Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Administrative Assistant

The closing date is 08 October 2025

Job summary

To provide an administrative service to specialty teams including the provision of direct administrative support to clinical teams. To organise own workload and work closely with the Medical Secretary/Team Leader to deliver a high standard of administrative and typing support. To work within the Trust values and core standards to maintain an excellent patient experience at all times.

Main duties of the job

Communicate with colleagues, internal and external contacts in a courteous, professional and timely manner at all times.

Receive telephone calls and enquiries.

Have knowledge of outpatient procedures, including appointment booking, assessing clinical activity to ensure accurate bookings - reporting any issues to a senior secretary immediately.

Receive correspondence related to patients. Prioritise documents as per specialty instruction and bring to attention of relevant secretaries.

Prioritise own work efficiently and effectively to ensure all administrative duties are met.

Monitor and ensure the timely arrival of patient information to the appropriate destination to facilitate prompt patient care.

Have relevant and up to date knowledge of the Trust's Access, RTT and Health Records Standards Policies.

Follow Trust guidelines for secretarial and clerical services.

Type general and clinical correspondence as appropriate in specialty, by use of audio or copy typing.

To actively engage with and support other tasks or duties where required for example but not limited to - Post, Scanning, Investigation Log, Typing and Heart Failure Folders.

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

24 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 to £24,465 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

184-OL-OR-3199

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

  • Please refer to Job Specification
  • IT literate; including recent experience of using Microsoft packages such as Word, Outlook and Excel
  • Minimum of 5 GSCEs including English Language and Maths or functional skills
  • In-house training or vocational level 2 or equivalent level of experience
  • RSA/OCR III or equivalent typing/word processing including audio typing

Experience

Essential

  • Please refer to Job Specification
  • Working knowledge administrative procedures and systems
  • Experience of dealing with patients/customers
  • Evidence of prioritising workloads/good time management
  • Proven experience of working well as part of a team

Desirable

  • Please refer to Job Specification
  • Previous secretarial experience
  • Experience of working in a healthcare setting/previous experience of NHS administration processes
  • Knowledge of medical terminology

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Please refer to Job Specification
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Please refer to Job Specification
  • IT literate; including recent experience of using Microsoft packages such as Word, Outlook and Excel
  • Minimum of 5 GSCEs including English Language and Maths or functional skills
  • In-house training or vocational level 2 or equivalent level of experience
  • RSA/OCR III or equivalent typing/word processing including audio typing

Experience

Essential

  • Please refer to Job Specification
  • Working knowledge administrative procedures and systems
  • Experience of dealing with patients/customers
  • Evidence of prioritising workloads/good time management
  • Proven experience of working well as part of a team

Desirable

  • Please refer to Job Specification
  • Previous secretarial experience
  • Experience of working in a healthcare setting/previous experience of NHS administration processes
  • Knowledge of medical terminology

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • Please refer to Job Specification

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

Sam Maber

sam.maber@somersetft.nhs.uk

07796081072

Details

Date posted

24 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 to £24,465 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

184-OL-OR-3199

Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)