Communications Officer

Communications Officer

Maternity Cover: up to twelve months

Part-time: 28 hours per week

Base: Shared Care Scotland offices, Dunfermline. Hybrid working applies and a
copy of our Hybrid (Remote) Working Policy is available on request.

Responsible to: Head of Policy and Communications

Job purpose

The overall purpose of the Communications Officer is to contribute to the
effective and efficient provision of communications at Shared Care Scotland,
helping to achieve the organisation’s mission, “to improve the quality, choice
and availability of short breaks throughout Scotland for all carers and cared-for
people,” and enhance our reputation as the leading expert on short breaks in
Scotland.

Throughout our various activities, including our communications, we aim to
achieve the following outcomes:

For unpaid carers and those they help care for:

•  Have a greater understanding of their rights to be supported through

short breaks

•  Have a greater understanding of what short breaks options are available

to them

•  Are able to confidently make informed choices about their short breaks
•  Are able to influence and shape the development of short breaks locally

and nationally

For policy makers and commissioners:

•  Have improved access to the current best evidence on ‘what works’
•  Are aware of short breaks options in their area, including the impact of

Short Breaks Fund-funded and Respitality provision

•  Policy and provision are co-produced and better informed by experience

of carers and cared-for people

For short break providers:

•  Are better able to offer people greater choice and flexibility of provision
•  Are more confident in their sustainability and resilience in the face of

changing expectations and models of funding

•  Have greater opportunities to share learning

Key result areas

The postholder is responsible for the planning and development of
communications; monitoring and evaluating communications activity; and
creating and delivering communications content across the work of the
organisation to both internal and external audiences.

The key responsibilities of the Communications Officer are:

Communications planning and development

•  To contribute to the development of communications plans for core SCS

work and other workstreams

•  To work with the Head of Policy and Communications to enhance our

understanding of SCS stakeholders and their needs so that
communications can be informed by insight

•  To maintain and update the communications forward planner for SCS,

including seeking input from other workstreams

•  To develop an editorial plan for the digital newsletter, including planned

features; regular articles; and content from other sources

•  To work with the Head of Policy and Communications to implement the

Communications Strategy, including information campaigns,
opportunities for collaboration, etc.

•  To contribute to the development and maintenance of Shared Care

Scotland’s digital presence

•  To support strong collaboration on communications between workstream

teams

•  To support the Policy Officer in the delivery of research and learning,

policy development and practice sharing work, including online learning
sessions, digital content, and event delivery

•  To work with the Head of Policy and Communications, and Policy Officer

to deliver, implement and evaluate a Carer Engagement Strategy

Monitoring and evaluation

•  To work with the Head of Policy and Communications to develop a
baseline stakeholder engagement survey and evaluate the returns
•  To collate monthly evaluation reports on communications activity
•  To undertake campaign specific evaluation to assess impact of

communications activity

Content

•  To develop a suite of regular content for social media on key subject

areas, such as information services, research reports, etc.

•  To identify opportunities to increase reach and impact on social posts
•  To compile, create and publish the monthly digital newsletter
•  To work on the SCS website; reviewing, editing and developing content as

appropriate, and to an agreed schedule

•  To develop stories to demonstrate the impact of our work across the
different workstreams, including Short Breaks Fund and Respitality

Contacts development

•  Using the Communications Strategy and stakeholder analysis as a

starting point, develop and maintain contacts for communications in
partner organisations, including opportunities for sharing SCS work, e.g.
via blogs

•  Support the Head of Policy and Communications in the development and

updating of key contacts across the Scottish media

Brand development

•  Champion a strong brand for Shared Care Scotland, including brand

guidelines, tone of voice and key messages

•  Build brand awareness of Shared Care Scotland through input across

communications platforms and tools

Other tasks

•  Oversee the delivery of publications, such as impact reports

The Communications Officer is expected to:

•  Maintain an up-to-date knowledge and understanding of any

developments relevant to the effective delivery of Shared Care Scotland’s
services

•  Contribute to the ongoing development of Shared Care Scotland
•  At all times, act as an ambassador for Shared Care Scotland and its

services

This job description is indicative of the nature and level of responsibilities
associated with this job. It is not exhaustive, and the job holder may be
required to undertake other duties and responsibilities commensurate with the
grade.

Attributes and skills

Essential  Desirable

Proven experience of working in a
communications environment

Experience of delivering and evaluating
communications plans

Ability to take complex information and
adapt it for a wide range of audiences

Excellent copywriting skills for a variety of
channels and audiences, with high standards
of accuracy and attention to detail

Experience of creating communications
content from concept to completion,
including on digital channels

Attention to detail with excellent
organisational skills

Ability to use own initiative, prioritise and
organise own workload, and manage
conflicting priorities while meeting deadlines

A positive outlook, strong work ethic and
aptitude for problem solving

Ability to develop productive, professional
working relationships with internal
colleagues, stakeholders and suppliers

Ability to work collaboratively as part of a
broader team, recognising the importance
of integrated communications

Ability to work under pressure, to tight
deadlines, and to prioritise workload

Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office
packages and willingness to learn new
applications as required

Commitment to, and passion for the
purpose, aims and values of Shared Care
Scotland

Flexibility in working hours when necessary

Good personal presentation and verbal
communication skills

Attention to detail with excellent
organisational skills

Experience of using content management
systems, such as Sharepoint, Umbraco
and/or Wordpress

Experience of using social media tools, such
as Hootsuite or Canva to develop content

Experience of evaluation tools such as
Analytics

Interest in and understanding of issues
related to unpaid caring, living with a
disability or long-term health condition

Version: January 2026

Key contacts

Internal

•  Shared Care Scotland colleagues

External

•  Unpaid carers
•  Short break providers
•  National Carer Organisations (NCOs)
•  Unpaid carer & disabled people’s/condition specific organisations
•  Scottish Government
•  Local authorities
•  Health and social care partnerships
•
•  Academic and research organisations
•
•  UK-wide and international networks

Improvement services

Information providers