Communications Assistant - Maternity Cover

Job Description & Person Specification

Title:	Communications Assistant – Maternity Cover
Reports to:	Marketing and Communications Manager
Accountable to:	Managing Director
Location:	Surrey – contractual base is flexible, with the option of home-working
Hours:	37.5 hours
Dates:	Full Time Fixed Term Contract – May 2022 – July 2023 (Maternity Cover)

Job Purpose

To communicate effectively with Surrey Choices colleagues to increase engagement and motivation through co-production with both colleagues and the people Surrey Choices support. This will include planning and running key strategic campaigns, working closely with individual services with the aim of encouraging two-way conversations and colleague involvement where possible. You will also strengthen our arrangements for co-production with the people we support to speak up and to tell their stories, involve them in campaigns and ensure materials are accessible and informative.

Key Responsibilities

Internal Communications

To create content and design communications to key stakeholders, including the people we support, families and carers, and colleagues.
To work with the Marketing and Communications team to create internal communication campaigns to both inform and engage staff throughout Surrey Choices.
To lead on internal communications through a variety of media including email and Surrey Choices in house intranet
To develop and maintain the Surrey Choices intranet
To communicate, motivate and inform colleagues through modernisation of services and times of change. For example, the Changing Days Vision for Change
To track and record digital analysis to support the evaluation, development and promotion of digital content to stakeholders

External Communications

To support with maintaining digital platforms including our external website
To support with maintaining the Surrey Choices website ensuring content is kept up to date and accurate
To support driving traffic to the Surrey Choices website
To support work on the Search Engine Optimisation of the Surrey Choices Website
To contribute to the development of a social media strategy to support business development and growth
To assist with promoting Surrey Choices through social networking ensuring all content is accurate, relevant and meets brand guidelines
To cover external communications when required: social networking sites with customers, partners and accounts to build and develop relationships

Communications support for Surrey Choices services

To work with other employees of Surrey Choices in their functional area in addition to colleagues in Surrey County Council and other relevant stakeholders as appropriate
To work closely with all relevant stakeholders, to support organisational and local marketing drives
To take part in focus groups and meetings for marketing and product ideas when required
Provide, support and maintain relationships with Surrey Choices services for brand house style, promotion of services and with business growth
Network with key internal staff including managers, support service staff and communication leads
To support the Marketing and Communications team and work as an effective member of the team
Support and guide services and corporate teams with internally held events and open days
Working with services to fundraise and raise awareness of our local charity

Co-production

Co-production with customers including involving them in campaigns and telling their story with a strong focus on self-advocacy
Communicating to those we support with accessible information and working with them to create Easy Read materials
To work with the people we support to develop their Communications and Marketing skills

Other Objectives

Maintain professional and personal boundaries with all customers, parents & carers, colleagues and other professionals
Comply, observe and promote the company’s Code of Conduct
Comply with the company’s policies and procedures at all times
Take all reasonable precautions to maintain the health and safety of self and others, ensuring that any risks in relation to this are reported and remedial action taken in a timely manner
Take responsibility for own continuous professional development and maintaining an adequate level of knowledge and skills pertaining to the role.
Undertake any other duties that may reasonable be required of this role and as requested by manager (s)
Actively support and promote Surrey Choices business objectives, operating model and core values

Person Specifications, Qualification, Experience, Skills, Knowledge

All staff, regardless of their role, are required to demonstrate a commitment to delivering high quality, person centred services to customers in line with the Surrey Choices Vision and Values.

Attributes

Essential

Desirable

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

Experience of creating and implementing internal staff engagement campaigns including the use of email
Ability to create content which is user-friendly, meets brand guidelines and engaging
Excellent communication skills – for digital use – for a range of different audiences
Excellent copyrighting, and editing skills
Experience of delivering successful social media in an organisational environment
Good organisational skills, with demonstrable evidence of problem solving and completion of tasks
Ability to work with minimal supervision, to use initiative, and the ability to identify and escalate priority issues
Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and MailChimp, or similar email marketing tool

Experience of using WordPress, Google analytics and online conferencing tools.
A creative approach and an eye for good design
Experience and or knowledge of working in the public sector
Experience and or knowledge of adult social care
Experience of brand management
Experience of creating content, developing and maintaining an internal staff intranet
Ability to evaluate and report on digital media activities
Understands how to use digital channels to effectively reach and communicate with target audiences to drive web traffic. Including search, media, optimisations and social networking
Experience in developing and implementing digital media campaigns
Experience of event management.
An understanding of Information Governance, Data Protection and Confidentiality

Personal Qualities

Strong problem-solving skills
Strong interpersonal skills, a team player who proactively responds to the emerging needs of the team and the company.
An enthusiastic, committed and proactive approach to work

To have a passion to make a difference to someone’s life

This Job Description is neither exhaustive or exclusive and may be subject to change in light of company requirements and the development of services.

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