Job summary
- Main area
- Histopathology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Fixed term: 9 months (Maternity cover)
- Hours
- Part time - 30 hours per week (This role is based at the Bournemouth hospital pathology hub)
- Job ref
- 153-SP05834
- Employer
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bournemouth Hospital pathology hub
- Town
- Bournemouth
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 Pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/04/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 21/04/2026
Employer heading
Histology secretary
NHS AfC: Band 3
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
A vacancy has arisen at the histology department, University Hospitals Dorset (based at Bournemouth hospital) for a secretary / administrator working as part of a small team to provide efficient secretarial and
administrative support to the Consultant Histopathologists.
Responsibilities of the post will include providing a full administrative service and assisting in the organisation of the Consultant Histopathologists workload.
They will produce medical correspondence, including patient related documents, data entry into laboratory computer system, specialised reports and will deal with enquiries, both by telephone and in person, from parties internal and external to the Trust.
The ideal candidate will be able to prioritise and organise their own workload and will have confidence in dealing with colleagues and GP’s,
clinicians etc. The post requires attention to detail, commitment and an ability to work as part of a team.
Base Location: Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Interview Date: Tuesday, 21st April 2026
Main duties of the job
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
Working for our organisation
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
For UHD employees, this fixed-term post will be offered as a secondment in line with the Trust’s Secondment Policy. Please speak with your line manager before applying.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
Person specification
Qualification
Essential criteria
- Good General Education covering literacy and numeracy
- Keyboard skills - RSAII or equivalent touch typing / computer skills
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience in medical environment
- Computer keyboard skills including Microsoft Excel
Desirable criteria
- Attended medical terminology course
- Experience of data entry
Technical Skills Competencies
Essential criteria
- Ability to organise own workload and priorities
- Competent in use of multiple computer systems and national databases
- Capable of working effectively either independently, or as part of a team.
- Work flexibly in response to changing circumstances.
- Recognises and reports problems as they arise
- Works within limits of responsibility
- High degree of accuracy in all work
Desirable criteria
- Understand the importance of quality at all levels of our work.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of secretarial/administrative procedures
- Be willing to undergo further training, according to the needs of the job and as part of personal development.
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience in office environment
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills to communicate clearly and effectively at all levels in a courteous, approachable and helpful manner
- Able to interact and communicate with a variety of people including work colleagues, consultants and service users
- Ability to monitor workloads and reallocate or redirect at short notice
- Able to train staff
- Able to sustain concentration over long periods.
- Experience of dealing with telephone enquiries
- Ability to work at a workstation in the office environment
- Able to lift loads of various size and shapes
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Aziel Davenport
- Job title
- Lead histology secretary
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 019 4832
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