Job summary
- Main area
- Administration
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- 7 months (Fixed term/secondment until 31.12.2025)
- Hours
- Part time - 16 hours per week
- Job ref
- 432-HR281-25
- Employer
- East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Colchester Hospital
- Town
- Colchester
- Salary
- £24,071 - £25,674 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- Today at 23:59
Employer heading

Support Secretary -Gynaecology
NHS AfC: Band 3
We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England. Our scale provides exciting opportunities for development, innovation, research, education and training.
Talk to us about our range of flexible working opportunities, apprenticeships and staff benefits
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of all we do; and it forms part of the ESNEFT’s core activities. The Trust operates and relies on everyone treating each other with dignity and respect, to receive equitable and fair treatment in the implementation of Policies, Procedures and in its Practices, to foster positive work relationships, and finally to act with integrity as a professional within ESNEFT as well as a representative of the NHS as a whole. The EDI Agenda reflects the Trust values such as Optimistic, Appreciative and Kind. In line with the NHS Long Term Plan, People Plan, People Promise and a Model Employer intrinsic in the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, we consistently strive to improve, to take the learning into Action for a better ESNEFT.
If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.
Job overview
The gynaecology department in Colchester Hospital is a dynamic and fast-paced environment committed to delivering high-quality care to our patients. We are seeking a Support Secretary to join our administrative team and contribute to the smooth and efficient running of our healthcare services.
As a Support Secretary, you will provide comprehensive administrative and secretarial support to doctors and nurses in our gynaecological oncology team, ensuring that day-to-day operations run seamlessly. You will assist with managing patient records, typing clinic letters, booking appointments, and handling correspondence with sensitivity and confidentiality.
Key Responsibilities:
· Prepare and type medical reports, letters, and documentation
· Handle telephone and email enquiries from patients and healthcare professionals
· Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records and files
· Liaise with internal departments and external healthcare partners
· Ensure confidentiality is maintained in all patient-related matters
Please note this is fixed term/Secondment until 31st December 2025, 16 hours per week.
Please note this post may close early if we receive a high number of applications.
Main duties of the job
· Dealing with incoming telephone calls from parents/relatives/GP/Other tertiary hospitals. Independently dealing with or passing on queries/messages to the clinician using the correct local procedure and form. Logging all relevant telephone contacts on to the Portal system.
· To be able to communicate effectively with the rest of the team.
· Be aware at all times the importance of maintaining confidentiality of information gained by you during the course of your duties including personal information relating to patients. You must treat all information in a discreet and confidential manner and keep it secure.
Working for our organisation
We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.
We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.
We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.
Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.
Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.
We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.
Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven experience of working in a similar role Band 2 or equivalent
- Experience of developing systems and procedures
- Experience of using a digital audio transcription device
- Use of Microsoft packages, including Word, Excel and Outlook
- Experience of communicating with a range of people both within and external to the organisation
Desirable criteria
- Practical experience of working in a clinical support role
- Experience of Medical terminology
- Experience of using the Portal System
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- At least 3 GCSEs or equivalent at A to C Grade to include maths and English
- Training in Business Administrations NVQ Level 3, RSA or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- AMSPAR or equivalent
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
- Rebecca Simpson
- Job title
- Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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