Job summary
- Main area
- Communications
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 434-C8409541
- Employer
- Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Stoke Mandeville Hospital
- Town
- Aylesbury
- Salary
- £32,073 - £39,043 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 18/11/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Communications Officer
NHS AfC: Band 5
Be part of our BHT family
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust (BHT) is an integrated provider of acute hospital and community services for people living in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.
We care for over half a million patients every year:
- Provide specialist spinal services at our world renowned National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics
- Nationally recognised for urology and skin cancer services
- Regional specialist centre for burns, plastic surgery, dermatology, stroke and cardiac services
- Deliver community services in health centres, schools, patients’ own homes, community hospitals and community hubs.
More than 6,500 people from different nations, cultures and backgrounds work for us.
We would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options. We strive to be a family friendly, inclusive employer.
If you require any assistance in making this application, please contact [email protected] or phone 01494 734868.
We pride ourselves in being a great place to work and invite you to join our BHT family.
Job overview
The Communications Officer will play an important role in delivering high-quality, engaging and accessible internal and external communications that support Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust’s strategic priorities, reputation and values.
Working as part of the Communications team, the post holder will help tell the BHT story by proactively identifying and developing stories about our colleagues, patients, services and achievements for internal channels, external audiences and the media.
The post holder will have a strong role in delivering internal communications, including coordinating and producing the weekly BHT Bulletin, creating content for the intranet and other colleague channels.
They will also support external communications and media relations, including identifying positive news stories, drafting press releases and media materials, responding to straightforward media enquiries and supporting interviews, filming and media visits.
The role will work closely with the Senior Digital and Communications Officer, supporting the creation of engaging social media and digital content, including written content, photography, graphics and video.
Main duties of the job
- Coordinate and produce the weekly BHT Bulletin and create clear, engaging and accessible content for the intranet and other internal channels.
- Proactively identify and develop stories about colleagues, patients, services and achievements for internal and external audiences.
- Research, write and edit content including news stories, press releases, website articles, case studies, briefings and campaign materials.
- Support media relations, including enquiries, interviews, filming, photography, media visits and launches.
- Create engaging social media and digital content, including copy, photography, graphics and short-form video.
- Support internal and external campaigns, events and colleague engagement activity.
- Build relationships across the Trust, identifying communications opportunities and turning complex information into clear, accessible content.
- Adapt content for different audiences and channels, ensuring it is accurate, inclusive and consistent with BHT standards.
- Monitor and evaluate communications activity to improve its reach and effectiveness.
- Support communications during operational issues and incidents, escalating sensitive matters appropriately.
- Ensure communications meet confidentiality, information governance, consent and accessibility requirements.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, partners and stakeholders, managing competing priorities effectively.
Working for our organisation
Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! - BHT - A great place to work (buckshealthcare.nhs.uk)
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
- As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
- We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
- We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
Why work for us?
- We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
- As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
- Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
- A keen supporter of the Armed Forces Community who know the value of employing a service leaver/veteran and their families.
What do we stand for?
- Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
- Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
- Our care values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [email protected] quoting the vacancy reference number.
Person specification
Essential
Essential criteria
- Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate and accessible content.
- Evidence of creating written or digital content, gained through employment, education, volunteering, placements or personal projects.
- Ability to understand information and adapt it for different audiences and channels.
Essential
Essential criteria
- Good organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.
Desirable
Desirable criteria
- Experience or knowledge of communications and content creation, ideally within the NHS, public sector or another large or complex organisation.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
.png "National Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark")
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rachael Stirling
- Job title
- Acting Deputy Head of Communications
- Email address
- [email protected]
List jobs with Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in Administrative Services or all sectors