday deals, cycle to work scheme and travel discounts via our benefits app.

If you're a bold, strategic communicator who wants to use your skills to change perceptions, influence policy and amplify the voices of people in social care - we'd love to hear from you.

Please note, if you are interested in this role, we welcome your application as soon as possible!

We’re really proud to be a Hive HR Employee Voice Certified organisation, a recognition that confirms our commitment to creating a culture where our colleagues are not only encouraged to share their thoughts, but where this feedback is actively sought and acted upon to drive positive change at every level.

In our 2025 Colleague Engagement Survey, 59% (nearly 3,800) of our people shared their feedback and insights, giving us an incredible Employee Net Promoter Score of +34. The Employee Net Promoter Score is a measure of how willing our colleagues are to recommend us as a good place to work to their loved ones – and a score of +34 is considered a Very Good score when compared to global benchmarks set by hundreds of other organisations.

Locations

WidnesCheshire

Head of Media and Public Relations (Permanent) in Cheshire, Widnes employer: Community Integrated Care

Community Integrated Care is an award-winning charity that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a significant impact in the social care sector. With flexible working hours, a supportive culture, and numerous employee benefits including a contributory pension scheme and wellbeing support, we empower our team to thrive both personally and professionally. Join us in amplifying voices that matter and be part of a passionate organisation dedicated to driving positive change.

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Contact Detail:

Community Integrated Care Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Media and Public Relations (Permanent) in Cheshire, Widnes

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the media and PR world. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to journalists or influencers. Building relationships can open doors that applications alone can't.

Tip Number 2

Show off your storytelling skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share compelling stories from your past experiences. Make sure they see how you can turn complex issues into engaging narratives that resonate with audiences.

Tip Number 3

Be proactive! If you spot an opportunity to pitch a story or idea that aligns with the charity's mission, go for it. This shows initiative and your understanding of their goals, making you stand out as a candidate who’s already thinking like a team member.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up! After interviews or networking events, drop a quick thank-you note or message. It keeps you on their radar and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great way to reinforce those connections we talked about!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Media and Public Relations (Permanent) in Cheshire, Widnes

Media Strategy Development
Crisis Management
Storytelling
Relationship Building
Content Creation
Public Relations
Media Engagement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your passion for social care shine through. We want to see how much you care about amplifying voices and making a difference in the community. Share personal stories or experiences that connect you to our mission!

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Highlight your media instincts and storytelling abilities, and don’t forget to mention any relevant crisis management experience you've had!

Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity! Keep your writing straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and how they align with the role. Remember, less is often more!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our values and culture!

How to prepare for a job interview at Community Integrated Care

Know Your Story

Before the interview, take some time to reflect on your own experiences in PR and media. Think about specific examples where you've successfully told a story or managed a crisis. This will help you articulate your passion for amplifying voices and shifting perceptions, which is key for this role.

Research the Charity

Dive deep into Community Integrated Care's mission, values, and recent campaigns. Understanding their Best Lives, Bolder vision will allow you to align your answers with their goals and demonstrate how you can contribute to their media strategy.

Prepare for Crisis Scenarios

Given the importance of crisis management in this role, think through potential scenarios that could arise in the charity sector. Be ready to discuss how you would handle these situations calmly and effectively, showcasing your strategic thinking and media instinct.

Build Connections

Highlight your existing network of media contacts and be prepared to discuss how you would nurture new relationships. This is crucial for securing high-quality coverage, so showing that you can hit the ground running will impress the interviewers.