Job summary Please note job title should read as Services Support Officer County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest integrated care providers in England serving a population of around 650,000 people. An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Service Support Offier to provide administrative support to the Managers and Matrons in the Community Services care group. The ideal candidate will have great administrative and data entry skills, a flexible approach, be able to work as part of a team, and have highly developed interpersonal/ written and verbal communication skills, as well as being able to prioritise a busy workload to meet all deadlines. Main duties of the job To provide effective and confidential administrative support on a day-to-day basis for the Community Services Management team to ensure that their needs are fully met, by working within demanding time constraints, prioritisation of own workload, with minimal supervision and demonstrating ability to use initiative. The post holder will need to be proactive, flexible and responsive to the changing needs and demands of the organisation and to support the smooth running of the clinical services. About us If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager. You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks. We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented. From April 1 2024 we are unable to offer sponsorship for healthcare roles that do not meet the minimum salary, If you are in the UK on a VISA please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post. Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents. Date posted 10 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 3 Salary £24,071 to £25,674 a year per annum pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number C9439-25-0044 Job locations Chester Le Street Community Hospital Front Street Chester Le Street County Durham DH3 3AT Job description Job responsibilities To provide a timely and accurate copy and audio typing service to the department, producing letters, reports and other correspondence, as required. To deal with telephone enquiries, taking and conveying messages appropriately. To receive, date stamp and sort incoming mail and prepare outgoing mail for posting. To transmit electronic mail, photocopy and scan documents and circulate information within Trust or department timescales. To collate material and information for various meetings, ensuring papers are provided and distributed on time and appropriately, as directed. To organise venues, refreshments, equipment and any necessary materials for events and meetings. To take notes at informal meetings and transcribe, as required. To enter data onto necessary databases and update according to service requirements. To maintain an up to date filing and archive filing system, disposing of archived records and documentation according to Trust policy. To order office supplies through Cardea and maintain agreed stock levels. To provide cover as required during absence of colleagues. To provide a full range of confidential secretarial/administrative support to care group Managers and Matronsand supporting staff, working with minimal supervision. To undertake typing and distribution of confidential correspondence and supporting staff, within Trust or department timescales. To be the point of contact for staff, patients and others within and outside the organisation, responding to external and internal telephone enquiries, taking appropriate and timely action required. To receive and respond to internal and external correspondence, taking appropriate and timely action as required, in accordance with Trust and/or departmental standards and processes. To manage electronic diaries, as required. To support arrangement of on call rotas, as required. To organise meetings, including arranging venues, preparing agendas, collating and issuing papers and attending for taking and production of minutes, as required. To operate efficient and up-to-date administrative systems and processes for all office tasks. To maintain accurate and timely data entry to databases to meet service requirements. To prioritise own workload to meet the needs of the care group Managers and supporting staff and ensure all deadlines are met. To support new and/or less experienced staff, as required. To provide cover as required during absence of colleagues. Job description Job responsibilities To provide a timely and accurate copy and audio typing service to the department, producing letters, reports and other correspondence, as required. To deal with telephone enquiries, taking and conveying messages appropriately. To receive, date stamp and sort incoming mail and prepare outgoing mail for posting. To transmit electronic mail, photocopy and scan documents and circulate information within Trust or department timescales. To collate material and information for various meetings, ensuring papers are provided and distributed on time and appropriately, as directed. To organise venues, refreshments, equipment and any necessary materials for events and meetings. To take notes at informal meetings and transcribe, as required. To enter data onto necessary databases and update according to service requirements. To maintain an up to date filing and archive filing system, disposing of archived records and documentation according to Trust policy. To order office supplies through Cardea and maintain agreed stock levels. To provide cover as required during absence of colleagues. To provide a full range of confidential secretarial/administrative support to care group Managers and Matronsand supporting staff, working with minimal supervision. To undertake typing and distribution of confidential correspondence and supporting staff, within Trust or department timescales. To be the point of contact for staff, patients and others within and outside the organisation, responding to external and internal telephone enquiries, taking appropriate and timely action required. To receive and respond to internal and external correspondence, taking appropriate and timely action as required, in accordance with Trust and/or departmental standards and processes. To manage electronic diaries, as required. To support arrangement of on call rotas, as required. To organise meetings, including arranging venues, preparing agendas, collating and issuing papers and attending for taking and production of minutes, as required. To operate efficient and up-to-date administrative systems and processes for all office tasks. To maintain accurate and timely data entry to databases to meet service requirements. To prioritise own workload to meet the needs of the care group Managers and supporting staff and ensure all deadlines are met. To support new and/or less experienced staff, as required. To provide cover as required during absence of colleagues. Person Specification Special Skills & Knowledge Essential Knowledge of computer packages, e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. IT Skills. Ability to analyse and present data using Excel and Access packages. Ability to use email and maintain and update paper and electronic diaries. Knowledge of Data Protection and Caldicott Principles and understanding of the need to maintain strict confidentiality. Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality. Good interpersonal skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to deal with and prepare routine verbal and written correspondence and the ability to obtain information and pass on comprehensive and confidential messages. Ability to communicate accurately, verbally, courteously and effectively with a wide range of staff, professionals and members of the public. Able to use own initiative to resolve routine queries, in line with departmental procedures. Able to work with minimal supervision following set procedures. Ability to organise and prioritise workload in order to meet deadlines. Desirable Knowledge of medical terminology. Experience Essential Experience of an administrative role, providing general provision of administrative duties in a challenging and constantly changing environment. Demonstrate Experience of using Microsoft Office. Experience in setting up and maintaining office filing systems. Experience in planning and organising meetings and taking notes. Experience of providing administrative support to a team. Desirable Experience of working within an NHS Environment. Special Requirements Essential Ability to travel independently across the County to fulfil the requirements of the post. Present a professional image at all times. Qualifications Essential Good Standard of Education - Minimum of 3 GCSEs (or equivalent) at C Grade or above including English Language. NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration or equivalent knowledge/experience (or working towards). Person Specification Special Skills & Knowledge Essential Knowledge of computer packages, e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. IT Skills. Ability to analyse and present data using Excel and Access packages. Ability to use email and maintain and update paper and electronic diaries. Knowledge of Data Protection and Caldicott Principles and understanding of the need to maintain strict confidentiality. Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality. Good interpersonal skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to deal with and prepare routine verbal and written correspondence and the ability to obtain information and pass on comprehensive and confidential messages. Ability to communicate accurately, verbally, courteously and effectively with a wide range of staff, professionals and members of the public. Able to use own initiative to resolve routine queries, in line with departmental procedures. Able to work with minimal supervision following set procedures. Ability to organise and prioritise workload in order to meet deadlines. Desirable Knowledge of medical terminology. Experience Essential Experience of an administrative role, providing general provision of administrative duties in a challenging and constantly changing environment. Demonstrate Experience of using Microsoft Office. Experience in setting up and maintaining office filing systems. Experience in planning and organising meetings and taking notes. Experience of providing administrative support to a team. Desirable Experience of working within an NHS Environment. Special Requirements Essential Ability to travel independently across the County to fulfil the requirements of the post. Present a professional image at all times. Qualifications Essential Good Standard of Education - Minimum of 3 GCSEs (or equivalent) at C Grade or above including English Language. NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration or equivalent knowledge/experience (or working towards). Employer details Employer name County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Address Chester Le Street Community Hospital Front Street Chester Le Street County Durham DH3 3AT Employer's website https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)