Job overview
An opportunity has arisen within Cellular Pathology for a Support Secretary (band 3), 25 hours per week. This role is to support our team of Medical Secretaries at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital. We are looking for an enthusiastic and well -motivated member of staff who is a flexible team player.
The post holder will undertake a range of secretarial, administrative and clerical duties with specific responsibilities, including digital transcription.
You will be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills, use your own initiative and be able to prioritise and manage your workload,
sometimes with minimal supervision.
Candidates should not apply for this role unless they meet the essential criteria.
Main duties of the job
To provide secretarial support to Cellular Pathology to ensure effective delivery of patient focused health care within key performance targets and provide communication and organisational skills.
The role comprises a wide range of specific duties and requires competence in word processing, keyboard skills
and audio/copy typing with the ability to prioritise own workload without direct supervision.
A knowledge of medical terminology would be advantageous. You will need to be able to prioritise and manage your workload, sometimes with minimal supervision.
You will be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills and be able to use your own initiative.
Experience of medical audio transcription and medical terminology is essential, as would experience of working in a busy, demanding office role. This is a demanding but rewarding role and an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to progress towards the role of Medical Secretary.
Candidates should not apply for this role unless they meet the essential criteria.
Working for our organisation
Established in 2003 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) is a large integrated health care organisation providing high quality acute secondary healthcare for the people of East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.
Our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 700,000 patients a year from the most serious of emergencies to planned operations and procedures. We employ over 8,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work and achievements.
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is working 3 local Trusts to form a single Pathology Service for Lancashire and South Cumbria, hosted by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.
Whilst this post is based at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, this may change in the future if services are reorganised.
Within current timelines, this post will TUPE into LTHTR as the hosting employer in mid-2026
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. To provide secretarial service: accurately producing from audio/copy, patient-related correspondence /reports of a complex nature, using
appropriate software and within specific timescales
2. To ensure a high standard of data quality at all times, in particular ensuring that patient demographic details are accurate and up to date by using laboratory IT systems
3. Communicate effectively with internal and external customers.
4. To respond as requested to enquiries/ correspondence from service users, both written and by telephone, and act on such enquiries
promptly and appropriately and at all times safeguard patient confidentiality. Ensure queries are prioritised appropriately.
5. Please see attached JD for more information
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
6. GCSE English at level 4 or above or equivalent
7. RSA/OCR II Typewriting or proven equivalent
8. RSA/OCR Audio Transcription or proven equivalent
9. Computer literate or equivalent level of skill
10. Ability to produce neat & accurate documentation
11. Good organisational skills
Desirable criteria
12. ECDL
13. AMSPAR qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
14. Previous secretarial experience
15. Ability to understand, absorb and comply with detailed procedures
Desirable criteria
16. Knowledge of NHS computer systems
17. Knowledge of NHS Pathology computer systems e.g. LIMS
Personal
Essential criteria
18. Proven positive communication skills
19. Ability to work in a team and be supportive of team members
20. Ability to adapt to changing needs of service
21. Proven ability to manage priorities under pressure
22. Proven ability to use own initiative and work without close supervision
23. Willingness and enthusiasm to develop own knowledge, skills and ability
24. Proven ability to keep information confidential