Communications/public relations staff
Communications and public relations (PR) staff help NHS organisations engage with patients, their local communities, staff and other interested groups including the media.
Working life
Working in communications could be
- internal - making sure that staff are consulted and engaged on what is happening at the organisation
- external - communicating with and consulting the local and national media, politicians, other organisations and the public
You'll use many different types of communication including
- print - newsletters, leaflets and posters
- digital - websites, social media, intranets and online video
- the media - TV and radio interviews, local and national press releases
- events - conferences, meetings, exhibitions and speeches
- ad campaigns - in newspapers, on local radio, social media and in the community, such as on public transport
The role
Your role in communications and PR can include
- managing the reputation of the organisation
- developing, implementing and evaluating communications strategies
- media handling, such as placing good news stories, handling bad publicity and dealing with enquiries
- developing links with local organisations
- updating the website, intranet and social media
- briefing other health organisations on developments, plans and incidents
- producing information for patients
- writing speeches for senior managers
- managing the NHS corporate identity and taking local responsibility for the NHS brand
- including patients and local communities in changes to health services
- advising senior colleagues on strategic communications
- health promotion campaigns.
Jobs may have different titles. Some reflect the seniority of the post, for example
- communications and engagement officer
- communications lead
- communications and marketing officer
- communications and engagement assistant
- deputy head of communications
- communications specialist
- communications manager
- head of communications and engagement
Who will I work with?
Depending on the size of the organisation, communications staff may work alone or as part of a team. In a large organisation, there may be a communications department, with a communications director who may be a senior manager. In some organisations, communications staff may have other related roles, such as patient and public involvement or corporate affairs.
Find out more about managerial roles in communications and corporate affairs
Some communications and PR staff work for PR companies which provide services or run campaigns for the NHS.
Entry requirements
Although there is no set entry route, communications and PR staff often have a relevant qualification. This could be in PR, marketing, journalism or communications, often at degree level.
Employers may expect experience, which could be paid or voluntary. It may be possible to gain experience in an admin job in a communications department.
Skills and personal characteristics needed
Communications and PR staff need to be
- creative
- able to communicate messages clearly
- willing to work under pressure
- accurate, with an eye for detail
- able to deal with sensitive situations
They also need
- excellent writing skills
- excellent speaking and presentation skills
- good networking skills
- research skills
- social media skills
Training and development
When you start the job, you will be given the training you need including an introduction to the department and its systems and procedures. You will be expected to keep your knowledge and skills up to date. Your employer may offer you the chance to go on short courses on particular topics such as social media, web development, etc.
You may also have the opportunity to get a qualification by doing an apprenticeship. And you could take further qualifications such as those offered by
- Association for Healthcare Communications and Marketing
- Chartered Institute of Public Relations
- Public Relations Consultants Association
Communications and PR staff can become members of a professional association such as the Association for Healthcare Communications and Marketing, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations or the Public Relations Consultants Association. Each organisation offers conferences, seminars and meetings where staff can update their skills and knowledge and network with others in the same field.
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Communications and PR staff working in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. You will typically start in a position on AfC band 2 or 3. With further training and experience, you could apply for more senior positions at bands 4 and 5. Senior managers will be paid more.
Communications and PR staff in the NHS work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. They may have to attend meetings or events in the evenings or at weekends. Some may be part of an on-call rota for media enquiries.
Terms and conditions will usually be different for clinical support staff working outside of the NHS.
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With experience, communications and PR staff can progress to become managers of a department or area. With further experience they could become a director of communications, responsible for all communications and PR in an organisation.
There may also be opportunities to work outside the NHS.
If you're applying for a role either directly in the NHS or in an organisation that provides NHS services, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work. Find out more about NHS values.
Most NHS trusts advertise their vacancies on NHS Jobs. Some of the current vacancies are below.
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Marketing and Communications Officer
Northampton, NN2 7PB
- Salary :
- £33000.00 to £38000.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- General Practice Alliance Ltd
-
Communication Manager
Bolton, BL1 5DD
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust
-
Communications Assistant
Carmarthen, SA31 3BB
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Hywel Dda University Health Board
-
Senior Communications Officer
Bracknell, RG12 2UT
- Salary :
- £40617.00 to £48778.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
-
Digital Marketing Executive
Kent, ME20 7PU
- Salary :
- £27033.35
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- HEART OF KENT HOSPICE
-
Fundraising and Communications Manager
Cardiff, CF14 4XW
- Salary :
- £31516.00 to £38364.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
-
1074 - Communications & Media Officer
Barnsley, S75 2EP
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Fundraising and Communications Support
Cheadle, SK8 3SZ
- Salary :
- £24793.00 to £26444.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- St Ann’s Hospice
-
Director of Communications and Engagement
London, E1 8DE
- Salary :
- £117645.00 to £134103.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East London NHS Foundation Trust
-
Head of External Communications and Engagement (Ref: 0013ZC)
Glasgow, G2 8BD
- Salary :
- £55000.00 to £55000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- We Are With You
-
Marketing Executive
London, EC2A 1AS
- Salary :
- £35000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barchester Healthcare
-
Marketing & Events Executive
London, EC2A 1AS
- Salary :
- £35000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Barchester Healthcare
-
Regional Marketing Manager
Camberley, GU15 2LN
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aria Care
-
People Relations Manager
Ulverston Cumbria, LA12 7JP
- Salary :
- £29244.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- St. Mary's Hospice
-
People Relations Manager
Crawley, RH10 9BG
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £54710.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- SECamb
-
Employee Relations Advisor
Sheffield, S5 7AU
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
HR - Employee Relations Business Partner
London, SE1 2PR
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- HCA Healthcare UK
-
Band 6 - Senior Employee Relations Advisor
Enfield, EN1 3XA
- Salary :
- £44485.00 to £52521.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
-
Digital Practitioner
Rotherham, S60 1RY
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Digital Nurse
London, SE5 8AF
- Salary :
- £56276.00 to £63176.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
-
Digital Degree Apprentice
Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE15 8NY
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- NHS Business Services Authority
-
Digital Innovation Lead
Cwmbran, NP44 7HF
- Salary :
- £48527.00 to £55532.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Welsh Ambulance NHS Trust
-
Digital Champion Administrator
Manchester, M11 1JG
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Florence House Medical Practice
-
Digital Media Assistant
St Asaph, LL170JG
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Digital Transformation Lead
Chesterfield, S45 9JW
- Salary :
- £47810.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Eastern Derbyshire Healthcare Limited
-
Digital Product Specialist
Carmarthen, SA31 2AF
- Salary :
- £39263.00 to £47280.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hywel Dda University Health Board
-
Public Health Nurse
Cheltenham, GL52 5QH
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Public Health Nurse
Liverpool, L9 7LH
- Salary :
- £33232.00 to £40211.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Public Health Researcher
Cardiff, CF14 7YU
- Salary :
- £48527.00 to £55532.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Public Health Wales
-
Consultant in Public Health/Consultant in Public Health Medicine
To be negotiated, CF10 4BZ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Public Health Wales
-
Lead Digital Pharmacy Technician
Warrington, WA5 1QG
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT
-
Digital Transformation & PCN Manager
Yeovil, BA21 3TL
- Salary :
- £55690.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Yeovil Primary Care Network
-
Digital Service Desk Analyst
Stanmore, HA7 4LP
- Salary :
- £32199.00 to £34876.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
-
Digital Network & Telecoms Engineer
Bury St Edmunds, IP29 4RR
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
-
Collaborative Digital Contract Manager
Taunton, TA1 4DY
- Salary :
- £55690.00 to £62682.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Digital/Technical Project Manager
Cottingham, HU16 5JQ
- Salary :
- £37338.00 to £44962.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Digital Education & Access Lead
Nottingham, NG7 2UH
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts
-
Data & Digital Transformation Lead
Matlock, DE4 2EU
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Derbyshire Dales Primary Care Network
-
Pathology Digital Operations Manager
To be confirmed with candidate, SA31 2AF
- Salary :
- £56514.00 to £63623.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hywel Dda University Health Board
-
Digital and Administrative Coordinator
HULL, HU9 5AD
- Salary :
- £24071.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Venn PCN
-
Head of Digital Datacentre
Manchester, M13 9WL
- Salary :
- £76965.00 to £88682.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Digital Asset Management Coordinator
Leatherhead, KT22 7AD
- Salary :
- £28860.00 to £31671.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Consultant of Public Health
Swindon, SN1 2JG
- Salary :
- £91073.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Swindon Borough Council
-
Associate Public Health Nurse
Rotherham, S60 2UD
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
-
Senior Public Health Principal
Morden, SM4 5DX
- Salary :
- £67575.00 to £72399.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- London Borough Of Merton
-
Principal Public Health Practitioner
Bronllys, near Brecon, LD3 0LE
- Salary :
- £56514.00 to £63623.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Powys Teaching Health Board
-
Senior Public Health Researcher
Cardiff, CF10 4BZ
- Salary :
- £39263.00 to £47280.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Public Health Wales
-
Senior Public Health Nurse
Winchester, SO22 5DF
- Salary :
- £46525.00 to £52507.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Practice Plus Group
-
Public Health Intelligence Analyst
Newbridge, NP11 5GH
- Salary :
- £39263.00 to £47280.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
Public Health Intelligence Specialist
Morden, SM4 5DX
- Salary :
- £51138.00 to £55323.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- London Borough Of Merton
-
Consultant in Public Health
Hereford, HR4 0LE
- Salary :
- £70636.80 to £74409.60
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Herefordshire Council
-
Public Engagement Research Assistant
Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7SR
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Pennine Care NHS FT
-
Environmental Public Health Practitioner
Didcot, OX11 0RQ
- Salary :
- £34093.00 to £41509.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- UK Health Security Agency
-
Public REgistered Health Nurse
Hull, HU3 2HE
- Salary :
- £31049.00 to £37796.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust
-
Future System Digital Programme Lead
Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ
- Salary :
- £64455.00 to £74896.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
-
Digital EPR Senior Developer (SystmOne)
Saltaire, BD18 3LD
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Digital Project Manager (Smart Buildings)
Crewe, CW1 4QJ
- Salary :
- £38682.00 to £46580.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
LMS and Digital Learning Manager
London, W12 0HS
- Salary :
- £56276.00 to £63176.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
-
Digital Clinical Hub Care Coordinator
Southport, PR8 4HQ
- Salary :
- £13.66
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Southport and Formby Health (GP Federation)
-
Core Skills Trainer - Digital Skills
Runcorn, WA7 4QX
- Salary :
- £36000.00 to £40000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- HCRG Care Group
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