Senior Trust Medical Secretary - Respiratory Medicine

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

The closing date is 06 April 2025

Job summary

Fixed term contract/ secondment opportunity until February 2026

The Respiratory Medicine directorate has an exciting opportunity to join the diverse and friendly admin team as a Senior Trust Medical Secretary. The forward-thinking and developing department incorporates new and exciting areas of interest including lung cancer, sleep, interstitial lung disease, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, oxygen, COPD, tuberculosis; as well as a vibrant outpatient department, respiratory investigation unit, lung function lab and a large inpatient footprint, all innovated collaboratively between the clinical, nursing and administrative teams. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, proactive and organised to join our vibrant and supportive team.

If you are looking for a role that provides you with the opportunity to show off your caring and compassionate side, you enjoy a busy atmosphere, working methodically with good attention to detail, and you can work flexibly, we want to hear from you!

If you are considering applying for this post on a secondment basis, please discuss with your Line Manager prior to applying to ascertain whether this could be supported.

Main duties of the job

As post holder you will:

  • Be a member of a large dynamic admin team and provide an essential first point of contact between the hospital, patients and their relatives, and diverse staff groups including clinicians, nurses and administrative teams.
  • Deal efficiently and effectively with direct and indirect patient contact.
  • Be able to work well autonomously and as part of a team.
  • Demonstrate and maintain knowledge of Trust and National policies.
  • Gain experience of the sub-specialties in Respiratory and provide high-quality secretarial support.

About us

Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!

The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.

We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:

  • Flexible working hours
  • Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
  • Multi Faith prayer room
  • Discounted gym memberships
  • Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
  • Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
  • Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
  • Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
  • On-site Nursery
  • On-site cafes offering staff discounts
  • Support in career development
  • Flexible staff bank
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics

Date posted

31 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

234-24-M2416-A

Job locations

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Deal efficiently and effectively with direct and indirect (i.e. telephone, face to face) enquiries from patients, all levels of medical and nursing staff, GPs, Social Services and other health professionals and staff. Respond to complex enquiries, providing routine and non-routine information and non-clinical advice, resolving problems where possible. Communicate appropriately with patients who may be fearful, aggressive or have sensitive concerns, needing reassurance and who may present difficulties in communication e.g. terminally ill patients, deaf patients, mentally ill patients and elderly confused patients. To sensitively provide and receive complex information using tact and adapting communication style to meet the needs of individual levels of understanding. Recognise the importance of individual rights in accordance with legislation, policy and procedures.
  • Attend to all communications, for example, emails, faxes, investigation results on a daily basis. Use judgement to undertake a preliminary assessment of content to determine the appropriate course of action and the priority for the consultants/clinical teams attention.
  • Accurately transcribe all correspondence by touch typing from audio/ digital dictation or shorthand using knowledge of medical terminology. Generate routine and non-routine correspondence independently.
  • Assist patients and their carers by arranging translation/ interpretation facilities.
  • Demonstrate and maintain knowledge and understanding of Trust RTT policy.
  • Update RTT in accordance with Trust guidelines and ensure accurate patient pathways, investigating and correcting errors as required. Assist the Administration and Clerical team with data management utilising PAS and other departmental patient databases.

Please see Job Description for full details of job specification and main responsibilities.

Please note that this advertised position, which is part of occupation code 4211 does not meet the UKVI eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer). The Trust would not be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Deal efficiently and effectively with direct and indirect (i.e. telephone, face to face) enquiries from patients, all levels of medical and nursing staff, GPs, Social Services and other health professionals and staff. Respond to complex enquiries, providing routine and non-routine information and non-clinical advice, resolving problems where possible. Communicate appropriately with patients who may be fearful, aggressive or have sensitive concerns, needing reassurance and who may present difficulties in communication e.g. terminally ill patients, deaf patients, mentally ill patients and elderly confused patients. To sensitively provide and receive complex information using tact and adapting communication style to meet the needs of individual levels of understanding. Recognise the importance of individual rights in accordance with legislation, policy and procedures.
  • Attend to all communications, for example, emails, faxes, investigation results on a daily basis. Use judgement to undertake a preliminary assessment of content to determine the appropriate course of action and the priority for the consultants/clinical teams attention.
  • Accurately transcribe all correspondence by touch typing from audio/ digital dictation or shorthand using knowledge of medical terminology. Generate routine and non-routine correspondence independently.
  • Assist patients and their carers by arranging translation/ interpretation facilities.
  • Demonstrate and maintain knowledge and understanding of Trust RTT policy.
  • Update RTT in accordance with Trust guidelines and ensure accurate patient pathways, investigating and correcting errors as required. Assist the Administration and Clerical team with data management utilising PAS and other departmental patient databases.

Please see Job Description for full details of job specification and main responsibilities.

Please note that this advertised position, which is part of occupation code 4211 does not meet the UKVI eligibility requirements for a Skilled Worker Visa (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer). The Trust would not be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for this role

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good general standard of literacy and numeracy
  • Knowledge of medical terminology/AMSPAR qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Previous digital/audio typing experience
  • Significant Medical Secretarial experience

Skills

Essential

  • Able to work both independently and as part of a team

Attitude, aptitude

Essential

  • Ability to work to tight deadlines and maintain concentration in a complex working environment
  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Good general standard of literacy and numeracy
  • Knowledge of medical terminology/AMSPAR qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Previous digital/audio typing experience
  • Significant Medical Secretarial experience

Skills

Essential

  • Able to work both independently and as part of a team

Attitude, aptitude

Essential

  • Ability to work to tight deadlines and maintain concentration in a complex working environment
  • Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH's PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Address

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Employer's website

https://teamnnuh.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Address

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Employer's website

https://teamnnuh.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Administration Manager

Hannah Woods

Hannah.Woods@nnuh.nhs.uk

01603289775

Date posted

31 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

234-24-M2416-A

Job locations

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Supporting documents

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