Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.
Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video
Job overview
This is a pivotal Band 9 role for a strategic, values-driven leader who will shape the voice, visibility, and reputation of our Trust—internally and externally. As a key advisor to the Chief Executive, Chair, Board and wider senior leadership, you will play a crucial role in shaping the voice and narrative of the Trust, enhancing staff engagement, supporting our charitable ambitions, and improving the health of the communities we serve.
We are looking for someone who:
1. Brings extensive senior experience in communications and engagement within a complex, highly visible organisation.
Has a strong understanding of NHS/public sector context and stakeholder dynamics.
Can lead teams through inspiration, clarity, and a deep commitment to values and service.
Has excellent judgement, political acumen, and thrives in fast-paced, high-impact environments.
Is passionate about storytelling, culture, and public service.
Why this role matters:
This is more than a comms role—it’s about ensuring our users of service, carers, staff, communities and partners are truly heard, supported and inspired. Your work will make a lasting difference across the Trust and beyond.
Main duties of the job
You will:
• Lead all Trust-wide communications and engagement—internal, external, digital, media, stakeholder and brand.
• Provide strategic leadership and development of the NELFT NHS Charity.
• Champion co-production, equality, and inclusive engagement in all that we do.
• Strengthen NELFT’s role as an effective system partner across Integrated Care Systems.
• Represent the Trust as a credible, visible leader and media spokesperson when required.
Working for our organisation
Our Values 2025 - 2030
Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co-produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.
They are:
2. We are kind.
3. We are respectful.
4. We work together with our communities.
These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.
Starting with Us
NELFT places great importance on new starters being properly welcomed into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks, including mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will also have the opportunity to meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend several drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing, and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,313 to a maximum of £5,436 pro rata for part time).
On-call allowance payment
This post will be required to participate in the Trust on-call rota and attracts a payment of of the basic salary.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.
We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. Masters Degree or equivalent or commensurate experience at a senior level
Desirable criteria
6. Post graduate qualification in a related area
7. Membership of relevant professional body (CIPR/ CIM/ PRCA)
Experience
Essential criteria
8. Experience of successfully leading a communications and engagement team at a senior level in a complex organisation, preferably in the NHS, health or in the public sector
9. In depth additional expert knowledge acquired over a significant period of time in the following area(s): Communications and engagement in a large complex, highly scrutinised organisation covering policy, products or services.
10. Detailed understanding of varied communication channels, their impact, limitations, risks and opportunities, and detailed experience in their use
Knowledge
Essential criteria
11. Expert understanding, knowledge and skill in a range of communications disciplines from the following: strategic communications, internal communications, media relations, events, behaviour change, campaigns, marketing, reputation management, change management, stakeholder engagement, project management and public affairs
12. An excellent and proven knowledge of current public affairs, policy and operational issues within the NHS
Benefits
We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:
13. A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff.
14. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity.
15. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors.
16. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.