Internal Communications & Events Lead required for 35 hrs per week within the Northwest of England - Home Based Working - Driver Essential

Alternative Futures Group is the North West’s largest Mental Health and Learning Disability charity.

With a strong track record over 30 years, we work locally in the community and through our Treatment and Recovery Centres to provide a wide range of innovative and bespoke care services.

We have a vision to create a world where people control their lives.  Here at AFG, we pride ourselves on helping the people we support to design, develop and ‘own’ the support they receive by planning this with them; we support people to make informed choices and increase their own independence; and we support people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and living environment.  These principles are really important to us.

As a ‘values based’ employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our AFG family.  If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.

At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make.  We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you! 

In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.

Job Purpose

To work closely with the Marketing and Communications Manager to develop and oversee internal communications, events and new initiatives and develop an annual staff content plan aligned with the strategy. To plan, deliver and evaluate a responsive, high quality Internal Communications plan using multiple channels, playing a key part in a project team to launch a new intranet system that helps raise the brand profile and embed strategic messaging.

The individual will need to initiate, develop and co-ordinate communication channels and events, create compelling content and motivate two-way engagement through multi-channel engagement. The role will work directly with both the Marketing and Communications Manager and the Digital Marketing Manager to identify and roll-out group marketing training workshops to encourage engagement.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• To work with the Marketing and Communications Manager to generate a robust internal communications plan that aligns with our business plan, ensuring that content motivates and engages our staff, executives and trustees.
  • refresh and launch a revised incentivized newsletter and use as an integrated vehicle for other internal communications.
  • create and oversee the audit of all internal communications, from written content to branding.
  • work closely with the EVP to align and support messages in a consistent and measurable way.
  • explore ways to incentivize retention of staff and ways to get staff to ‘refer a friend’.
• Work with AFG Employee Experience Team to capture and communicate good news stories that reinforce us as ‘A Great Place to Work’.
  • employee testimonials.
  • Glassdoor / Indeed.
  • Great Place to Work accreditation.
• To play a key role in the development and launch of a new AFG intranet site. This will include scoping out and generating content, video and news and evaluating engagement.
• To lead the introduction a new AFG radio station, working closely with operations and external partners to create and launch a communication plan.
• Translate and convert content into clear and targeted messages, using creative and measurable tactics that embed AFGs values and bring our stories to life.
• Oversee the day-to-day proactive planning, production and evaluation of internal communications using a suite of tools that support delivery.
• To identify and map internal stakeholders across functions and create a joined-up approach on all internal communications.
• To support the Marketing and Communications Manager to define the annual events plan to establish a matrix that is targeted on key business plan objectives. The annual events calendar will play an important role in engaging and recognizing our people, our purpose and our success.
• Co-ordinate the assets and technology required to support key events, including venue exploration and booking, audio and visual lighting, catering, administration, attendance management and production of all presentation and creative visuals.
• Play a lead role in organizing the Celebrate Success annual awards, including overseeing the nominations and finalist programme and co-ordinating attendance and content to support the event.
• Manage the marketing team training and development bookings.
• Work closely with the Digital Marketing Officer to collate and deliver quality video and capture content for other digital assets, including webinars and podcasts.
• Organise the monthly virtual catch up.

 Infection Control

All employees are required to be familiar with and comply with infection prevention and control policies relevant to their area of work.

Health & Safety

You have a legal responsibility not to endanger yourself, your fellow employees and others by your individual acts or omissions. The post holder is required to comply with the requirements of any policy or procedure issued in respect of minimizing the risk of injury or disease.  All accidents must be reported to your manager and in line with the general philosophy of the organisation.

Responsibilities common to all employees

• Demonstrating good judgment and sound decision making by reflecting an appropriate situational awareness, understanding of context and making informed choice when reaching decisions.
• Leading and promoting initiatives that support our organisational aim to be socially and environmentally responsible.
• Leading and supporting initiatives/projects that promote AFG as a digitally enabled organisation.
• Establishing, maintaining and developing professional working relationships with colleagues and external partners.
• Contributing generally to the development of quality services.
• Upholding the values, mission and vision of AFG at all times.
• Adhering to AFG policies and procedures and to operate within the law at all times.
• Demonstrating continuous professional development, encouraging others to do the same and to operate within the AFG performance management framework.
• Working with Corporate teams effectively to ensure the best outcome for the people supported.
• Complying with Equality and Diversity policy.
• Complying with Code of Conduct.
• Working flexibly in accordance with organisational need.
• Travelling within the operational and business area of AFG.
• Acting with integrity, transparency and openness at all times.

This job description is a guideline and is in no way restrictive or definitive and non-contractual.  It is subject to annual review.

This list of duties is not intended to be exhaustive but indicates the main areas of work and may be subject to change after consultation with the post holder to meet the changing needs of Alternative Futures Group.