At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead communications for the Start Well programme, engaging with diverse stakeholders and creating impactful content.
- Company: Join Whittington Health NHS Trust, dedicated to improving maternity and children's services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, supportive work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on community engagement and collaboration across NHS organisations.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in healthcare while developing your project management and communication skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in communications and project management, with strong interpersonal skills.
The predicted salary is between 47951 - 56863 £ per year.
The Start Well programme is a major change to maternity, neonatal and children’s surgical services across North Central London. It follows several years of work with patients, colleagues and partners to improve care and outcomes for babies, children, pregnant women and pregnant people.
Plans agreed in 2025 include more investment in services at University College London Hospitals, Barnet Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and Whittington Hospital. The birthing suites at Edgware Birth Centre will close, with expanded antenatal and postnatal care remaining on site. Maternity and neonatal services at the Royal Free Hospital will also close in future, although this will not happen for several years.
Whittington Health’s CEO is the Senior Responsible Officer for delivery, and the programme team is hosted by Whittington Health. The work includes major building projects, new clinical pathways and workforce changes, while services continue to run safely.
Main duties of the job
Working for our organisation, Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences.
This is a complex, fast-paced role requiring strong project management, sound judgement and the ability to manage several priorities at once. The post holder will lead communications and engagement for the Start Well programme, working with senior leaders, colleagues, service users, communities and partner organisations.
- Develop and deliver a phased communications and engagement strategy aligned with programme milestones.
- Act as a trusted adviser to programme leaders, providing evidence-based advice on risks, opportunities, sequencing and stakeholder impact.
- Support consistent messaging, media handling and alignment with wider Trust priorities.
- Set objectives and measures, evaluate impact, report to programme boards and manage political, reputational and operational risks.
- Build networks of champions and strong relationships across clinical teams, corporate services and local NHS communications teams.
Communications planning and support
- Develop a comprehensive communications and engagement strategy for the implementation of the Start Well programme.
- Ensure an integrated internal and external communications plan that builds awareness, confidence, understanding and readiness across all phases of the programme.
- Establish robust stakeholder mapping and engagement plans, ensuring two-way communication and meaningful involvement of external stakeholders and colleagues at all levels.
- Work in partnership with the wider Trust communications team to ensure that plans align with wider communications plans and activity.
Communications and engagement delivery
- Implement the agreed communications plan to a high standard.
- Develop clear, accessible and compelling content to explain the purpose, benefits and impact of Start Well delivery.
- Lead the creation of high-quality communications materials across multiple channels.
Governance, risk and evaluation
- Establish clear objectives, metrics and key performance indicators for the communications and engagement workstream.
- Prepare written updates to programme boards and governance groups summarising activity, impact, risks and mitigations.
Change and adoption
- Support the development of a strong network of champions, advocates and clinical leaders.
- Build strong working relationships with programme leads, clinical teams and corporate functions.
Resource and budget management
- Ensuring effective and value-for-money use of resources.
- Commission and oversee external suppliers, creative support or production services where required.
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS
To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Start Well Communications Manager employer: Whittington Health
Islington CAMHS is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for mental health professionals. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we offer opportunities for professional development and flexible working arrangements, including optional evening clinics to better serve our community. Our commitment to diversity and improving health outcomes for vulnerable families makes this a meaningful place to work, where your contributions truly matter.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Start Well Communications Manager
✨Get Involved in PR Events
Dive into local PR meetups and workshops. Events like these are perfect for getting your face out there, chatting with industry pros, and spotting potential job openings at companies like Whittington Health. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to learn about trends and make lasting connections.
✨Showcase Your PR Skills
Start building your personal brand as a PR ace. Use platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn to share your thoughts on current events or PR campaigns you admire. Tagging companies you want to work for, like Whittington Health, can catch their eye—especially if your insights resonate!
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Reach out to friends, family, or connections in the PR field. Even a casual chat can lead to opportunities. If you've got mutual contacts, ask for introductions when applying. Personal recommendations can give your application a nice little boost!
✨Tailor Your Approach
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We think you need these skills to ace Start Well Communications Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get Your Story Straight:In public relations, storytelling is everything! Make sure your CV highlights your experience in crafting compelling narratives and managing media relations. Share specific examples of campaigns you've worked on, and don’t forget to include any press coverage you've generated—it's impressive proof of your skills!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:Since PR is all about communication, we want to see your best writing samples. Include pieces like press releases, blog posts, or social media content that you've created. This gives us a taste of your voice and your ability to convey messages clearly and effectively, which is crucial for a role in this field.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should be more than just a recap of your CV; it’s your chance to shine! Emphasise why PR excites you and how your background fits with the mission of Whittington Health. Show us that you’ve done your homework and speak to why you’re passionate about the work we do.
Connect the Dots:When you’re writing your application, think about how your past experiences link to the responsibilities of the role. Mention any internships, volunteer work, or projects that involved public speaking, event planning, or strategic communication. This will help us see how you can seamlessly bring your skills into a full-time position at Whittington Health.
How to prepare for a job interview at Whittington Health
✨Master the Art of Storytelling
In public relations, storytelling is key. We should prepare compelling narratives about past campaigns or projects we’ve worked on. Think about how we can illustrate our impact and creativity in those stories—be ready to discuss specific examples that showcase our skills in managing media relationships and crafting messages.
✨Know Your PR Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with PR tools like Cision or Meltwater is crucial. We need to be able to discuss how we’ve used these tools in past roles or projects. If we've worked on media lists, press releases, or analytics reports, let’s have those experiences ready to share along with metrics we’ve achieved to back up our claims.
✨Stay Current with Industry Trends
We’ve got to stay sharp on the latest trends and events impacting the public relations field. Having a few insights ready about recent campaigns or shifts in media landscapes can show that we’re engaged and knowledgeable. This will also help us make connections between our experiences and the current state of the industry.
✨Showcase Our Versatility
As full-time PR professionals, we need to demonstrate our adaptability. Be ready to talk about how we've handled challenging situations, managed crises, or adapted strategies on the fly. Employers will appreciate our ability to pivot and find solutions under pressure, so let’s have those scenarios at our fingertips to discuss.
