Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Business Administrator

The closing date is 01 August 2025

Job summary

At Devon Partnership NHS Trust, our commitment to excellence starts with our people. Administration services underpin all of our clinical activity, which means our dedicated and enthusiastic administrative workforce is vital to the delivery of first-class care.

We are currently seeking a highly motivated and skilled Business Administrator to join our Temporary Staffing and Bed Management team, based at Wonford House in Exeter. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic and supportive team where your contribution directly supports patient care across our services.

About the Role

As a Business Administrator, you will provide comprehensive administrative support to managers and the wider team. The post requires a flexible, multi-skilled individual with excellent organisational skills and a proactive approach to managing a varied and often fast-paced workload. You will play a vital role in coordinating office procedures, maintaining systems, and delivering high-quality administration that supports both staffing operations and effective bed management.

You will be working as part of a collaborative administration team within a healthcare environment and will be expected to manage a broad range of responsibilities independently and efficiently.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities include:

  • Provide high-quality administrative support to the Temporary Staffing and Bed Management team
  • Undertake comprehensive diary management, including organising and prioritising appointments and meetings
  • Deliver full meeting administration: prepare agendas, take and distribute formal minutes, maintain attendance records, and monitor actions to ensure follow-up and completion
  • Keep accurate and up-to-date records on internal staffing and patient systems, supporting the team in maintaining compliance and data integrity
  • Use Trust finance systems to process routine administrative and staffing-related tasks efficiently
  • Ensure the smooth coordination and implementation of office procedures
  • Work in collaboration with team members, sharing tasks and supporting flexible ways of working
  • Provide a friendly, professional first point of contact for telephone and email enquiries
  • Assist with data collation and reporting, ensuring deadlines are met and standards upheld
  • Apply a strong working knowledge of administrative practices and Microsoft Office packages, along with experience using bespoke IT systems

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Details

Date posted

15 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Home or remote working

Reference number

C9369-25-0533

Job locations

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • RSA 3 Word Processing or equivalent level of experience in practice
  • NVQ3 in administration or equivalent level administrative knowledge and experience
  • GCSE English or equivalent
  • Evidence of continuing professional and personal development

Desirable

  • ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence).
  • Shorthand or Speedwriting

Experience

Essential

  • Excellent organisational skills.
  • Ability to prioritise workload and adapt to change when required
  • Previous experience of working within an administrative or secretarial team
  • Experience of dealing with confidential and complex information
  • Previous experience of working in a Healthcare or Social Care administrative setting

Desirable

  • Ability to take accurate formal and informal minutes
  • Demonstrate good numeracy and literacy skills

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both written and verbal
  • Able to deal confidentially and tactfully with people at all levels.
  • Ability to take and convey clear messages
  • Experience in dealing with people in distress in a calm and confident manner
  • Ability to recognise when other communication aids may be needed.
  • Willingness to embrace new ways of working/changes
  • Understanding and respect of confidentiality in the workplace

Knowledge

Essential

  • Intermediate IT skills in Microsoft Office Packages, ie Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
  • Working knowledge of a range of administrative procedures including diary management and arranging appointments
  • Experience or understanding of creating electronic records, electronic filing systems
  • Electronic data base management.
  • Ability to manage diverse workload whilst dealing with frequent interruptions
  • Ability to meet deadlines and to work under pressure
  • Exceptional organisational skills and ability to prioritise
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • Ability to provide a high standard of secretarial support for meetings e.g. organising, booking venues and minute taking
  • Knowledge of our business and how it supports patient care
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • RSA 3 Word Processing or equivalent level of experience in practice
  • NVQ3 in administration or equivalent level administrative knowledge and experience
  • GCSE English or equivalent
  • Evidence of continuing professional and personal development

Desirable

  • ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence).
  • Shorthand or Speedwriting

Experience

Essential

  • Excellent organisational skills.
  • Ability to prioritise workload and adapt to change when required
  • Previous experience of working within an administrative or secretarial team
  • Experience of dealing with confidential and complex information
  • Previous experience of working in a Healthcare or Social Care administrative setting

Desirable

  • Ability to take accurate formal and informal minutes
  • Demonstrate good numeracy and literacy skills

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills both written and verbal
  • Able to deal confidentially and tactfully with people at all levels.
  • Ability to take and convey clear messages
  • Experience in dealing with people in distress in a calm and confident manner
  • Ability to recognise when other communication aids may be needed.
  • Willingness to embrace new ways of working/changes
  • Understanding and respect of confidentiality in the workplace

Knowledge

Essential

  • Intermediate IT skills in Microsoft Office Packages, ie Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
  • Working knowledge of a range of administrative procedures including diary management and arranging appointments
  • Experience or understanding of creating electronic records, electronic filing systems
  • Electronic data base management.
  • Ability to manage diverse workload whilst dealing with frequent interruptions
  • Ability to meet deadlines and to work under pressure
  • Exceptional organisational skills and ability to prioritise
  • Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • Ability to provide a high standard of secretarial support for meetings e.g. organising, booking venues and minute taking
  • Knowledge of our business and how it supports patient care

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

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Corporate Services Manager

Michelle Thomas

michellethomas@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

15 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Home or remote working

Reference number

C9369-25-0533

Job locations

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Devon Partnership NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)