Role description

Post: Content officer

Department: Corporate Services

Location: All Wales with offices in Cardiff and St Asaph

All staff are currently working remotely

Pay Band: A3 £28,796 - £32,351

Reports To: Senior Communications Officer

As part of our communications team, you will work closely with authors across the organisation to develop, design and publish content that meets the needs of our audiences online and offline. You will support the creation of content that is clear and easy to understand, in-line with our corporate standards, using the best channels for reaching those for whom it is intended.

Job purpose:

The purpose of the content officer is to:

develop and write effective content that can be used for any of our online and offline communication channels.

use evidence to understand the needs of our users/audiences, produce content and design it for use with channels that engage with them in the most effective way.

advise and coach colleagues on how to prepare effective content, helping them produce material that meets users’ needs and is in-line with our tone of voice and accessibility guidelines.

advise colleagues on the best format and structure for content and the most effective communication channels to reach and address the needs of their audiences.

Job purpose:

1. Develop and write effective content that can be used for any of our online and offline communication channels.

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Write and proofread content to make sure it is written in plain Welsh and English, in-line with our house style and accessibility and other organisational standards.

Write or edit content based on information provided by colleagues, as well as proofreading it for any of our communication channels.

Identify and develop content that can work across multiple communication channels, online and offline.

Routinely review and evaluate content to continually improve how we meet the needs of our users/audiences.

Support the communications team in the development of clear guidelines and governance to help make sure colleagues develop content in-line with our organisational standards.

2. Use evidence to understand the needs of our users/audiences and to produce content and use channels that engage with them in the most effective way.

Use data and evidence from user research and analytics platforms to make informed decisions about the best structure and format of content to meet users’ needs.

Work with colleagues inside and outside the team who can provide access to the evidence needed to identify what users are looking for from our content.

Use evidence and your knowledge of different channels and their characteristics to identify the best ones to reach the intended users of content.

Actively seek out and monitor feedback from users, as well as analytics, to assist you in reviewing and, if necessary, producing revised/updated content that has already been published.

Share evidence of how content is performing with colleagues so they can understand any changes you propose to help generate better levels of acceptance and engagement from users.

3. Advise and coach colleagues on how to prepare effective content, helping them produce material that meets users’ needs and is in-line with our tone of voice and accessibility guidelines.

Working with teams and projects across the organisation to be the main point of contact for colleagues to support them in the production of content.

Advise colleagues about how to produce content that meets users’ needs and the most effective communication channels for sharing it to help achieve our business objectives.

Share with colleagues any evidence you have about users’ needs to help colleagues produce content that is more suitable for their audiences.

Advise colleagues about how to write content in plain language that meets our tone of voice and accessibility guidelines and support them in doing it.

Work with content authors to review, maintain and update existing content, using evidence including analytics and user feedback.

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Build productive relationships with content authors across the organisation to develop their skills in writing clearly in Welsh and English.

Support colleagues with rewriting complex or technical pieces of writing in plain everyday language that anyone can understand.

Assist the team, as and when required, to provide training to colleagues about how to write in our tone of voice and in-line with other guidance and governance requirements.

4. Advise colleagues on the best format and structure for content and the most effective communication channels to reach and address the needs of their audiences.

Use data and evidence to make informed decisions about the most appropriate communication channel(s) for the content to support the needs of our users/audiences.

Advise colleagues on the most effective channel(s) to reach users with each piece of content and the structure and format it should take.

Work closely with colleagues within the communications team to make the most effective use of the channel(s) used for content. For instance, this may mean developing the content as html pages on our website and working closely with the digital communications officer (website) to place it in the area of the website that will result in the best level of engagement with users.

In your area of work, you will also:

adopt agile working practices and encourage a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and excellence, learning from others and building networks.

support and promote changes in the organisation’s processes and apply them in your work.

take part in putting specific projects, procedures and guidelines into practice to help align the workforce with the strategic goals of the organisation.

promote Social Care Wales’s breadth of resources and expertise. support delivery of the organisational communications plan to effectively manage

resources. carry out other duties appropriate to the level of the post that may reasonably be

required. assist in providing effective and efficient financial resource management by

budgeting and monitoring spend, as well as raising requisitions and orders for the team’s expenditure.

support the wider communication team’s activities in social media, media relations, publications, website and internal communications, as and when required.

maintain confidentiality when dealing with sensitive, personal or confidential information.

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promote and reflect our values, anti-discriminatory practice, equal opportunities and Welsh Language Standards, making sure they are incorporated in every aspect of our work, and place people who use care and support at the heart of our work.

respond proactively to colleagues, take part in team working, work to corporate policies and procedures, and contribute to the effective running of Social Care Wales

promote good working relationships with partners and customers in Wales and the rest of the UK.

complete relevant training and, where required, assist with the training of others.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

Post: Content officer

We expect all our staff embrace and demonstrate behaviour that is in line with our organisational values.

Respect everyone Seeing people as individuals and treating everyone with dignity and respect.

Professional approachActing responsibly and appropriately, holding each other to account.

Always learning Improving ourselves and supporting others to be the best we can be.

Involve peopleEncourage and enable everyone to work together.

Essential DesirableQualifications Evidence of continuous

professional development.Degree or post-graduate qualification in journalism, media or general communications.

Knowledge Knowledge of how to write excellent accurate content for different audiences and channels of communication.

Excellent knowledge of English and Welsh, including grammar and punctuation.

Understanding of html content, website content management systems and design, and search engine optimisation.

Working knowledge of how to produce accessible content.

Broad knowledge of online and offline communication channels and how to develop effective content for them.

Working knowledge of project-based email platforms, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft SharePoint.

Working knowledge of social media platforms, particularly Twitter and Facebook.

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Essential Desirable

Knowledge of how to interpret qualitative and quantitative data (including web analytics) and evidence to make informed decisions.

Understanding of agile practices (responding to changing requirements and customer unpredictability by constantly reviewing, developing and revising material, based on feedback) and how they can help produce effective content.

Experience A proven track record of working as a writer and/or editor.

Proven experience of researching and analysing what users or audiences are looking for and producing content that meets their needs.

Experience of structuring, designing and publishing user-centred content for online and offline channels. Experience of sub-editing and proofreading materials and turning complicated or technical text into plain English or Welsh.

Experience of supporting others in the development and publication of online and offline content.

Experience in the public sector.

Experience of using and interpreting Google analytics

Skills and Attributes Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Welsh.

Ability to work in an agile way and a commitment to develop

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Essential Desirableknowledge and skills to design and deliver online and offline content.

An analytical mind to seek out relevant evidence that will help in identifying the best approach to content and channels for communication.

Methodical worker, with a keen eye for detail and accuracy.

Ability to grasp the needs of colleagues and propose practical solutions.

Ability to work on own initiative, work well under pressure and manage multiple projects at the same time, each with a different timeline.

Confident, to present and explain ideas to colleagues, including senior management.

Professional approach to time, costs and deadlines.

IT literate and numerate, and familiar with Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Ability to develop and maintain excellent working relationships.

Commitment to working in line with the public sector values.

Ability to work through the medium of Welsh.

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Language requirements

Listening and speaking: Able to fulfil all spoken aspects of the post through the medium of English and Welsh.

Reading and understanding: Able to use and interpret information from various sources through the medium of English and Welsh.

Writing: Able to write routine work related material through the medium of English and Welsh

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Confidential

Application form

Post applied for:

For HR use only:

Candidate Reference Number

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Application form Confidential

This form will need to be photocopied, please type or write clearly in black ink – Please do not remove any of the perforated pages.

Personal details

Last name - Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss First Names(s)

Home Address

Telephone No.

Daytime: Home:

Mobile: e-mail:

References

Please give details of two previous employers to whom we may apply for a reference. One of these must be your present or most recent employer - if applicable.

References for all shortlisted candidates will be taken up prior to the interview.

If you do not want us to contact your referees at this stage please tick the box:

1. Name: 2. Name:

Job Title: Job Title

Capacity: Capacity:

Address: Address:

Postcode: Postcode:

Telephone: Telephone:

e-mail: e-mail:

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Relationships

Have you any friends or relatives employed by the Social Care Wales? If so, please provide name(s) and relationships with those named:

Legal status to work in the UK

Do you have the legal right to work in the UK? Yes/No

If ‘YES’ but there are conditions attached, for example start or finish dates, please give details:

If ‘NO’ what type of permit do you require?:

Availability

Are there any dates during the next two months when you cannot attend for interview?

Education/qualifications

Please give name and type of establishment, beginning with Secondary School and list qualifications gained.

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Establishment Qualifications

Membership of professional bodies and professional qualifications

Please give details of your membership of professional bodies and the level of qualification attained.

Date Professional Organisation Level of membership attained

Additional training

Please detail any further or specialist training undertaken or continuing professional development.

Employment

If you are a school/college leaver include details of holiday jobs.

Present or last employer

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Name, address and nature of business:

Position held and responsibilities:

Dates (Month and Year) From: To:

Salary (now or on leaving):

Notice Period:

Reason for leaving:

Previous employers

Starting with the most recent. Add more rows if necessary.

Name and nature of business

Position held and responsibilities Duration - months and years

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Name and nature of business

Position held and responsibilities Duration - months and years

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Person Specification

Please explain how you meet the following criteria by providing examples from previous experience.

This section alone is used for shortlisting and the boxes will expand as you write in them.

Only this section is seen by the shortlisting panel, your personal details, education and previous employment are removed for shortlisting purposes.

Essential

Knowledge of how to write excellent accurate content for different audiences and channels of communication.

Understanding of html content, website content management systems and design, and search engine optimisation.

Working knowledge of how to produce accessible content.

Understanding of agile practices (responding to changing requirements and customer unpredictability by constantly reviewing, developing and revising material, based on feedback) and how they can help produce effective content.

Experience of researching and analysing what users or audiences are looking for and

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producing content that meets their needs

Experience of sub-editing and proofreading materials and turning complicated or technical text into plain English or Welsh.

Experience of supporting others in the development and publication of online and offline content.

How did you hear about this position?

Please tick this box if you would like to receive any elements of the interview process in Welsh

Declaration

I confirm that the details of this application and the evidence of competency provided in support of it, are to the best of my knowledge true and accurate; and I consent to Social Care Wales processing, by means of a computer database or otherwise, any information I have provided for the purposes of employment with Social Care Wales.

Signature:_________________________________Date:________________

Please return your completed application form to HRTeam@socialcare.wales

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