Senior Trust Medical Secretary

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

The closing date is 09 April 2025

Job summary

Are you looking for a career in the NHS? Are you looking to work in a fast-paced environment and the opportunity to work in a large-multidisciplinary team, where you can make a difference and improve services for our patients? If so, we want to hear from you!

The Medicine Division at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital are looking for a motivated, forward-thinking and compassionate individual, to join the team as Trust Secretary to oversee the Oncology directorate.

As part of this busy and exciting role, you will support the Department by acting as a point of contact for all communications between the Consultant, patients, relatives, all hospital staff, General Practitioners and their staff and outside agencies, maintaining a close working relationship between Consultants and patients as appropriate. Assist in the management of the office administration of the Consultant and designated clinical team. Provide an effective administrative secretarial service, ensuring continuity of service during absences.

Main duties of the job

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust (NNUH) is one of the largest comprehensive cancer centers in the UK. It offers a full range of oncological and surgical cancer treatments that are the envy of hospitals in the UK.

NNUH understands the challenges of cancer management and is committed to meeting that challenge head on using the latest technological, innovative and research tools to provide the best possible service for our cancer patients with kindness and warmth.

We understand and feel very acutely the needs of our patients and how best to provide for those needs in an intelligent, effective and efficient manner.

We would be delighted to receive applications from candidates who are interested in playing an integral role in providing secretarial support in a very busy but friendly department.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced individual who enjoys patient contact and working in a friendly, multi-disciplinary environment. The post-holder will be expected to deliver a high quality service within a performance managed environment. You will work collaboratively to provide a full secretarial and administrative service at a leading Cancer Centre which prides itself on clinical excellence.

At NNUH, we strive to provide our staff with their individual developmental needs to achieve their career aspiration. If your aim is to be the best secretary or aspire to go further in your career, we will ensure that we support you either way.

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

03 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

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

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

234-24-M2864

Job locations

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Deal efficiently and effectively with direct and indirect (i.e. telephone, face to face) enquires 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.
  • Complete the Tertiary referral proforma/template for internal/external referrals as per Trust policy.
  • Promptly action clinical investigations, results and outcomes. Utilise Trust reports to service and administer waiting lists, which may include outpatient, inpatient, diagnostic and waiting lists where relevant.
  • Book patients from waiting lists and update associated booking systems (eg ORSOS, ARIA etc) in line with departmental requirements and in line with the Trust RTT Policy.
  • Utilise outpatient and inpatient PTLs to track patients through pathway.
  • Arrange urgent admissions direct from clinic and ambulatory care areas, contacting the patient and liaising with ward/theatre/clinics as required.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

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) enquires 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.
  • Complete the Tertiary referral proforma/template for internal/external referrals as per Trust policy.
  • Promptly action clinical investigations, results and outcomes. Utilise Trust reports to service and administer waiting lists, which may include outpatient, inpatient, diagnostic and waiting lists where relevant.
  • Book patients from waiting lists and update associated booking systems (eg ORSOS, ARIA etc) in line with departmental requirements and in line with the Trust RTT Policy.
  • Utilise outpatient and inpatient PTLs to track patients through pathway.
  • Arrange urgent admissions direct from clinic and ambulatory care areas, contacting the patient and liaising with ward/theatre/clinics as required.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

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

  • RSA III or equivalent training or experience
  • Good general standard of literacy and numeracy
  • Knowledge of medical terminology/AMSPAR qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Previous digital/audio typing experience
  • Working knowledge and experience of using Microsoft Office packages, including Word, Excel, Outlook

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

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

  • RSA III or equivalent training or experience
  • Good general standard of literacy and numeracy
  • Knowledge of medical terminology/AMSPAR qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Previous digital/audio typing experience
  • Working knowledge and experience of using Microsoft Office packages, including Word, Excel, Outlook

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

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 & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

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 & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy Admin Manager

Madison Hallam

Madison.hallam@nnuh.nhs.uk

01603287052

Date posted

03 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

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

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

234-24-M2864

Job locations

Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital

Colney Lane

Norwich

NR4 7UY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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