Medical Secretary
Band 3
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Grade- Full time
- Job share
Thank you for your interest in joining us at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
We pride ourselves in striving to be an employer of choice.
Strategic Themes
Great Care
- Care based on what matters to people.
- Care provided at home or close to home.
- Improvement through learning, research and innovation.
- Prevention and alternatives to hospital.
Great Organisation
- Buildings that support health and wellbeing.
- Technology enabled care.
- Care teams are supported by responsive corporate services.
- Safe, efficient, effective and productive.
Great People
- A place people love to work and feel valued.
- Living our values with staff (all voices count).
- Attract, grow and develop talent.
- Leaders with compassion, who continuously learn and listen.
Great Partner
- Encourage and enable effective partnerships.
- Joined-up community services.
- Work with others to maximise workforce opportunities.
- Reduce our impact on the environment.
At the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s job share, part time or another flexible pattern. In addition, although the role advertised may have a ‘home’ office base indicated, we remain committed to supporting flexibility around workplace locations. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
The successful applicant will be an NHS employee and may therefore have contact with vulnerable service users. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been necessary to take significant steps to protect the health and safety of our staff, service users and those attending our sites. Unless exempt, we encourage and support staff to be vaccinated as this remains the best line of defence against COVID-19.
Job overview
We are looking for a dynamic, organised, supportive and capable Medical Secretary with a proven track record that is aware of the possible stresses and strains of supporting a busy Consultant Psychiatrist in fulfilling a full timetable of clinical and Trust priorities.
You must be a team player who is able to juggle priorities in an accurate way that aids the support of not just the Consultant to which they are connected but to both the extended admin and clinical teams also.
The post holder will be working within the Integrated Community Mental Health Team.
Banham House has on-site car park which offers free staff parking.
This post is working Monday - Friday – 9.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m.
Job share will be considered – 3 days per week – 22.5 hours and 2 days per week – 15 hours.
Main duties of the job
To provide a full medical secretary service to a specific number of Consultant and Junior Medical Staff and to assist in the organisation of the Consultant’s workload.
Co-ordinate and organise action arising from correspondence and ensure prompt and efficient response, as require, by the Consultant and Junior Medical Support Staff. Co-ordination with other professionals, outside Agencies, legal staff, Trust staff etc.
Direct communication with patients and resolving their problems and queries as appropriate.
Working for our organisation
We’re an NHS community and mental health provider Trust based in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We deliver community and hospital-based care to improve people’s physical and mental health. We also provide specialist support to people with dementia or a learning disability.
We are a people organisation and people matter to us. As part of the team, you'll help support the health and wellbeing of the people who live and visit this beautiful part of the UK.
Over 4,000 people make up the Trust. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, plus admin and support staff.
We work in people's homes, in community clinics and bases. Some staff work from one of our 13 community hospitals. Our aspiration is to have great people, provide great care, be a great place to work and a great partner.
Just over 568,000 people live here. A third of people who live in Cornwall are supported by acute hospital services in Devon. As a result, we also work closely with our partners in Devon. In the summer, and during other holidays lots of people choose to visit the area. This increases the numbers of people who use our services.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To view a detailed job description and person specification including the main responsibilities of this role please see ‘supporting documents’.
Person specification
Qualifications and Experience
Essential criteria
- Good Standard of Education including GCSE Maths and English
- RSA III Word-Processing or equivalent
- RSA II Audio-Typing or equivalent
- Computer Literate with experience of spreadsheets and databases
- Previous experience of working as a secretary within the NHS or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- AMSPAR Medical Secretary Diploma
- RSA III Audio-Typing or equivalent
- Previous experience working as a secretary in a clinical environment in mental health
- Shorthand
Skills and Aptitude
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure whilst remaining calm
- Ability to manage own workload and work independently
- Ability to prioritise and work on own initiative
Knowledge and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of psychiatric medical terminology
- Knowledge of the Trust’s electronic information systems
- Minute taking
At Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust we are proud to prioritise the development of our people. To support this, the following opportunities are available:
- Career conversations and individual development plans for succession planning and talent management
- Protected CPD time for registered staff
- Access to a dedicated central development fund supporting CPD for all staff
- Leadership and Management development programmes
- Coaching and mentoring opportunities
- A full clinical induction programme for operational skills
- Access to a care certificate programme for our band 1-4 clinical staff
- A bespoke and robust preceptorship programme to support newly qualified staff
- Individual professional development programmes
Being part of a successful NHS Foundation Trust brings a portfolio of rewards and benefits for our staff. These include:
- Suite of health and wellbeing initiatives to support our colleagues physical and mental health
- Free access to individual HARP portfolios to support revalidation for nursing staff
- Free DBS checks where required
- Discounts available from retailers, UK hotels and main attractions
- NHS Pension Scheme
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- The Trust reimburses all application costs for staff eligible to apply for EU settlement status.
The Trust reserves the right to close this advert once a sufficient number of applications have been submitted. It is encouraged that you complete the application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
If you are successful at the shortlisting stage of the recruitment process you will be contacted via TRAC.jobs email regarding interview details.
We are committed to diversity and equality of employment including the employment of current and former service users.
If you are successful, you agree to Occupational Health accessing your health records from your current or previous employer to check the status of your inoculations and screening tests. Appointments are subject to full three year satisfactory references therefore please ensure you include correct contact details for your nominated referees including email addresses.
Any general recruitment queries, please contact our recruitment team on 01208 834644
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.