About the Organisation:
As Scotland’s smallest health board, NHS Orkney is committed to delivering excellent care to our 22,000 residents. Whether you’re new to the NHS or bringing experience from elsewhere, your skills will make a real difference.
Our modern healthcare facility, The Balfour, brings together inpatient care, emergency services, outpatient clinics, diagnostics, GP practices and the Scottish Ambulance Service. We’re also investing in services across our outer isles, ensuring high-quality care reaches every corner of Orkney.
We are guided by our core values that shape everything we do – Open and honest, Respect and Kindness – from how we care for our patients to how we support each other as colleagues.
About Orkney:
With over 70 islands – 20 of them inhabited – Orkney offers a unique blend of natural beauty, close-knit community and an opportunity for adventure. From dramatic coastlines and rare wildlife to rich cultural traditions and active lifestyles, it’s a place where compassion thrives and every day brings something new. Regularly named one of the UK’s best places to live, Orkney offers a lifestyle that’s both fulfilling and inspiring.
The Position:
NHS Orkney is looking to recruit an organised and proactive individual to provide high-quality secretarial and administrative support across our multidisciplinary team.
You’ll manage day-to-day administration, coordinate workloads, and ensure smooth service delivery in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Strong organisational skills, the ability to prioritise, and confidence working both independently and as part of a team are essential.
If you’re ready to make a difference in supporting mental health services for children and young people, we’d love to hear from you!
The Candidate:
The successful candidate should have a Higher National Certificate in business administration or possess equivalent experience. The post holder will possess excellent skills in organisation, minute-taking, numeracy, audio and keyboard and be proficient in the working of email, spreadsheets and development and maintenance of databases. They should also have the ability to work as a member of a team or on own initiative with minimal supervision.
Location, Working Pattern and Contract Duration:
This post will be based at The Balfour
The successful candidate will work: Full Time 37 hours per week - NHS Scotland is reducing their full time working week from 37 to 36 hours per week from 1 April 2026 but with no change in pay. This reduction will also be applied pro rata for part time staff.
This post is Fixed-Term for 12 months due to cover for substantive postholders maternity leave
It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NHS Orkney.
Benefits and Salary:
Did you know NHS Scotland salaries are higher than those in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
The salary for this post is Band 4 and if residing on Orkney, you’ll also receive a Distant Islands Allowance of £1,654 pro rata per annum, adding extra value to your rewarding career with us.
NHS Orkney also offers an attractive pension scheme, wide range of work life balance policies, employee assistance programme and various discounts to both local and national retailers.
Further Information:
If you share our vision and are ready to be part of Team Orkney, we’d love to hear from you. Your rewarding career starts here!
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If there are additional requirements you would like to request, please contact ork.recruitment@nhs.scot
For further guidance on the recruitment process and tips for creating a strong application, please refer to our Candidate Application Pack.
For informal discussion please contact Alison Stewart – Senior Administration Officer, Children & Families Services, Orkney Health & Social Care Partnership, on 01856 873535 extension 2618 or alison.stewart@orkney.gov.uk
This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check.