Communications Assistant

As a key member of our Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Team, you'll have the opportunity to showcase a wide range of communication skills while being an exceptional team player. You will provide invaluable advice and support to our team and the wider Trust, making a significant impact every day.

Ideal for Aspiring Communicators
This entry-level position is perfect for a creative and talented individual with a passion for communications. Whether you have experience in internal communications, digital communications, or social media, this role will allow you to develop and expand your skill set. It's a fantastic opportunity to start your career in the communications and PR sector within the NHS, gaining hands-on experience in a fast-paced public sector environment.
You will receive on-the-job training and report to the Associate Director of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement. Your contributions will support the Trust's capital projects programme, enhancing our communications service across the entire organisation. This role is ideal for someone who can hit the ground running, take initiative, and respond quickly to challenges., + Be the first point of contact for other teams with their communications requirements and enquiries and assist with facilitating, coordinating, implementing, updating and developing Trust-wide information for staff, patients, service users and carers, and the public across all platforms including print and digital
+ Schedule internal and external meetings related to the capital projects programme, managing invitees, taking minutes and distributing papers in a timely manner
+ Work closely with internal departments and external partners to draft and edit copy on leaflets, information for posters, reports, screensavers and all Trust literature as appropriate, + Produce graphics, artwork, animations and video for capital project communications using Canva and other AI generative tools
+ Ensure all material is produced within Trust guidelines and that all patient information complies with the Accessible Information Standard requirements
+ Work with the Communications team to develop and implement communication plans for the Trust's capital projects and stakeholder engagement
+ Work with the Communications team to support the planning and delivery of staff engagement events
+ Evaluate the effectiveness of capital project communications and develop a system for evaluation and feedback
+ Support the Stakeholder Engagement and Public Affairs manager with horizon scanning and regular analysis of the external political environment
+ Work with colleagues to explore innovative ways to reach our audiences via video content for social and digital media
+ Liaise with staff and support the team to come up with a range of solutions that best suit the target audience
+ Create engaging and compelling written and digital content for a variety of audiences and channels
+ Support external, internal and virtual events, including booking venues, organising. invitations and maintaining a log of attendees and feedback.
+ Develop an understanding of different target audiences' needs and develop the ability to produce copy work which will most effectively target those specific audiences
+ Develop the ability to correctly interpret enquiries and respond accordingly
+ Advocate on behalf of the department on the importance of good practice in communications
+ Maintain database lists and support the distribution and updating of materials
+ Form effective relationships with staff at all levels across the organisation as well as with external suppliers such as printers and external designers
The Trust is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Confident Employer, we welcome applicants from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with a disability and are committed to treating people fairly with compassion, respect and dignity and in promoting equality and human rights. We aim to put this commitment into practice by:
+ Embedding our commitment to tackling inequality, eliminating discrimination and harassment; promoting equality of opportunity and fostering good relations in our everyday practice
+ Ensuring that all our services and all staff understand and support our commitment
+ We believe that people who use our services, their carers and our staff, should be treated with compassion, respect and dignity
Please note:
+ That all applications for this post will need to be made online
+ That you read and understand the Job Description and Personal Specification attached to the role. Your Statement in Support should reflect the requirements specified as your application will be judged against these criteria
+ That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received. We advise that you submit your application as early as possible
+ That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3rd party e-recruitment system. All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs
+ That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
+ That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
+ That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
+ That we are a smoke-free Trust
SLaM is a Stonewall Diversity Champion , Stonewall is the largest Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans (LGBT) rights charity in Europe'

NHS AfC: Band 3
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We deliver specialist services in the London boroughs of Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Wandsworth and Richmond.
We are committed to provide a high quality and specialist care to our service users and we are recognised for our care and treatment we provide. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good'.
We launched our five-year strategy, Aiming High; Changing Lives in 2021 together with Our Care Improvement System as our quality management system methodology to make a positive impact on patient care, outcomes and staff experience. By joining SLaM, all staff will get the opportunity to be part of this exciting improvement journey supported with learning and development to harness everyone's potential as change makers.
The trust recognises the unique and valuable contribution that people with lived experience of mental illness can bring to a role. We therefore welcome applications from people with lived experience and consider them as an asset to the Trust.
Our Values
We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values and our promise to be caring, kind, polite, prompt, honest, listen and do what I say I'm going to do is at the heart of everything we do. When you join us, you'll be part of something special.
As a Trust we are happy to talk flexible working.

We are committed to ensuring our staff get the most out of their benefits package and understand the importance of a healthy work life balance. There is an extensive range of excellent benefits for you and your family.
We want you to feel like you are part of a close knit team at South London and Maudsley. It's important to us that you valued and appreciated and that are why we have a comprehensive benefits package on offer.
Some of our benefits include:
+ Generous pay, pensions and leave, we offer a comprehensive pay, pensions and leave package, which is dependent on the role and length of service
+ Work life balance, flexible working and support a range of flexible options, such as: part-time working and job sharing
+ Career development, There are plenty of opportunities to progress your career and we support your development through a number of programmes such as mentoring, coaching, positive people management, collective leadership and other talent programmes
+ Car lease, our staff benefits from competitive deals to lease cars
Accommodation, our staff benefits from key-worker housing available which is available on selected sites
NHS discounts, with discounts up to 10% from a variety of well-known retail brands though Health Service Discounts website.
Other benefits include:
+ Counselling services
+ Wellbeing events
+ Long service awards
+ Cycle to work scheme
+ Season ticket loan
+ Childcare vouchers
+ Staff restaurants