YM246 – Communications Officer
Thank you
for your interest in the post Communications Officer
The information within this application pack is designed to give you a fuller picture of the
post and a brief description of YoungMinds.
Please note that in the interests of economy we will only contact those candidates who are
shortlisted. Unfortunately we are not able to give feedback to candidates not shortlisted.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by email and interviews will take place at YoungMinds’ London office on 15/06/2017.
You will find the following enclosed within this pack:
1. Introduction to YoungMinds
2. Background to the post
3. Job description and person specification
4. Brief terms and conditions of service
5. Pre-employment checks
Job Description & Person Specification:
Communications Officer
Job Description
Job title: Communications Officer
Salary: £25,000
Hours: Part time (4 days a week)
Contract: 6 months
Based: YoungMinds Central Office
Start date: Immediate start
Reports to: Brand & Marketing Manager
Key relationships: Brand & Marketing Manager, Digital Manager, Director of Communications
and Campaigns, the wider Communications and Campaigns Team.
Job purpose:
With mental health in the spotlight, this is a key time for YoungMinds to make a significant impact on young people’s mental health and wellbeing. During this busy period, we are seeking a
creative, hard-working and ambitious Communications Officer to support the work of the Digital
and Brand & Marketing teams.
The role will support the Department with brand, marketing, design, web and e-comms tasks
and enquiries.
The role will include working on printed materials for the charity’s campaigns and projects,
supporting with design, artwork and editing; updating and editing web content, and writing copy
for web, including blog posts; and producing YoungMinds’ monthly e-newsletter and regular eshots.
Brand and design
-
Designing printed collateral, such as flyers, booklets and posters, using InDesign.
Process and fulfil internal and external brand enquiries including providing appropriate logos,
guidelines and brand advice
Help staff and external designers implement the new brand across all materials
-
Manage relationships with freelance designers
Marketing
-
Manage print/production of publications, including relationships with printers
Manage and organise the library of brand assets, photography, logos etc.
Attend and support the organisations of events
Liaise with other teams to collate information for marketing materials and collateral
Assist with photography as required
Web and e-comms
-
Upload and edit content on the YoungMinds website
Produce the monthly e-newsletter, including collating and writing content, and producing (using
MailChimp)
Maintain and build mailing lists
Produce internal web reports on Key Performance Indicators using Google Analytics
Writing
-
Write blogs and website content
Draft copy for on and offline materials
Proof-read and edit resources, printed marketing materials and digital content
General
-
To work in accordance with the YoungMinds Vision, Mission and Values
Maintain and observe an appropriate level of confidentiality at all times
To prepare for and attend supervision and appraisal meetings with line manager
To work with YoungMinds’ policies and procedures
To form effective working relationships with all staff members, volunteers and relevant outside
organisations
To effectively self-manage and work with the minimum of administrative support
To work in accordance with the Date Protection Act and the Copyright Act
Other duties that may from time to time be necessary, compatible with the nature and grade of
the post
Person Specification – Communications Officer
Qualifications, Skills and Abilities
Excellent planning and organisational skills which support the ability to
work on a number of projects or activities simultaneously
E
Ability to use Microsoft Office, and the Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign,
Photoshop and Illustrator)
E
Experience of managing a web content management system and
MailChimp
D
Excellent oral and written communication skills
E
Excellent proofreading skills
E
Ability to work effectively as part of a team
E
Strong organisational skills
E
Self-motivated and able to manage own work load
E
Creative, visually-minded, rigorous eye for detail
E
Experience
Experience of working in marketing or communications role
E
Basic experience of designing on and offline content and collateral using the Adobe Creative Suite
E
Copywriting experience, including experience of writing content for web
D
Experience of using a web content management system
D
Experience working with designers and printers
D
Knowledge of the print and production process
D
Experience of working to tight deadlines
E
Terms and conditions:
Communications Officer
The following outlines basic information about working terms and conditions. Full terms and
conditions are included in the contract, which will be offered to the successful applicant.
 Location
The usual place of employment is at YoungMinds, Suite 11, Baden Place, Crosby Row, London, SE1 1YW or at such place or places where it is necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the post.
 Hours of Work
Normal office hours are 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Working hours do not include a
one-hour lunch break per day. From time to time it may be necessary to work beyond normal
working hours or to travel to different locations to meet the demands of the job. This post will
require flexible working dependent on demands of the post.
 Length of contract
This is a Fixed Term, Part Time role.
 Benefits
Salary: £25,000 per annum (pro rata)
Annual leave, Bank Holidays and Christmas closure: The leave entitlement is 25 days annual leave, plus 8 Bank holidays and 3 days office closure between Christmas and New Year
(calculated pro rata for part time employees). The leave year runs from 1 January to 31 December.
Pension: YoungMinds will match the employee’s net contribution to our auto-enrolled pension
scheme, after three months employment.
Sickness, maternity, paternity and other leave: For further details please refer to the
YoungMinds staff handbook or HR.
 Probationary Period
There will be a probationary period dependant on the length of contract.
 Smoking Policy
YoungMinds operates a non-smoking policy. Smoking is also banned in the common areas of
the building at Baden Place, Crosby Row, London, SE1 1YW.
 Equal Opportunities
Both in its capacity as an employer and as a provider of services to others, YoungMinds is determined to make all efforts to prevent discrimination or other unfair treatment against any of its
staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of race, gender, age, employment status, disability, political beliefs, religion, responsibility for dependants or sexual orientation.
Pre-employment checks
To ensure we safeguard the children and young people that we work with, YoungMinds will
carry out a number of pre-employment checks as part of our recruitment and selection process
to enable us to make informed recruitment decisions. This information sheet gives a brief outline of the process and further information can be obtained from YoungMinds’ HR.
YoungMinds pre-employment checks
After interview we will ask potential staff members for consent to a Disclosure check which will
be carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service, an executive agency of the Home Office.
What is Disclosure?
A Disclosure is a document containing information held by the police and government departments and will assist YoungMinds in making safer recruitment decisions.
There are three levels of disclosure: Enhanced, Standard and Basic and YoungMinds will carry
out Enhanced Disclosure checks on all potential staff after the interview process has been
completed.
Disclosures will provide details of a person’s criminal record including convictions, cautions,
reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer (PNC). It will also provide details from lists held by the Department of Health (DH) and the Department for Education and
Skills (DfES) and information held by local police forces.
A copy of the Disclosure document will be sent directly to the applicant who will need to show it
to YoungMinds.
Please note that you do not have to consent to these checks being carried out. However, if
consent is withheld, YoungMinds will have to withdraw any offer of employment.
With some exceptions having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an individual from working at YoungMinds (see Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders enclosed). This
will depend on the nature of the position sought and the circumstances and background of the
offences.
Proof of identification
In order to process the Disclosure check, YoungMinds is required to confirm the identity of any
potential staff members. For this reason we will seek documentation as evidence of identity
and a list of the documents required will be discussed with the potential staff member by the
Human Resources Unit.
Please note that any information supplied will be treated in confidence and in accordance with
the Data Protection Act and the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice.
Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders
As an organisation using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, YoungMinds complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. It undertakes not to discriminate unfairly
against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of conviction or other information received.
All recruitment packs will contain a statement that a Disclosure will be requested in the event
of the individual being offered the position as well as a copy of YoungMinds Policy Statement
on the Recruitment of Ex-offenders.
We encourage all applicants called for interview to provide details of their criminal record at an
early stage in the application process. We request that this information is sent under separate,
confidential cover to a designated person within YoungMinds and we guarantee that his information is only to be seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process.
We ensure that all those in YoungMinds who are involved in the recruitment process have
been suitably trained to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences. We
also ensure they have received appropriate guidance and training in the relevant legislation
relating to the employment of ex-offenders, e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
At interview, or in a separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion
takes part on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be relevant to the position.
Failure to reveal information that is directly relevant to the position sought could lead to the
withdrawal of an offer of appointment.
We make every subject of a DBS Disclosure aware of the DBS Code of Practice and make a
copy available on request.
We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a Disclosure with the person seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.
Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of your offences.