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Job summary

Main area
Admin
Grade
Band 3
Contract
6 months (6-month fixed term placement)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
364-A-9243
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Herrick House
Town
Colchester
Salary
£24,937 - £26,598 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
21/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Support Secretary

Band 3

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk. 

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive. 

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years. 

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.  

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced Support Secretary to join the Medical Secretariat at EPUT.  The successful applicant will be working with the Medical Secretariat team to support delivery of care for our service users.  This is an exciting opportunity to join a team with input into the wide-ranging services across the Trust and to develop skills and experience to progressing an administrative career

Duties will include contact with our service users and liaising with the Medical Secretaries and medical team with a focus on producing and dispatching clinical letters, appointment booking and general day-to-day supportive admin to ensure the smooth running of the service.

Main duties of the job

Experience of organisational and office administrative skills are required for this role as are a keen eye for detail and good communication skills.

Experience of audio typing will be advantageous , though in-role training can be provided.

We are a diverse team across different services within EPUT who support each other to deliver effective care to our service users.

Working for our organisation

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

  • Season Ticket Loans
  • NHS discounts for staff
  • Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
  • Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
  • The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
  • Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
  • Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be required to provide secretarial support under the supervision of the Medical Secretaries ensuring that a high quality service is delivered.  The post holder will display a willingness to learn new skills and develop knowledge in order to be able to deputise for the medical secretary when required.   The role will require the post holder to undertake a range of secretarial duties including, but not restricted to, making clinical appointments, typing, minute taking, scanning, calls, and external correspondence handling and forwarding.  The post holder will maintain the professional standards of the Medical Secretariat at all times.  In-office working is required for this role.

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria
  • Qualifications
Desirable criteria
  • Secretarial or Administration Qualifications

Experience & Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable experience and understanding of administrative tasks
  • Experience and skills in software packages
Desirable criteria
  • Previous Mental Heath/NHS Experience
  • Existing knowledge of EPRs
  • Demonstrable experience of audio/copy typing

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Essex Family Friendly Employers

Applicant requirements

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Amy Hickey
Job title
Team Leader
Email address
[email protected]
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