Internal Communications Officer

Social Work England are the specialist regulator for social work in England, focused on enabling positive change in social work. Every day, social workers support millions of people to improve their chances in life. We are taking a new approach to regulating social workers in their vital roles. We believe in the power of collaboration and share a common goal with those we regulate – to protect the public, enable positive change and ultimately improve people’s lives.

The communications team aim to establish and embed Social Work England’s positive reputation with the public, professionals, and stakeholders. We take an audience first approach, supporting the organisation to meet its business objectives through meaningful, proportionate and timely activity that facilitates engagement.

As a multidisciplinary team every role counts and is valued. We have expertise across strategic communications, internal communication, marketing, media, public relations, stakeholder engagement, social media, and digital. As a team we have a positive comradery and we maintain a firm focus on how our work impacts people.

Purpose of the role

Creating exceptional Internal Communications has transformed the way that our organisation informs and engages with our people. It is the glue that not only holds together our business priorities but supports organisational and cultural change.

You will work as part of an empowering communications team that puts audience first. You’ll provide best practice Internal Communications advice, guidance and delivery at all levels and across all directorates, including to executive leaders, senior leaders and project leads. This will support the business to deliver against its objectives set out in our corporate strategy, business plan and people plan. You will utilise your creative skills to create engaging communications for publication across a range of channels, ensuring outputs are clear, timely and targeted.

What you will do

• Working with the corporate communications manager to develop, maintain and deliver an annual Internal Communications strategy that aligns with the annual communications strategy, corporate strategy and business plan to meet the needs of our people, board members, and other relevant internal audiences.
• Develop and deliver communications plans that ensure successful delivery of projects, internal events, and initiatives, mobilise our people where appropriate, and improve services for internal stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships across the organisation, including with senior leadership, different teams and groups and networks, and collaborate to communicate with the organisation efficiently, timely and appropriately. Deliver specialist and informed guidance on Internal Communications practice to ensure that each group is able to meet their objectives and aims.
• Communicate effectively across the organisation, to ensure there is a clear and shared vision, and that employees remain well informed on organisational activity and organisation change relevant to them.
• Work flexibly and manage competing priorities to lead on the planning, creation and editing of proactive and reactive Internal Communications channel content, working across the organisation to ensure important messages are delivered to our people on time and that all our content is inclusive and accessible.
• Work closely with our people networks and forums to seek out opportunities for proactive and imaginative communication campaigns.
• Plan, manage and edit our intranet ensuring that it remains accessible in line with government digital service accessibility guidelines, is easy to navigate, and is a useful resource, ensuring that that the content remains relevant and accurate.
• Lead on evaluation, developing metrics for Internal Communications objectives, assessing the impact and effectiveness of our communications, identifying trends and escalating issues where appropriate.
• Apply Internal Communications thinking to solve business issues and ensure the operation can continue to function effectively having undertaken analysis of the core issues.
• Deputise for, when required, and advise the corporate communications manager on strategic Internal Communications planning.

Your skills, knowledge and experience

• Proven experience of planning and creating marketing or communications materials for a range of internal audiences, with excellent written and oral skills and the ability to tailor the messaging and content appropriately.
• Plan, manage and edit our intranet ensuring that it remains accessible in line with government digital service accessibility guidelines, is easy to navigate, and is a useful resource, ensuring that that the content remains relevant and accurate.
• Ability to build effective working relationships with a wide range of key internal stakeholders, with strong people, networking and relationship skills, and with a natural curiosity and ability to tell stories.
• Solid proofing and editing skills, both for written content and audio/visual content, with an ability to translate important messages into effective, engaging and persuasive content.
• Demonstrable experience of working in a busy communications environment, with a proven track record of managing multiple communication and engagement activities and campaigns, targeted to various audiences and sequenced effectively.
• Knowledgeable about Internal Communications best practices with an understanding of how to implement this.
• Good use of initiative in managing own and suggesting new, more efficient ways of working with proven experience of planning and prioritising work.
• Proven experience of writing high-quality briefings, newsletters and bulletins for a wide range of internal audiences.
• The ability to work under pressure, managing competing priorities, and changing deadlines, escalating where appropriate.
• Excellent verbal communication, interpersonal, teamworking and influencing skills, with the ability to articulate with credibility and conviction. Provide value-adding feedback laterally and upwards, and provide effective contributions to project decision-making.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft software and web-based technology including a sound knowledge of, and experience managing, SharePoint, content management systems, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Forms and Mentimeter.
• Experience of using insight and evaluation to drive best practice.
• A proven role model for respectful, open and honest behaviour including a demonstrable commitment to equality and diversity in service delivery.

Details

• Job type: Permanent, full time.
• Working pattern: Full time. We offer flexible working subject to business need.
• Salary: £31,364 per year, rising to £33,605 per year after successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.
• Location: Sheffield/hybrid remote.
• Benefits: flexible working, contributory pension, life insurance and benefits portal.
• Interview date: Week commencing 29 April 2024

Application

During the application process, you'll be asked to provide answers to three questions from the job description. These answers will be what your application is scored on, please answer in as much detail as possible using examples where necessary.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: £31,364.00-£33,605.00 per year

Benefits:

• Cycle to work scheme
• Free flu jabs
• Life insurance
• On-site gym
• Sick pay

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Sheffield