Overview

Are you skilled at building and maintaining strong internal and external relationships? Do you want to make a difference in shaping how we reach and engage with our communities? Would you like to have an impact on our services for the benefit of our patients?

Working for the region's leading voice for mental health, community, learning disability and autism services, you'll take pride in creating a culture of engagement to inform future communications activity for targeted stakeholder groups including our patients, colleagues and communities.

Responsibilities

• Join a busy Communications Team in a new, hybrid role with opportunities to engage with services and communities across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
• Lead engagement activities to understand what matters to communities and how to reach those with influence.
• Apply your experience in engagement processes and market research to inform engagement and inform approaches through formal consultation.
• Build strong partnerships with internal teams and external partners.
• Translate complex technical issues into clear, accessible language for diverse audiences, including senior leaders, patients, families, MPs and local residents.
• Develop and execute engagement strategies, plans and campaigns.
• Collaborate with communications colleagues and work proactively from your own initiative.
• Develop knowledge of Lancashire and South Cumbria, its community groups and key stakeholders to support engagement goals.
• Contribute to community development and inclusivity efforts.
• Collect, interpret and analyse feedback to improve services and inform approaches.
• Plan and attend events, representing the Trust as needed.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare reports on engagement activities.
• Share expert engagement advice with colleagues at all levels.

Qualifications

• Experience in engagement and related processes, with a background in market research to inform engagement.
• Knowledge of formal consultation processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into easily understandable language.
• Comfortable speaking to a range of audiences including senior leaders, patients, families, MPs, and local communities.
• Ability to deliver and understand engagement strategies, plans and campaigns.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work well in a team while taking initiative.
• Knowledge of Lancashire and South Cumbria, local community groups, external partners and other stakeholders.
• Passion for community development and inclusivity.

About the Trust

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care. The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Working patterns and benefits

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working; we believe a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.