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Communications and corporate affairs

As a communications and corporate affairs manager, you'll manage the reputation of your NHS organisation by communicating with a variety of people including the media, MPs and the general public.

As a manager in communications and corporate affairs, you’ll take a leading role in how your organisation interacts with its community and how it communicates with patients, staff and other interested groups, such as the media and local politicians.

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Each NHS organisation will have a communications lead to ensure that the organisation communicates effectively with its local community. Larger organisations may have a team of communications professionals.

NHS organisations have different structures and communications teams are often departments in their own right, with a communications director on the board. In other organisations communications may sit alongside other functions such as patient and public involvement, or within the corporate affairs department.

All communicators have a role in making information about their organisation accessible to patients, staff and the public.

Working life

All communicators have a role in making information about their organisation accessible to patients, staff and the public, helping ensure that the service is accountable, and engaging these groups in the reforms that are taking place in the NHS and social care.

Management roles in communications and corporate affairs will vary, depending upon the trust/employer. Roles and responsibilities will also differ depending on seniority, and whether you work alone or within a team of other communications professionals.

Specific responsibilities could include:

  • managing the reputation of the organisation
  • developing, implementing and evaluating communications strategies
  • ensuring effective two-way internal communications
  • taking the lead on media handling, proactively placing good news stories, dealing with enquiries and producing media releases
  • developing links with stakeholders such as local councils and MPs
  • leading public relations, including customer services
  • playing a key role in issue management and planning
  • taking editorial responsibility for the organisation's website, and other corporate communications tools, such as social media
  • ensuring that other health organisations are kept fully briefed on developments, plans and any incidents in their organisation
  • commissioning printing/advertising/surveys
  • producing high quality patient information
  • managing the NHS corporate identity and taking local responsibility for the NHS brand
  • assisting in engaging patients and local communities with developments in their health services
  • advising senior colleagues on strategic communications and related issues
  • engaging in health promotion campaigns.

Want to learn more?

  • Find out more about the entry requirements, skills and interests required to enter a career in communications and corporate affairs management [1]
  • Find out more about the training you’ll receive for a career in communications and corporate affairs management [2]
  • Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) [3] pay scales. This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers.

    Your career in communications and corporate affairs in the NHS could start at bands 3 or 4 working as an assistant or officer. For roles in management, you’d typically start at Agenda for Change [4] Band 6 or 7, with the most senior roles rising to Band 9 for example.

    Staff in the NHS will usually work a standard 37.5 hours per week. They may work a shift pattern.

    Terms and conditions of service can vary for employers outside the NHS.

  • With further training and/or experience, you may be able to develop your career further and apply for more senior managerial roles. Progression for those with ability is typically via operational management in a large hospital.

    Relocation for promotion is common.  More diverse routes in communications and corporate affairs management are now opening up, for example, jointly-funded posts between health and local authorities.

  • Job market

    NHS communicators work across all NHS organisations including NHS acute trusts, NHS ambulance trusts, NHS mental health trusts, clinical commissioning groups, commissioning support units and special health authorities. As health and social care services increasingly work together, some communications roles are developing to work across both NHS organisations and local authorities.

    Finding and applying for jobs

    When you’re looking for managerial jobs or apprenticeship vacancies, there are a number of sources you can use, depending on the type of and level of work you’re seeking. Most vacancies in organisations delivering NHS healthcare can be found on the NHS Jobs website [5]. Some of the current vacancies in the NHS can be found below

     

    Find a vacancy

    • Corporate Affairs Administrator

      Darlington, DL3 6HX

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Corporate Affairs Administrator job (opens in a new window) [6]
    • Communications Manager - External Affairs

      Basildon, SS16 5NL

      Salary:
      £38682.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Communications Manager - External Affairs job (opens in a new window) [7]
    • Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs Band 8D QIA#129

      Lincoln, LN2 5QY

      Salary:
      £88168.00 to £101677.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs Band 8D QIA#129 job (opens in a new window) [8]
    • Marketing Executive

      London, EC2A 1AS

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Barchester Healthcare
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Marketing Executive job (opens in a new window) [9]
    • Communications Officer

      Castleford , WF10 3HH

      Salary:
      £24465.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      The Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Communications Officer job (opens in a new window) [10]
    • Communications Officer

      Sheffield, S4 7QQ

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £36483.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Communications Officer job (opens in a new window) [11]
    • Head of Fundraising & Marketing

      Southend on Sea, SS2 6PR

      Salary:
      £58000.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Havens Hospices
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Head of Fundraising & Marketing job (opens in a new window) [12]
    • Corporate Fundraising Manager

      Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2QZ

      Salary:
      £38682.00 to £46580.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Corporate Fundraising Manager job (opens in a new window) [13]
    • Corporate Business Manager

      London, W2 1NY

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Corporate Business Manager job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Corporate Governance Lead

      Chesterfield, S42 7JD

      Salary:
      £32000.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Ashgate Hospicecare
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Corporate Governance Lead job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • Corporate Business Manager

      London, W2 1NY

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Corporate Business Manager job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Corporate Governance Lead

      Chesterfield, S42 7JD

      Salary:
      £32000.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Ashgate Hospicecare
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Corporate Governance Lead job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • Policy and Communications Manager

      Leeds, LS2 7JU
      London, SW1P 3HZ

      Salary:
      £45239.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      NHS Confederation
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Policy and Communications Manager job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • Corporate Planned Care Validator

      Sutton-In-Ashfield, NG17 4JL

      Salary:
      £24625.00 to £25674.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Corporate Planned Care Validator job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • Social Media and Marketing Content Executive (Mat Cover)

      Basingstoke, RG24 9NP

      Salary:
      £24581.00 to £28496.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      St Michael's Hospice (North Hampshire)
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Social Media and Marketing Content Executive (Mat Cover) job (opens in a new window) [18]
    • Director of Finance & Corporate Services

      York, YO24 1GL

      Salary:
      £65000.00 to £70000.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      St Leonard's Hospice
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Director of Finance & Corporate Services job (opens in a new window) [19]
    • Head of Finance – Corporate / R&D

      Tooting, SW17 0QT

      Salary:
      £82462.00 to £93773.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Head of Finance – Corporate / R&D job (opens in a new window) [20]
    • Associate Director Finance and Corporate Services

      Horley, RH1 1EB

      Salary:
      £69877.23 to £83509.76
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Alliance for Better Care CIC
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Associate Director Finance and Corporate Services job (opens in a new window) [21]
    • Band 6 - Enhanced Care Clinical Specialist Nurse, Corporate Nursing

      Watford, WD18 0HB

      Salary:
      £39205.00 to £47084.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Band 6 - Enhanced Care Clinical Specialist Nurse, Corporate Nursing job (opens in a new window) [22]
  • For further information about a career in communications and corporate affairs management, please contact

    • Association for Healthcare Communications and Marketing [23]
    • Chartered Institute of Marketing [24]
    • Chartered Institute of Public Relations [25]
    • Public Relations Consultants Association [26]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Human resources (HR) manager [27]
  • Communications/public relations staff [28]
  • Knowledge and library services [29]
  • Experienced paramedic [30]

Source URL:https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/management/roles-management/general-management/communications-and-corporate-affairs

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/general-management/communications-and-corporate-affairs/entry-requirements-skills-and [2] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/general-management/communications-and-corporate-affairs/training-and-development [3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/about/careers-nhs/nhs-pay-and-benefits/agenda-change-pay-rates [4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Agenda_for_Change [5] http://www.jobs.nhs.uk [6] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9439-2526-0407 [7] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9390-25-1350 [8] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9357-25-0532 [9] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0177-25-6601 [10] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9377-25-0177 [11] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9457-25-0218 [12] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0402-25-0028 [13] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9179-25-0278 [14] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9290-25-0728 [15] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0203-25-0018 [16] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/M0032-25-0018 [17] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9214-25-0500 [18] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0460-25-0022 [19] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0343-25-0031 [20] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9200-25-0755 [21] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B0141-25-0049 [22] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9360-25-0352 [23] http://www.ahcm.org.uk [24] http://www.cim.co.uk [25] http://www.cipr.co.uk/ [26] http://www.prca.org.uk/ [27] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/management/roles-management/human-resources-hr-manager [28] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/wider-healthcare-team/roles-wider-healthcare-team/corporate-services/communicationspublic-relations-staff [29] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/health-informatics/roles-health-informatics/knowledge-and-library-services [30] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/ambulance-service-team/roles-ambulance-service/experienced-paramedic