Apprentice Support Secretary in Respiratory Medicine

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Full Time: 37.5 Hours per week

An opportunity has arisen within the Respiratory secretarial team within the Urgent Division for an Apprentice Support Secretary. In this role the post holder will provide secretarial support and administrative support to the Consultants and wider team.

We are looking for a highly motivated individual to provide a high standard of audio typing / clerical support. The successful candidate must be able to work using their own initiative, but also as part of a team.

Excellent communication and administrative skills are essential for this role, along with a keen eye for accuracy and detail. Organisational skills are also essential.

A working knowledge of general office procedures and Microsoft packages is required, but full training will be given in the use of Medisec and EPR+ software. Knowledge of medical terminology also would be an advantage.

• You will support the Team Leader by undertaking audio transcription and typing of clinic and miscellaneous digital dictation as and when required, whilst ensuring you maintain proficiency and accuracy in the use of medical terminology.
• You will support in the efficient and effective process of distributing correspondence out to all relevant parties.
• You will support the department by undertaking the scanning or filing of letters and diagnostic results into patients case notes, following the Health Records Guidelines.
• You will participate in the Team’s post rota (for sending external correspondence), contributing to the preparation of letters and the sorting of incoming & outgoing post.
• You will develop a knowledge of other roles within the speciality teams, to support during incidents of absence and the maintenance of adequate cover.
• You will assist in locating and retrieving of case notes, from various areas of the trust using the case note tracking system ensuring case notes are tracked on the relevant computer system at all times.
• You will support in the effective and efficient communication with regards to patient care.
• You will assist the team with correspondence, telephone or personal enquiries relating to the specialty when the need arises.
• You will support the team in ensuring that shared systems are devised and utilised by all of the team.
• As part of your role you will actively engage in adhering to the Trust Values.

Working for our organisation

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £27.50 (standard) or £55.50 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

• GCSE standard (English) or NVQ Level 2 or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Packages

• Typing experience is desirable

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application is £27.50 (standard) or £54.50 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Overseas Candidates

The Department of Health and Social Care has released a new publication to support overseas candidates looking to work in health and care in the UK.

The new guidance provides information on the recruitment process that candidates should expect when applying for work in the UK. Please follow the below link: Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Overseas candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a CoS for the post by assessing their circumstances against criteria specified on the Visas and immigration - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.