A vacancy has arisen for a Medical Secretary to the Mental Health Urgent Care Department based within the grounds of Basildon Hospital. The Medical Secretary will support two Consultant Psychiatrists and their medical team/s for both the Urgent Care Department and the Crisis Resolution Service. Due to the nature of the service, this is an office based role. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person who is flexible and has excellent secretarial and communication skills. You must have the ability to work unsupervised and under pressure and be able to deal sympathetically with patients and relatives of people with mental health problems. The Medical Secretaries are an important part of a team and are very much in the front line with the patients and their families. Your main responsibilities will be to provide comprehensive administrative and secretarial support to the Consultant/s and their team. This role is office based due to the nature of the service in order to provide on hand support to the consultant and team members. Good organisation and adaptability to learning new systems is essential. Audio typing skills and previous secretarial experience in a similar role would be highly beneficial. Previous medical secretarial experience in a mental health or other NHS setting with clinical systems knowledge is desirable. Employee Benefits Season Ticket Loans NHS discounts for staff Excellent Training facilities and opportunities Buying and Selling annual leave scheme The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work Day One Flexible Employer The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment. Role Responsibilities To work flexibly to provide efficient, high quality secretarial, administrative and support services to the Consultant and their medical colleagues as required and to maintain office cover. To produce documents such as clinic letters and discharge summaries, clinician’s reports, general correspondence, minutes, presentations etc. using audio, shorthand or copy typing skills as required. Ensure that discharge summaries and other time-sensitive information are typed within the designated time limits. To manage and prioritise own workload appropriately, frequently under pressure, without supervision. To react quickly to urgent situations in order to coordinate an excellent service to patients/their carers, health professionals and other professional bodies. Excellent communication skills are vital: good relationships need to be established and maintained with other medical/professional staff (other external doctors) involved in patient care in order to ensure that these personnel engage in taking action where there is an urgent situation requiring their input. To pass on information received from patients/carers regarding their health condition, medication, problems they are experiencing, etc. to the Consultant in an accurate and timely manner. To relay advice of a clinical nature to patients, carers, GPs and members of the clinical team, acting on the instructions of the Consultant, ensuring that this is done accurately and comprehensively. If requested, to maintain the upkeep of the Consultant's diary, arrange meetings, handle associated administration such as room bookings, the preparation and circulation of agendas and related papers as required. To participate, as required, in the arrangements for training programmes / conferences, ensuring that the relevant documentation is processed and that all necessary practical arrangements are in place for events to run smoothly. To provide effective support to the Consultant in various specialist areas (e.g., academic, research, service development) in line with Trust policies. To arrange investigation appointments for patients at the request of the Consultant and ensure all results are brought to the attention of the Consultant. Work as part of the clinical support team to ensure delivery of a comprehensive and effective administration service. Provide advice and demonstrate own activities or routines to new or less experienced employees within the team. To maintain confidentiality within the role with clinical changes to pathways across the EPUT. To have a good working knowledge of the electronic patient records system used in the team. To provide secretarial cover to other Consultant teams as necessary for colleagues on sick/annual leave. To process applications for annual leave/study leave, ensuring all relevant team members are aware of forthcoming absences and cover arrangements. To ensure that post/email/telephone enquiries are promptly sorted, recorded, and actioned as appropriate. To cooperate with others towards maintaining efficient filing, records and bring-forward systems. To access and use NHS and the Trust information systems to retrieve patient care related information. To take responsibility for the care and maintenance of office equipment supplied to secretaries and the Consultants. To assist with the collection and collation of data and information, including statistical information relevant to the consultant’s scope of work. To provide day to day support and assistance to new and temporary members of staff within the team. To assist in the induction of trainee doctors new to the Consultant’s team on a regular rotational basis. To maintain a system to ensure that the doctors are provided with available personal safety alarms, Dictaphone, bleeps, and keys. To adhere to the principles and processes defined within the equal opportunities provision. To report any health & safety issues or fire hazards to the Manager and take immediate action to minimise any risk or hazard. To fully comply with the GDPR and related policies. To recognise the sensitivity of business undertaken and ensure strict confidentiality.