Deputy Head of Communications and Campaigns (Public Affairs and Media)

Job summary

We're determined to tackle the health inequalities that affect so many of our residents, working with NHS, council, and voluntary sector partners to have a positive long-term impact on the lives of our 1.4 million local residents.

We're on a mission to ensure every resident is able to access the high-quality health and care services they need at every stage of their lives.

We have ambitious plans and inspiring stories to tell, with a redesigned communications and engagement team ready to bring our work to life for our staff, residents, and stakeholders.

In this new role, you'll bring the creativity and expertise to lead a step-change in our approach to media and public affairs.

As a confident and experienced communications leader, you'll deliver joined-up stakeholder communications, while spotting opportunities and packaging stories to gain media coverage for our work.

From system-wide transformation programmes to sensitive media handling, you'll help us navigate challenges at pace, co-ordinating activity at system level and with NHSE colleagues.

You'll be adept at building relationships, navigating complexity, and horizon scanning for issues and opportunities, with the gravitas and political judgement to provide trusted advice to senior leaders.

As a key member of our senior leadership team, you'll play an important role in shaping a positive new chapter for our talented and friendly team.

Main duties of the job

Lead on the development and delivery of a public affairs function, working proactively to identify strategic priorities and map stakeholder opinion.

Strengthen awareness and understanding of our work, protect and enhance our reputation, and encourage advocacy among a wide range of stakeholders.

Embed a rigorous approach to forward planning and horizon scanning to enable planning for potentially high-profile, sensitive issues.

Lead on a refreshed, more proactive approach to news and media handling for the ICB. Coordinate responses with system and national colleagues where necessary.

Develop positive and productive relationships with journalists, including regional and local media, specialist health trade press and broadcast media.

Set up systems to monitor and evaluate our media coverage.

Work in partnership with system colleagues including local authority and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to identify, create, share, and sell in news stories.

Embed a story-telling approach to content development, using real people and case studies to bring our work to improve population health to life through articles, interviews, video, podcasts, and blogs.

Play a lead role in planning high-profile events such as ministerial, royal or VIP visits, and press conferences.

Advise the Executive Management Team and the Board and support MP briefings.

Help to develop a Crisis Communications Plan for the ICB, and advise on FOI requests and stakeholder queries.

About us

On 1 July 2022, NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB) was established. The ICB is part of North Central London Integrated Care System (ICS). The ICS is a partnership of organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services to improve the lives of people in our five boroughs: Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington.

ICBs are statutory NHS bodies responsible for planning and allocating resources to meet the four core purposes of ICSs:o to improve outcomes in population health and healthcareo tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience and accesso enhance productivity and value for moneyo help the NHS support broader social and economic development.

North Central London's population is incredibly diverse, and continues to grow and change. This brings pressure and challenges for the local health and care services that NCL ICB commissions - or buys - on behalf of residents. NCL ICB works closely with Councils, providers, general practices, voluntary, community organisations, and unions, to achieve our shared aims.

NCL ICB values our staff, our partners and their expertise to deliver the best health and care possible for the patients and residents of North Central London.