Administration Assistant/Receptionist, The Derwent Centre, Harlow

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Harlow; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Harlow is seeking a full-time Administration Assistant/Receptionist to support clinical staff with administrative tasks. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, administrative experience, and knowledge of Microsoft Office. Responsibilities include managing calls and assisting patients while maintaining confidentiality. Join a supportive team with opportunities for training and personal development.

Benefits

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

Excellent pension scheme

Staff discounts

£8K relocation package

Flexible working

Qualifications

• Must possess relevant administrative experience.
• Experience handling sensitive information and confidentiality.
• Previous experience working in the NHS is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide front line support to clinical colleagues.
• Handle incoming and outgoing telephone calls professionally.
• Deal with face-to-face queries from patients and families.
• Record accurate messages and follow up as necessary.
• Ensure safeguarding confidentiality at all times.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Attention to detail

Ability to use own initiative

Compassionate approach

Education

Good standard of education

Level 3 NVQ or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Go back Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Administration Assistant/Receptionist, The Derwent Centre, Harlow

The closing date is 26 October 2025

Please note you must have right to work in the UK to apply for this position.

Due to current Home Office Guidelines, we are unable to sponsor this job role.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit a Full Time Administration Assistant/Receptionist based at The Derwent Centre Harlow.

We are looking for someone with the ability and confidence to use their own initiative and prioritise tasks. The post holder must possess excellent communication skills and relevant administrative experience, must be flexible and have attention to detail.

The role will involve providing support to our clinical colleagues with administrative tasks by providing front line support, face to face and over the telephone. This role is Monday - Friday 9 am to 5 pm. We will offer you support, supervision, training and the opportunity for personal development.

You will also need to be computer literate with experience of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook. You will be given full training on the various systems that we use.

We are looking for someone with a positive and compassionate approach to supporting patient care. The role will also include telephone calls and face to face contact with our patients and due to the nature of the services we carry out administrative support for, these can sometimes be distressing.

Successful candidates will be expected to provide services in a professional, efficient, friendly and polite manner.

Main duties of the job

COMMUNICATION

• You will be required to handle incoming and outgoing telephone calls to the multi-disciplinary clinical staff and managers in a polite and efficient manner. Receive and deal with telephone enquiries, responding appropriately to callers including high risk, abusive, threatening, depressed, suicidal and vulnerable clients and carers. Maintain strict confidentiality at all times.
• Record accurate messages and follow them up appropriately in accordance to department guidelines.
• To deal face to face with patients and families seeking further help/information and to be aware of the needs of the clients and to deal in an appropriate manner with clients who can be hostile, abusive or aggressive.
• To exchange confidential and/or sensitive information between staff, patients, and carers in person or on the telephone. The unpredictability of patients means that persuasive, reassuring, empathic, skills are required at all times.
• Deal with queries raised by patients, relatives, GP's or other healthcare professionals both internally and externally to the trust. These are often of a non-routine nature and involving complex issues such as medication and other clinical treatments where there are barriers to understanding due to the nature of the client group.

About us

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.
• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Job responsibilities

ROLE SUMMARY

• To operate as a centralised department to provide a comprehensive administration & reception service and functions within the Trusts Localities.
• The service will ensure the timely and accurate recording of all activity across services using Trust information systems.
• The service will require a team approach to ensure cover for absence across all services / locations.
• Post holders, as appropriate, will be required to provide administration duties on behalf of these services.
• Due to the nature of the role a strong emphasis is placed on safeguarding confidentiality and this forms a pre-requisite for every Administration Assistant / Receptionist
• This is not an exhaustive list

Person Specification

• Good standard of education
• NHS experience
• Microsoft Packages
• Level 3 NVQ or equivelant
• Previous administration experience

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.

Employer name

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£24,937 to £26,598 a yearPer annum + HCA