Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Personal Assistant (PA)

The closing date is 05 October 2025

Job summary

Are you an experienced Personal Assistant looking to take the next step in your career? Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a proactive and highly organised Senior Personal Assistant to join our Clinical Support & Cancer Services (CSCS) leadership team.

Main duties of the job

As a key member of the CSCS leadership team, you'll provide high-level administrative and secretarial support to the Service Group Director and senior managers. You'll coordinate governance functions, manage complex schedules, and lead on meeting facilitation and project work. This is a dynamic role requiring discretion, initiative, and a commitment to excellence.

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide comprehensive PA support to senior leaders within CSCS.
  • Coordinate formal meetings, including agenda preparation, minute-taking, and follow-up actions.
  • Manage diaries, appointments, and correspondence with professionalism and confidentiality.
  • Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including Executive and Non-Executive Directors.
  • Support governance processes and contribute to service development initiatives.
  • Handle sensitive information with discretion and uphold high ethical standards.

Apply now to become an integral part of our leadership support team and help shape the future of cancer and clinical support services in Somerset.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

  • Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
  • NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
  • Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
  • A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details

Date posted

18 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

184-OL-PU-3325

Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details of duties and responsibilities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details of duties and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE A Levels or equivalent
  • RSA/OCR III or equivalent typing/word processing

Desirable

  • Educated to degree level
  • Additional professional qualifications relevant to the post
  • European Computer Driving Licence

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in taking minutes
  • Experience in Audio Typing
  • Experience in managing small projects
  • Experience of setting up and maintaining office systems
  • Advanced decision making and resolving complex work related issues.
  • Maintaining good working relationships across a range of staff levels both internally and externally

Desirable

  • previous experience working as a PA to a Director/Senior Manager
  • Experience of managing staff
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE A Levels or equivalent
  • RSA/OCR III or equivalent typing/word processing

Desirable

  • Educated to degree level
  • Additional professional qualifications relevant to the post
  • European Computer Driving Licence

Experience

Essential

  • Experience in taking minutes
  • Experience in Audio Typing
  • Experience in managing small projects
  • Experience of setting up and maintaining office systems
  • Advanced decision making and resolving complex work related issues.
  • Maintaining good working relationships across a range of staff levels both internally and externally

Desirable

  • previous experience working as a PA to a Director/Senior Manager
  • Experience of managing staff

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

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

Victoria Keilthy

Victoria.Keilthy@somersetft.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

18 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

184-OL-PU-3325

Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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