Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Employment Operations Apprentice

The closing date is 04 March 2026

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Employment Services Apprentice to join our busy Employment Operations team based at the STEM Building.

An Apprenticeship is a paid job where you learn and gain valuable experience. Alongside on-the-job training from your colleagues, apprentices spend at least 6 hours of their working week learning and studying towards their Apprenticeship through their College, University or Training Provider. By the end of your Apprenticeship, you'll have the right skills, knowledge and behaviour needed for your chosen career.

An Apprenticeship includes:

Paid employment with holiday leave

Hands-on-experience in a sector/role of their interest

6 hours per week time spent learning towards their Apprenticeship

Formal assessment which leads to gaining a nationally recognised qualification

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain significant new knowledge, skills and behaviours during your Apprenticeship period. Plus, exposure to a wealth of possibilities for your future career within the Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

This is a 21 months fixed term apprenticeship post of 37.5 per week, Band 2 (under Apprenticeship guidelines of AFC, age appropriate, UK National Living Wage applies throughout the apprenticeship), leading to a Business Administration Level 3 Qualification

Main duties of the job

Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Trust NHS Trust's aim is for the Lead Employer Service to be the employer of choice for Doctors & Dentists in Training within the HEE regional programmes across England as a national provider of HR Shared Services. This post is an opportunity to become part of a forward thinking and ambitious team in the delivery of the NHS People plan to support the Junior Doctor Workforce. High levels of customer service and attention to detail are integral to this role and the post holder will be required to always demonstrate these skills to ensure an effective pay and work scheduling service is maintained.

The Lead Employer Service is responsible for the recruitment and employment of doctors and dentists in training.

This role will assist the Employment Services department in the provision of a professional, efficient and integrated employment service to trainees, Host Organisations and the NHSE Regions. It will support the delivery of high levels of customer service to all of Lead Employer's stakeholders, which includes providing HR advice and facilitating correct and timely payment of the trainees.

The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change.

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

  • Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
  • Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
  • National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Details

Date posted

25 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per Annum

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

21 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

096-7708852

Job locations

Jubilee Court

Pocket Nook Street

St Helens

WA9 1TT


Job description

Job responsibilities

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

  • Provide administrative assistance to the Lead Employer Service including the processing and recording of information and data input into Lead Employer information systems.
  • Work in partnership with the Employment Services team to plan and prioritise own workload. Proactively highlight peaks in work to Employment Services Team Leader as appropriate.
  • Answer telephone calls on behalf of the ES team
  • Co-ordinate all team emails and answer enquiries were possible
  • Administer expenses claim forms and add to relevant system for approval. Support the ES team to ensure work schedules are in place in a timely manner
  • Process pay details onto the payroll tracker as directed by the ES Senior Administrator or ES Administrator
  • Administer and maintain electronic filing systems (EPF)
  • Assist with archiving processes
  • Complete audits or surveys as required
  • Produce and type documents as requested
  • Respond to voicemail queries, relay messages and process requests for information as required.

ADVISORY SERVICES

  • Act as the first point of contact for Lead Employer queries and provide assistance by signposting to appropriate HR policies and procedures e.g., annual leave, absence, special leave, maternity, and recruitment, referring trainees and stakeholders to the most appropriate source of information for their enquiry e.g., Trust Internet, before transferring the call to another more senior member of the team.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

  • Ensure own work is in accordance with Trust policies and procedures, checking with others where necessary.
  • Offer basic advice to trainees, Host Organisations, HEE NW, HEE WM, HEE EOE, HEE EM, HEE TV, Heads of School and Training Programme Directors on policies and procedures.
  • Adhere to escalation procedures to ensure the timely processing of information including the completion of pre-employment checks by candidates within specific deadlines, and the processing of payroll information to meet required deadlines.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

  • Ensure that all enquiries are handled courteously, effectively, and efficiently, in line with agreed timescales.
  • Refer complex queries to the relevant member of the Employment Services team.
  • Develop and maintain close working relationships with all Lead Employer stakeholders including Host Organisations, Health Education England, Heads of School, and Training Programme Directors.
  • Develop and maintain effective internal and external communication networks to support the delivery of the Lead Employer Service.

DATA PROCESSING AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

  • Enter accurate and timely data onto HR/Workforce information systems as directed, ensuring data quality at all times.
  • Ensure security of information in line with Records Management, Information Governance, Caldicott, Confidently and Data Protection policies.
  • Process the required data for trainees on the relevant systems including the input of Pay-related claims for expenses.
  • Ensure the provision of accurate and timely information as requested.
  • Support the team in the achievement of the published performance standards and those contained within the service level agreements.

SERVICE IMPROVEMENT

  • Contribute to the achievement of corporate objectives and the Lead Employer Service Level Agreement.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of the Lead Employer Service.
  • Work in partnership with colleagues to optimise opportunities for working collaboratively towards the provision of an integrated employment service.
  • Be responsible for own development, including attendance at mandatory training and continually keep up to date with changes to employment legislation and best practice.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Adhere to the NHS and Trusts code of conduct.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

  • Responsible for own development, including attendance at mandatory training and continually keep up to date with changes to policies and processes.

Job description

Job responsibilities

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

  • Provide administrative assistance to the Lead Employer Service including the processing and recording of information and data input into Lead Employer information systems.
  • Work in partnership with the Employment Services team to plan and prioritise own workload. Proactively highlight peaks in work to Employment Services Team Leader as appropriate.
  • Answer telephone calls on behalf of the ES team
  • Co-ordinate all team emails and answer enquiries were possible
  • Administer expenses claim forms and add to relevant system for approval. Support the ES team to ensure work schedules are in place in a timely manner
  • Process pay details onto the payroll tracker as directed by the ES Senior Administrator or ES Administrator
  • Administer and maintain electronic filing systems (EPF)
  • Assist with archiving processes
  • Complete audits or surveys as required
  • Produce and type documents as requested
  • Respond to voicemail queries, relay messages and process requests for information as required.

ADVISORY SERVICES

  • Act as the first point of contact for Lead Employer queries and provide assistance by signposting to appropriate HR policies and procedures e.g., annual leave, absence, special leave, maternity, and recruitment, referring trainees and stakeholders to the most appropriate source of information for their enquiry e.g., Trust Internet, before transferring the call to another more senior member of the team.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

  • Ensure own work is in accordance with Trust policies and procedures, checking with others where necessary.
  • Offer basic advice to trainees, Host Organisations, HEE NW, HEE WM, HEE EOE, HEE EM, HEE TV, Heads of School and Training Programme Directors on policies and procedures.
  • Adhere to escalation procedures to ensure the timely processing of information including the completion of pre-employment checks by candidates within specific deadlines, and the processing of payroll information to meet required deadlines.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

  • Ensure that all enquiries are handled courteously, effectively, and efficiently, in line with agreed timescales.
  • Refer complex queries to the relevant member of the Employment Services team.
  • Develop and maintain close working relationships with all Lead Employer stakeholders including Host Organisations, Health Education England, Heads of School, and Training Programme Directors.
  • Develop and maintain effective internal and external communication networks to support the delivery of the Lead Employer Service.

DATA PROCESSING AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION

  • Enter accurate and timely data onto HR/Workforce information systems as directed, ensuring data quality at all times.
  • Ensure security of information in line with Records Management, Information Governance, Caldicott, Confidently and Data Protection policies.
  • Process the required data for trainees on the relevant systems including the input of Pay-related claims for expenses.
  • Ensure the provision of accurate and timely information as requested.
  • Support the team in the achievement of the published performance standards and those contained within the service level agreements.

SERVICE IMPROVEMENT

  • Contribute to the achievement of corporate objectives and the Lead Employer Service Level Agreement.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of the Lead Employer Service.
  • Work in partnership with colleagues to optimise opportunities for working collaboratively towards the provision of an integrated employment service.
  • Be responsible for own development, including attendance at mandatory training and continually keep up to date with changes to employment legislation and best practice.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Adhere to the NHS and Trusts code of conduct.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

  • Responsible for own development, including attendance at mandatory training and continually keep up to date with changes to policies and processes.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to GCSE Grade C/4 in English and Maths and/or equivalent qualification or experience. For those with an education, health and care plan or legacy statement, the Apprenticeship's English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is equivalent to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
  • Commitment to and completion of the Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship qualification

Desirable

  • 3-5 further GCSEs at C/4 or above (or equivalent)

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • IT skills with knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office package
  • Exercises proactivity and good judgement when making decisions
  • Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to use own initiative and show resilience
  • Demonstrates good communication skills with agility and confidence when communicating
  • Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines

Other

Essential

  • Always comply with Trust policies and procedures at all times

Desirable

  • Is able to accept and deal with changing priorities related to both their own work and to the organisation
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to GCSE Grade C/4 in English and Maths and/or equivalent qualification or experience. For those with an education, health and care plan or legacy statement, the Apprenticeship's English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is equivalent to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
  • Commitment to and completion of the Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship qualification

Desirable

  • 3-5 further GCSEs at C/4 or above (or equivalent)

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • IT skills with knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office package
  • Exercises proactivity and good judgement when making decisions
  • Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to use own initiative and show resilience
  • Demonstrates good communication skills with agility and confidence when communicating
  • Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines

Other

Essential

  • Always comply with Trust policies and procedures at all times

Desirable

  • Is able to accept and deal with changing priorities related to both their own work and to the organisation

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

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Jubilee Court

Pocket Nook Street

St Helens

WA9 1TT


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Jubilee Court

Pocket Nook Street

St Helens

WA9 1TT


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Employment Operations Team Manager

Rachel Murphy

Rachel.murphy2@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk

01512904209

Details

Date posted

25 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per Annum

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

21 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

096-7708852

Job locations

Jubilee Court

Pocket Nook Street

St Helens

WA9 1TT


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)