Job summary We are seeking a dedicated and organised Pathway Navigator to join our dynamic Endocrinology & Diabetes team within the Medicine Division. The successful candidate will play a key role in providing comprehensive secretarial and pathway navigation support, ensuring smooth coordination between consultants, clinical teams, and patients. Candidates will have excellent administrative skills, attention to detail, and a passion for patient care. Working hours are shifts covering 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday, with occasional weekend working on a rota basis. If you are enthusiastic, compassionate, and looking for a rewarding career in a supportive team, we encourage you to apply. Main duties of the job As a Pathway Navigator, you will coordinate outpatient bookings, liaise with consultants to ensure all patient appointments and test results are managed efficiently, and handle patient queries with empathy and professionalism. You will manage virtual appointments, format clinical letters, and ensure appointments are properly scheduled. A key aspect of the role involves supporting the 18-week referral-to-treatment pathway and working with internal and external stakeholders. You should possess strong administrative skills, typing proficiency, and the ability to handle emotionally challenging situations with sensitivity. Experience in a medical setting and familiarity with NHS systems is advantageous. About us With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imaging models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. At West Herts we offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance and the ability to work flexibly. https://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking/ We kindly invite you to consider submitting an application. If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact westherts.recruitmentnhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. Date posted 24 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 4 Salary £27,857 to £30,570 a year inc. HCA Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time, Flexible working Reference number 360-A-6238-RA2 Job locations Cross site Watford General Hospital Watford WD18 0HB Job description Job responsibilities Booking outpatient appointments and keeping them apprised of time, date and location when required. Booking virtual appointments for consultants to review patient test results, providing all the relevant information the consultant needs. Correctly formatting and posting clinic letters. Typing ability is required as consultants and clinicians may ask for letters to be typed from dictation. Letters can often contain important clinical information and so should be actioned in a timely manner. Checking consultant clinics in advance to make sure there are no appointment slot clashes, and rearranging appointments for any appointment conflicts that are found. Liaising with the Outpatient Pathway Navigator on patient vetting, making sure all patients referred by GP and other departments are triaged and followed up with an appointment/test, or communicated to the referring clinician if an appointment is not necessary. Helping cover in the Outpatient Pathway Navigators absence this involves, arranging referrals for vetting by the appropriate consultant, and actioning the outcomes as required. Liaising with the relevant team with relevant communications on patient tests and procedures. Cancelling clinics when assigned consultant is on leave, and using the relevant process to see that displaced patients are given a new clinic appointment. Taking and making calls to patients on a daily basis. These can sometimes be distressing and emotional circumstances, so a sympathetic phone manner is required. Liaising with other members of the West Herts team, as well as colleagues from other hospitals and GP practices. Manage the inbox as per rota if required, distributing emails to the relevant secretaries/consultant. Filing, photocopying, sorting post and other general office secretarial activities. Respond to email queries in a timely manner. Respond to voicemail messages in a timely manner. Assisting with other secretaries workload when required. Co-operating with Consultants and making sure that all patients are check in/check out following Outpatient attendance or Notes review clinic. Actively validating all patients on RTT pathway and making sure all action/orders requested by clinician are completed. Validating PTL list and updating I-reporter tracking comments. Job description Job responsibilities Booking outpatient appointments and keeping them apprised of time, date and location when required. Booking virtual appointments for consultants to review patient test results, providing all the relevant information the consultant needs. Correctly formatting and posting clinic letters. Typing ability is required as consultants and clinicians may ask for letters to be typed from dictation. Letters can often contain important clinical information and so should be actioned in a timely manner. Checking consultant clinics in advance to make sure there are no appointment slot clashes, and rearranging appointments for any appointment conflicts that are found. Liaising with the Outpatient Pathway Navigator on patient vetting, making sure all patients referred by GP and other departments are triaged and followed up with an appointment/test, or communicated to the referring clinician if an appointment is not necessary. Helping cover in the Outpatient Pathway Navigators absence this involves, arranging referrals for vetting by the appropriate consultant, and actioning the outcomes as required. Liaising with the relevant team with relevant communications on patient tests and procedures. Cancelling clinics when assigned consultant is on leave, and using the relevant process to see that displaced patients are given a new clinic appointment. Taking and making calls to patients on a daily basis. These can sometimes be distressing and emotional circumstances, so a sympathetic phone manner is required. Liaising with other members of the West Herts team, as well as colleagues from other hospitals and GP practices. Manage the inbox as per rota if required, distributing emails to the relevant secretaries/consultant. Filing, photocopying, sorting post and other general office secretarial activities. Respond to email queries in a timely manner. Respond to voicemail messages in a timely manner. Assisting with other secretaries workload when required. Co-operating with Consultants and making sure that all patients are check in/check out following Outpatient attendance or Notes review clinic. Actively validating all patients on RTT pathway and making sure all action/orders requested by clinician are completed. Validating PTL list and updating I-reporter tracking comments. Person Specification Education and qualifications Essential Knowledge of Microsoft Office packages, e.g. PowerPoint, Word, Excel and other IT skills acquired through training and practical experience 4 GCSEs (C and above) or equivalent Desirable AMSPAR RSA Stage 3 typewriting, word processing (or equivalent) Knowledge Essential Knowledge of good practice and system of work within the secretarial/PA field Knowledge of Health and Safety in the Workplace Understanding of confidentiality/data protection issues Proficient in the use of computer software packages, e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook Medical terminology Medical audio typing Desirable Knowledge of NHS policies Knowledge of the 18-week pathway process Knowledge of a Speciality Range of work procedures and practices; base level of theoretical knowledge Knowledge of secretarial or administrative procedures and systems, some of which are non-routine activities such as answering queries, progress chasing, task-related problem solving Experience Essential Previous medical secretarial experience Experience in a similar field Experience in audio typing Knowledge of software programs Significant secretarial experience Knowledge of medical terminology (with the ability to reach the required standard in medical terminology by the end of 12 months) Desirable Experience working in an acute hospital setting Person Specification Education and qualifications Essential Knowledge of Microsoft Office packages, e.g. PowerPoint, Word, Excel and other IT skills acquired through training and practical experience 4 GCSEs (C and above) or equivalent Desirable AMSPAR RSA Stage 3 typewriting, word processing (or equivalent) Knowledge Essential Knowledge of good practice and system of work within the secretarial/PA field Knowledge of Health and Safety in the Workplace Understanding of confidentiality/data protection issues Proficient in the use of computer software packages, e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook Medical terminology Medical audio typing Desirable Knowledge of NHS policies Knowledge of the 18-week pathway process Knowledge of a Speciality Range of work procedures and practices; base level of theoretical knowledge Knowledge of secretarial or administrative procedures and systems, some of which are non-routine activities such as answering queries, progress chasing, task-related problem solving Experience Essential Previous medical secretarial experience Experience in a similar field Experience in audio typing Knowledge of software programs Significant secretarial experience Knowledge of medical terminology (with the ability to reach the required standard in medical terminology by the end of 12 months) Desirable Experience working in an acute hospital setting 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Employer details Employer name West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Address Cross site Watford General Hospital Watford WD18 0HB Employer's website http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)