Job summary
- Main area
- Womens & Childrens
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Fixed term: 10 months (Maternity Cover until January 2027)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 210-2026-94-B
- Employer
- Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Countess of Chester Hospital
- Town
- Chester
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 pa
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 23/03/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 06/04/2026
Employer heading
Medical Secretary
Band 3
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.
Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation
Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.
As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.
Job overview
Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week
You will contribute and commit to promoting a positive team-based attitude, striving for the highest standards of service and achieving excellence by providing a comprehensive secretarial service and administration support to the Team. You will be expected to work
with minimum supervision but within a close-knit team. All work must be carried out in a timely and accurate manner, with confidentiality being maintained at all times.
We are looking for a highly motivated individual to provide a high standard of audio typing / clerical support. The successful candidate must be able to work using their own initiative, but also as part of a team.
Excellent communication and administrative skills are essential for this role, along with a keen eye for accuracy and detail. Organisational skills are also essential. Consultant diaries and associated clinical activity must be kept up to date to ensure the service we provide to our patients runs smoothly and efficiently.
A working knowledge of general office procedures and Microsoft packages is required, but full training will be given in the use of Medisec and EPR+ software. Knowledge of medical terminology also would be an advantage.
Main duties of the job
- To provide a comprehensive secretarial service to the consultants as part of the secretarial team, managing a busy workload and shifting priorities.
- To deal with enquiries from patients, relatives, GP’s and hospital staff in an effective, timely and sensitive manner, answering queries and resolving problems appropriately while ensuring patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
- To type clinic letters, referrals and other correspondence using digital dictation, prioritising urgent and Fast Track correspondence while also maintaining awareness of Trust targets for outpatient letters.
- To participate with the team in administering the Email Advice service, including logging activity within time limits and accurately recording clinical advice on the electronic patient record.
Working for our organisation
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
- GCSE Standard English or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- RSA Typing III
- Audio/Short Hand Typing Qualification
- AMSPAR Medical Secretarial Diploma or Equivalent
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Touch typist
- Recent secretarial experience
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office Packages
Desirable criteria
- Experience as medical support secretary or medical audio typist
- Knowledge/ experience of specific patient administration systems
- Knowledge of Medical Terminology
- Knowledge of NHS or other health/social care settings
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Megan Broughton
- Job title
- Assistant Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01244 36 4368
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