Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Personal Secretary to Divisional Director of Quality & Nursing, Band 4

The closing date is 17 June 2025

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for a Personal Assistant (PA) to support the Divisional Director of Quality & Nursing (DDQN) and Deputy DDQN. With both directors managing extensive portfolios, their Assistant will play a vital role in optimising their time and efficiency.

The post holder will deliver a high-quality, confidential service to the Divisional Directors, demonstrating initiative, discretion, independent judgement, and strong interpersonal and organisational skills. They will maintain a professional image and uphold the highest standards of professionalism and productivity. This support is essential in enabling the Divisional Directors to fulfil their nursing and strategic responsibilities while efficiently managing their operational and managerial duties, ensuring effective time management, patient safety, and seamless service delivery.

This role is ideal for an experienced Personal Assistant or a Secretary eager to advance their career. The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training and become part of a welcoming and supportive team.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable attending high-level board meetings and have the expertise to produce high-quality minutes when needed.

You should be adaptable in working between 08:00 and 17:00, with cross-cover arrangements in place to ensure seamless support among divisional PAs.

Job share considered.

The post holder will be accountable to the Divisional Lead Coordinator.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the role include, but are not limited to:

- Diary management and scheduling

- Responding to and answering telephone and email queries

- Sending out agendas and meeting documents for meetings

- Taking notes and minutes at meetings, and updating action logs

This role will suit someone with the following skills and qualities:

- Efficient, organised and confident

- Ability to prioritise

- Lots of initiative and a 'can-do' attitude

- Process and deadline driven

- Previous PA / secretarial background preferred, although evidence of transferable skills will be taken into account

About us

We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.

With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one or both of our innovative hospitals.

As well as generous annual leave allowance, you will have access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Details

Date posted

03 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year (pa pro rata if part-time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

318-25-T0403

Job locations

Trustwide

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN


Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details about the Personal Assistant position within the Surgery Division Directorate, please refer to the Job Overview, as well as the attached Job Description and Personal Specification.

The qualifications, training, and experience required for the role are outlined in the Job Description and Person Specification.

Before applying, it is essential to review these documents to ensure you meet the necessary criteria.

Interview details will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more details about the Personal Assistant position within the Surgery Division Directorate, please refer to the Job Overview, as well as the attached Job Description and Personal Specification.

The qualifications, training, and experience required for the role are outlined in the Job Description and Person Specification.

Before applying, it is essential to review these documents to ensure you meet the necessary criteria.

Interview details will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Minimum of 5 GCSEs including Maths and English
  • Touch typing with a typing speed in excess of 60wpm

Desirable

  • Evidence of taking up opportunities for Continuing Professional Development
  • RSA Stage 3 or equivalent secretarial qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience working at secretarial/PA level, within or outside the NHS
  • Minute taking experience; taking and transcribing formal minutes of meetings
  • Demonstrable experience of using own judgement and freedom to act in a wide range of scenarios.

Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of working within an Acute NHS Trust setting

Knowledge/ Skills

Essential

  • Microsoft Office Qualifications or work based experience in Outlook, Word, Excel and Powerpoint
  • Ability to understand requests and briefs at pace or to know when to seek guidance
  • Excellent interpersonal, negotiating, persuasion and influencing skills, both written and verbal.
  • Strong organisational skills, ability to prioritise workloads, to cope with pressure, and effectively managing conflicting deadlines and demands
  • Ability to plan and organise meetings with multiple stakeholders
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Minimum of 5 GCSEs including Maths and English
  • Touch typing with a typing speed in excess of 60wpm

Desirable

  • Evidence of taking up opportunities for Continuing Professional Development
  • RSA Stage 3 or equivalent secretarial qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience working at secretarial/PA level, within or outside the NHS
  • Minute taking experience; taking and transcribing formal minutes of meetings
  • Demonstrable experience of using own judgement and freedom to act in a wide range of scenarios.

Desirable

  • Knowledge and experience of working within an Acute NHS Trust setting

Knowledge/ Skills

Essential

  • Microsoft Office Qualifications or work based experience in Outlook, Word, Excel and Powerpoint
  • Ability to understand requests and briefs at pace or to know when to seek guidance
  • Excellent interpersonal, negotiating, persuasion and influencing skills, both written and verbal.
  • Strong organisational skills, ability to prioritise workloads, to cope with pressure, and effectively managing conflicting deadlines and demands
  • Ability to plan and organise meetings with multiple stakeholders

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN


Employer's website

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trustwide

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN


Employer's website

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Divisional Lead Coordinator

Judith Pennycooke

judith.pennycooke@nhs.net

03004225177

Details

Date posted

03 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year (pa pro rata if part-time)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

318-25-T0403

Job locations

Trustwide

Gloucestershire

GL1 3NN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)