Personal Assistant Band 4

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a team of Personal Assistants with the Surgical division.

This is a busy and varied role and the successful applicant will support our team of Cardiac and Aortic Surgeons. In undertaking this role, the applicant will become an integral part of the surgical division helping to ensure that all our patients receive the very best care.

They will facilitate the patient pathway; working to ensure that the referral to treatment (RTT) targets are met. Moreover, the successful candidate will provide a point of contact for our patients and as such, will be instrumental in providing a positive and safe experience for all those in our care.

Main duties of the job

  • To provide comprehensive secretarial support to Cardiac and Aortic consultants including the management of waiting lists and consultant diaries.
  • To undertake the typing of clinic letters and other correspondence.
  • To work within a team of Cardiac and Aortic secretaries, providing cross cover and support during periods of annual leave or sickness and to demonstrate a positive and proactive attitude to the role.
  • To work closely with the clinical and management teams to ensure that patients are treated in a timely manner in line with national targets. The successful candidate will be responsible for monitoring and validating the PTL (Patient tracking list) and for escalating any concerns. This is key in preventing delays to patient treatment.
  • To support the division in addressing any data quality issues as they arise. This is important in reducing any delays to patient care
  • To act as a positive and supportive point of contact for patients addressing their queries in a helpful and proactive manner; escalating to clinicians/managers when required.

About us

As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'.

We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine both in the hospital and out in the community.

We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.

Our reputation for strong performance is important in delivering the best care for our patients and high quality clinical services. This is underpinned by a culture of research and innovation, delivered in modern estate and our encouragement of flexible working in a variety of forms.

Please visit our website - https://www.lhch.nhs.uk/

Please follow this link for a tour of our site - https://bit.ly/36ylsoq

Date posted

29 November 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£25,147 to £27,596 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9410-23-0333

Job locations

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Thomas Drive

Liverpool

Merseyside

L14 3PE


Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

To provide a comprehensive and effective secretarial, waiting list and administrative service to the Consultants and their medical team.

To administer and manage waiting lists and organise patient admissions and pre-operative appointments

To coordinate the audio-typing of clinical and non-clinical correspondence within the service line

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

.

Coordination of the Consultant and Registrar activities for cardiac and aortic surgeons.

Administration and management of the Patient Tracking List other waiting lists for the service line

Working alongside clinicians to support diary management and planning for theatre lists according to patients clinical priority and length of wait.

Close monitoring of patient pathways ensuring patients are treated in accordance with national access targets.

Acting as first point of contact for the consultant and their team.

Typing of clinic and other correspondence in a timely manner and acting on the outcome of these letters.

Ensuring that any clinic outcomes are acted upon for the patients under you consultants care and liaising with the consultants if outcomes are unclear.

Proving cross cover for other team members during periods of sickness and annual leave.

ORGANISATIONAL

Patient experience

  • Coordinating audio-typing of clinical and non-clinical correspondence within the service line and within set timescales.
  • Close monitoring of patient pathways, ensuring patients are admitted in accordance with 18-week RTT targets.
  • Contributing to the achievement of patient access targets through validation of patient pathways, bringing issues to the attention of clinical and or management teams, and identifying delays in the patient journey.
  • Ensuring patient access policy is adhered to.
  • Coordinating tests and investigations requested by the Consultant and junior medical staff and ensure they are reviewed in a timely manner and in accordance with communicated KPIs.
  • Escalating capacity issues to SLM
  • Maintaining the confidentiality of patient information at all times

Team working

  • Demonstrating own duties to new administrative and clerical staff.
  • Coordinating cover of duties between colleagues across the service line during periods of holiday and / or sickness.

Communication

  • Communicating with patients and patient relatives over the telephone, responding to their queries in a caring, sensitive and reassuring manner. Use initiative when dealing with and resolving patient enquiries, escalating as appropriate.
  • Providing information to the management team when requested and use initiative to escalate any issues as appropriate.
  • Communicating with other Hospitals and external agencies
  • Setting up and maintaining e-mail groups, will be expected to use Intranet and Internet.
  • Providing information to staff in other departments.

Policy & Service Development

Being aware of and adhering to administrative procedures and protocols relevant to the post.

Observing the provisions of and adhering to all Trust policies and procedures

Required to comment on, implement and adhere to secretarial / administrative procedures and protocols.

Data Management

  • Administration of waiting lists for elective procedures, organising pre-op appointments and admissions
  • Using Waiting List functionality on PAS
  • Working alongside consultants and the management team to support the planning and scheduling theatre, according to patients clinical priority and length of wait.
  • Recording all information as required on PAS including amendments.

GENERAL STATEMENTS

  • Attending team meetings where required
  • Maintaining confidentiality and abide by the Data Protection Act.
  • Being familiar with and following health and safety policy and procedures and to be aware of individual responsibilities under legislation, drawing any areas of potential risk to the attention of managers
  • Ensuring completion of timely PDR/Appraisal process with designated line manager
  • Being able to demonstrate Trust values and behaviours (outlined in staff handbook) at all times
  • Undertaking any other duties which are deemed appropriate to the band

The above indicates the main duties of the post which may be reviewed in the light of experience and development within the service. Any review will be undertaken in conjunction with the postholder.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

  • To contribute to and agree a continuing Personal Development Plan.

  • To attend internal or external courses as agreed within the plan or ad hoc training and development as requested by management.

  • To attend on-going refresher training within their job role as legislation changes and upgrades to the PAS, EDMS or other local systems are introduced.

  • Ensure mandatory training including Information Governance training is maintained within compliance date arranging time with line manager to complete when required.

  • Participate in departmental meetings and awareness sessions as and when required.

  • Employees are expected to develop their IT skills necessary to support the tasks included in their post. They will therefore be required to undertake any necessary training to support this.

Working Relationships:

Maintaining positive and effective working relationships with:

  • Executive Directors
  • Divisional Management
  • Service Line Managers
  • Consultants and other clinicians
  • Information Staff
  • Finance Department
  • Human Resources
  • Peers within other NHS Trusts

CONFIDENTIALITY

All employees must adhere to policies and procedures relating to Information Governance, Confidentiality and Information Security.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Trust is committed to approaching the control of risks in a strategic and organised manner.

The post holder must be aware of their individual responsibilities as detailed in the Trusts Risk Management, Health & Safety and Incident policies, and those under the Health and Safety at Work Act. This includes the reporting of any untoward incident, accident, potential or actual hazard identified.

SAFEGUARDING

All staff are required to be familiar with the arrangements for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and support the organisation in promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Staff working directly with children, young people and vulnerable adults will have a responsibility to ensure safeguarding and promoting their welfare forms an integral part of their duties.

Staff who come into contact with children, vulnerable adults, parents and carers in the course of their work and/or have access to records will have responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Staff who come into contact in the course of their duties, with parents, carers or other significant adults or children, young people and vulnerable adults should always be mindful of safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of these individuals.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The Trust is a Health Promoting Hospital. The Trust expects that when you are presented with opportunities to improve the lifestyle of our patients you seek help from appropriately trained clinical staff to ensure patients are supported and assisted in making the necessary lifestyle changes. This is in accordance with best practice as described in the DoH white paper Choosing Health Making Healthy Choices Easier.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to achieving equal opportunities. All employees are expected to observe this policy in relation to the public and fellow employees.

All staff are expected to adhere to, and act in accordance with, the values & behaviours of the Trust.

This document is intended to be used as a guide to the general scope of duties involved in this post. It is not exhaustive and should not therefore be used as a rigid specification. It will be kept under review and amended as required in consultation with the post holder.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

To provide a comprehensive and effective secretarial, waiting list and administrative service to the Consultants and their medical team.

To administer and manage waiting lists and organise patient admissions and pre-operative appointments

To coordinate the audio-typing of clinical and non-clinical correspondence within the service line

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

.

Coordination of the Consultant and Registrar activities for cardiac and aortic surgeons.

Administration and management of the Patient Tracking List other waiting lists for the service line

Working alongside clinicians to support diary management and planning for theatre lists according to patients clinical priority and length of wait.

Close monitoring of patient pathways ensuring patients are treated in accordance with national access targets.

Acting as first point of contact for the consultant and their team.

Typing of clinic and other correspondence in a timely manner and acting on the outcome of these letters.

Ensuring that any clinic outcomes are acted upon for the patients under you consultants care and liaising with the consultants if outcomes are unclear.

Proving cross cover for other team members during periods of sickness and annual leave.

ORGANISATIONAL

Patient experience

  • Coordinating audio-typing of clinical and non-clinical correspondence within the service line and within set timescales.
  • Close monitoring of patient pathways, ensuring patients are admitted in accordance with 18-week RTT targets.
  • Contributing to the achievement of patient access targets through validation of patient pathways, bringing issues to the attention of clinical and or management teams, and identifying delays in the patient journey.
  • Ensuring patient access policy is adhered to.
  • Coordinating tests and investigations requested by the Consultant and junior medical staff and ensure they are reviewed in a timely manner and in accordance with communicated KPIs.
  • Escalating capacity issues to SLM
  • Maintaining the confidentiality of patient information at all times

Team working

  • Demonstrating own duties to new administrative and clerical staff.
  • Coordinating cover of duties between colleagues across the service line during periods of holiday and / or sickness.

Communication

  • Communicating with patients and patient relatives over the telephone, responding to their queries in a caring, sensitive and reassuring manner. Use initiative when dealing with and resolving patient enquiries, escalating as appropriate.
  • Providing information to the management team when requested and use initiative to escalate any issues as appropriate.
  • Communicating with other Hospitals and external agencies
  • Setting up and maintaining e-mail groups, will be expected to use Intranet and Internet.
  • Providing information to staff in other departments.

Policy & Service Development

Being aware of and adhering to administrative procedures and protocols relevant to the post.

Observing the provisions of and adhering to all Trust policies and procedures

Required to comment on, implement and adhere to secretarial / administrative procedures and protocols.

Data Management

  • Administration of waiting lists for elective procedures, organising pre-op appointments and admissions
  • Using Waiting List functionality on PAS
  • Working alongside consultants and the management team to support the planning and scheduling theatre, according to patients clinical priority and length of wait.
  • Recording all information as required on PAS including amendments.

GENERAL STATEMENTS

  • Attending team meetings where required
  • Maintaining confidentiality and abide by the Data Protection Act.
  • Being familiar with and following health and safety policy and procedures and to be aware of individual responsibilities under legislation, drawing any areas of potential risk to the attention of managers
  • Ensuring completion of timely PDR/Appraisal process with designated line manager
  • Being able to demonstrate Trust values and behaviours (outlined in staff handbook) at all times
  • Undertaking any other duties which are deemed appropriate to the band

The above indicates the main duties of the post which may be reviewed in the light of experience and development within the service. Any review will be undertaken in conjunction with the postholder.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

  • To contribute to and agree a continuing Personal Development Plan.

  • To attend internal or external courses as agreed within the plan or ad hoc training and development as requested by management.

  • To attend on-going refresher training within their job role as legislation changes and upgrades to the PAS, EDMS or other local systems are introduced.

  • Ensure mandatory training including Information Governance training is maintained within compliance date arranging time with line manager to complete when required.

  • Participate in departmental meetings and awareness sessions as and when required.

  • Employees are expected to develop their IT skills necessary to support the tasks included in their post. They will therefore be required to undertake any necessary training to support this.

Working Relationships:

Maintaining positive and effective working relationships with:

  • Executive Directors
  • Divisional Management
  • Service Line Managers
  • Consultants and other clinicians
  • Information Staff
  • Finance Department
  • Human Resources
  • Peers within other NHS Trusts

CONFIDENTIALITY

All employees must adhere to policies and procedures relating to Information Governance, Confidentiality and Information Security.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Trust is committed to approaching the control of risks in a strategic and organised manner.

The post holder must be aware of their individual responsibilities as detailed in the Trusts Risk Management, Health & Safety and Incident policies, and those under the Health and Safety at Work Act. This includes the reporting of any untoward incident, accident, potential or actual hazard identified.

SAFEGUARDING

All staff are required to be familiar with the arrangements for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and support the organisation in promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Staff working directly with children, young people and vulnerable adults will have a responsibility to ensure safeguarding and promoting their welfare forms an integral part of their duties.

Staff who come into contact with children, vulnerable adults, parents and carers in the course of their work and/or have access to records will have responsibilities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Staff who come into contact in the course of their duties, with parents, carers or other significant adults or children, young people and vulnerable adults should always be mindful of safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of these individuals.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The Trust is a Health Promoting Hospital. The Trust expects that when you are presented with opportunities to improve the lifestyle of our patients you seek help from appropriately trained clinical staff to ensure patients are supported and assisted in making the necessary lifestyle changes. This is in accordance with best practice as described in the DoH white paper Choosing Health Making Healthy Choices Easier.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to achieving equal opportunities. All employees are expected to observe this policy in relation to the public and fellow employees.

All staff are expected to adhere to, and act in accordance with, the values & behaviours of the Trust.

This document is intended to be used as a guide to the general scope of duties involved in this post. It is not exhaustive and should not therefore be used as a rigid specification. It will be kept under review and amended as required in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • G.C.S.E. English or equivalent

Desirable

  • AMSPAR Diploma
  • RSA II

Experience

Essential

  • PAS
  • Microsoft Office
  • Conversant with secretarial procedures /administrative practice
  • Medical terminology
  • Previous secretarial / office experience
  • Supervision/ delegation of tasks
  • Working in a team
  • Maintaining confidentiality
  • Advanced keyboard skills

Desirable

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Digital dictation systems
  • Waiting list management
  • Patient pathway management
  • Previous NHS experience
  • Audio typing

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to prioritise
  • Reliable and works to high standards
  • Adaptable to change
  • Sensitive and caring
  • Able to work on own initiative.
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills

Desirable

  • Problem Solving

Values and Behaviours

Essential

  • Flexible
  • Positive approach to work
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • G.C.S.E. English or equivalent

Desirable

  • AMSPAR Diploma
  • RSA II

Experience

Essential

  • PAS
  • Microsoft Office
  • Conversant with secretarial procedures /administrative practice
  • Medical terminology
  • Previous secretarial / office experience
  • Supervision/ delegation of tasks
  • Working in a team
  • Maintaining confidentiality
  • Advanced keyboard skills

Desirable

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Digital dictation systems
  • Waiting list management
  • Patient pathway management
  • Previous NHS experience
  • Audio typing

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to prioritise
  • Reliable and works to high standards
  • Adaptable to change
  • Sensitive and caring
  • Able to work on own initiative.
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills

Desirable

  • Problem Solving

Values and Behaviours

Essential

  • Flexible
  • Positive approach to work

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

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Address

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Thomas Drive

Liverpool

Merseyside

L14 3PE


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Address

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Thomas Drive

Liverpool

Merseyside

L14 3PE


Employer's website

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

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Support Manager (Surgery)

Nina Rogers

nina.rogers@lhch.nhs.uk

01512543114

Date posted

29 November 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£25,147 to £27,596 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9410-23-0333

Job locations

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Thomas Drive

Liverpool

Merseyside

L14 3PE


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)