Job summary
Are you looking for something a bit different, a new challenge, a varied role?
Wathwood is an award-winning mental health hospital and prides itself on providing the highest quality of care to our patients.
We have exciting opportunities here at Wathwood in our unique Medium Secure setting. Whether you are newly qualified and looking to take your first step on your career ladder, or fancy a new challenge, we have something to suit everyone.
We are seeking to recruit a Band 4 Medical Secretary to join our fantastic multi-disciplinary teams within the Hospital.
Interviews for this vacancy will be held on the 3rd March 2026.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking to recruit to the position of Medical Secretary. The successful candidate will work directly with the Consultant Forensic Psychiatrists to provide and coordinate a high level, efficient, comprehensive and confidential secretarial support to them and the wider management team. This is a rewarding opportunity to work alongside the medical team to ensure the smooth running of the Hospital. This is a diverse role, and you must be prepared to work flexibly as service need requires.
We are looking for a candidate who has significant organisational skills, initiative, time management skills and personal credibility. The role requires a widely experienced Medical Secretary with the ability to provide an excellent, confidential and efficient service.
The post will include minute taking and audio typing, the content of which can sometimes be very sensitive. There are occasions when the post holder will be working to tight deadlines and reprioritising their workload.
The successful candidate will have a good general education and possess a typing/word processing qualification to at least RSA/OCR III standard or equivalent skill level. They will have effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team. They must have the ability to set and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
About us
#TeamNottsHC comprises over 11,000 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health, forensic, and offender healthcare services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 200 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings, and secure environments, including prisons.
We are one of the largest mental health and community Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.
We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.
The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.
The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsible for all aspects of medical secretarial and administrative support provided, working to optimum in terms of efficiency and organization.
To undertake administrative and secretarial work as required.
Ensure actions resulting from all meetings and other working parties and time lined and undertaken.
To work as part of the admin team supporting the service.
Provide secretarial cover as required for additional consultant teams.
Expectation to support more junior colleagues in their training and development.
To convene and attend regular meetings as required, producing agendas and accurate minutes, making all necessary arrangements, including the collation of papers and agenda items.
To ensure effective coordination of admission/discharge including availability of relevant documentation.
Collation of monthly and quarterly reporting documentation for monitoring and auditing purposes.
Responsible for ensuring that accurate work is completed within the time limits and standards set
To work effectively both independently and as a team member
Responsible for own Essential Training requirements
To be able to work flexibly and provide cover which may include the occasional requirement to travel to different sites
To undertake any other duties that would be a reasonable expectation of the role.
Please note that this post does not meet the pay or skill level required for a Skilled worker visa.
Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary / skill level is below the minimum required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.
Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsible for all aspects of medical secretarial and administrative support provided, working to optimum in terms of efficiency and organization.
To undertake administrative and secretarial work as required.
Ensure actions resulting from all meetings and other working parties and time lined and undertaken.
To work as part of the admin team supporting the service.
Provide secretarial cover as required for additional consultant teams.
Expectation to support more junior colleagues in their training and development.
To convene and attend regular meetings as required, producing agendas and accurate minutes, making all necessary arrangements, including the collation of papers and agenda items.
To ensure effective coordination of admission/discharge including availability of relevant documentation.
Collation of monthly and quarterly reporting documentation for monitoring and auditing purposes.
Responsible for ensuring that accurate work is completed within the time limits and standards set
To work effectively both independently and as a team member
Responsible for own Essential Training requirements
To be able to work flexibly and provide cover which may include the occasional requirement to travel to different sites
To undertake any other duties that would be a reasonable expectation of the role.
Please note that this post does not meet the pay or skill level required for a Skilled worker visa.
Successful applicants with no prior NHS experience would normally be placed at the bottom of the band in line with Agenda for Change. This salary / skill level is below the minimum required for sponsorship for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa. In these circumstances the Trust would not, therefore, be able to sponsor for a Skilled Worker / Health & Care visa.
Applicants requiring a Skilled Worker Visa can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship against the relevant criteria here https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £26.40 (standard) or £54.40 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first 2 months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. An annual fee of £16 per year applies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Typing/Word Processing qualification to RSA III or equivalent experience at this level
- Educated to NVQ Level 4 or BTEC standard or equivalent level of knowledge and experience
- Medical secretary qualification or significant experience
Experience
Essential
- Dealing with people to maintain a high level of care
- Extensive knowledge of working to consultant/senior manager level
- Experience of working in a busy office environment
- Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Understanding of the data protection act and maintaining strict confidentiality
- Accurate minute taking skills essential to internal and external meetings and hearings
Desirable
- Audio typing working experience
- Working with computer databases
- Previous NHS experience
Knowledge and Training
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of medical/psychiatric terminology
- Knowledge of key aspects of the Mental Health Act
Desirable
- Customer care training
- Loggist Training
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to work on own initiative
- Excellent telephone manner
- Excellent organisational skills
- Experience of working without supervision for protracted periods
- Excellent time management skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Typing/Word Processing qualification to RSA III or equivalent experience at this level
- Educated to NVQ Level 4 or BTEC standard or equivalent level of knowledge and experience
- Medical secretary qualification or significant experience
Experience
Essential
- Dealing with people to maintain a high level of care
- Extensive knowledge of working to consultant/senior manager level
- Experience of working in a busy office environment
- Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office
- Understanding of the data protection act and maintaining strict confidentiality
- Accurate minute taking skills essential to internal and external meetings and hearings
Desirable
- Audio typing working experience
- Working with computer databases
- Previous NHS experience
Knowledge and Training
Essential
- Extensive knowledge of medical/psychiatric terminology
- Knowledge of key aspects of the Mental Health Act
Desirable
- Customer care training
- Loggist Training
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to work on own initiative
- Excellent telephone manner
- Excellent organisational skills
- Experience of working without supervision for protracted periods
- Excellent time management skills
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.
