Assistant Personal Assistant - APA

Mcht; Crewe; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Crewe is seeking an Assistant Personal Assistant to support RTT tracking and 18-week targets. The role covers audio typing, answering calls, and providing secretarial support across multiple sites, including Leighton Hospital.

You will work a 37.5-hour week, with core hours likely 8-4 or 9-5, and a fixed-term 18-month contract. The post requires experience in secretarial administration, familiarity with medical terminology, and knowledge of RTT

Qualifications

• Previous secretarial experience.
• Knowledge of Medical Terminology.
• Knowledge of the validation of 18 week RTT pathways.

Responsibilities

• Provide a comprehensive secretarial/administrative service, including organising and making arrangements, typing letters, distributing documents and reports, recording information and filing.
• Ensure information and documentation meet expected standards and turnaround times to support operational performance.
• Maintain constructive relationships across divisions and with external partners to improve service efficiency for patients.
• Be proficient with electronic systems for correspondence, including specialist healthcare systems, Microsoft Office and internet research.
• Provide information to patients/relatives and carers following guidelines, and in the absence of the PA.
• Liaise with RTT processes to validate waiting times and ensure compliance with 18 Week guidance.
• Plan and organise own workload with good time management, reporting anticipated difficulties promptly.

Skills

Secretarial experience

Medical Terminology

18 week RTT pathways

Tools

PCS computer systems

Job description

Main area Assistant Personal Assistant Grade Band 3 Contract 18 months (Fixed term post) Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (A variety of full time and part time hours are available) Job ref 412-MED- 8350510

Site Leighton Hospital Town Crewe Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 22/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

To support the achievement of Referral to Treatment (RTT) target through validation of the referral to treatment PTL(s).

To support the work of 18 week RTT tracking with the monitoring and delivery of national waiting time targets.

To be responsible for escalating the potential of any 'breach' of the RTT standard and to ensure that any potential breaches are escalated to the service management team.

The post holder/s will be expected to work their hours over 5 days. The preferred model would be core hours of 8-4pm / 9-5pm.

To support the PA in aspects of the role including audio typing, answering calls, closing down RTT pathways and covering in all absence.

Main duties of the job

Provide a comprehensive secretarial/administrative service, which includes organising and making arrangements, typing letters, distribution of documents and reports, recording information and filing.

To ensure that all information and documentation is produced to expected standards of performance and according to agreed turnaround times in order to support the operational performance standards.

Maintain constructive relationships with others, within and across Divisions and externally in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services to patients.

Be fully conversant with all required electronic systems for correspondence, including specialist computer systems associated with the management of patients and/or health information, Microsoft office and being able to obtain information using the Internet.

Provide information to patients/relatives and carers where appropriate, including agreed information tests and referrals, according to agreed guidelines, and in the absence of the PA.

Working for our organisation

MCHFT provides a full range of local hospital and community services for people across East Cheshire (population 399K) and West Cheshire and Chester boroughs (population 357K).

The Trust provides high quality planned and unplanned/emergency care, cardiac and critical care as well as child health, maternity services, and intermediate care across our sites at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford.

The Trust provides 500 beds and employs over 5,000 members of staff. An extensive range of community services is provided across 26 medical centres and schools by our community arm, Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership, in collaboration with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FT and the South Cheshire and Vale Royal GP Alliance.

With the formation of Integrated Care Systems in July 2022 the Trust became a strategic partner in both Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester ‘places’ and is part of the Cheshire and Merseyside partnership caring for a population of over 2.7million.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, the Trust was recognised nationally for its ‘Be Safe Be EquiPPEd’ campaign, which aimed to make the Trust as safe as possible for staff and patients, through supporting the correct use of PPE.

At Mid Cheshire, our mission is to inspire hope and provide unparalleled care for the people and communities of Cheshire, helping them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To be proficient in the use of Patient Administration System (PAS) and other Trust computerised systems.
• To be responsible for ensuring that patients' waiting times are validated andaccurately reflected within the RTT PTL in line with Department of Health guidance relating to RTT.
• Identifying and recording RTT clock start and end times.
• To liaise with medical secretaries and appointments staff to ensure that accurate information is obtained and recorded.
• To assist in the delivery of 18 Weeks by using own initiative to interpret and apply judgements to patient pathways to ensure compliance with national 18 Week guidance.
• To have the autonomy to investigate and proactively manage patient
  pathways in liaison with the service managers to ensure patients are treated within the national 18 Week target.
• To plan and organise own work load, demonstrating good time management and ensuring anticipated difficulties in meeting deadlines are reported promptly.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Previous secretarial experience
• Knowledge of Medical Terminology
• Knowledge of the validation of 18 week RTT pathways

Skills

• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills,
• Understand and manage health records/waiting lists and PCS computer systems

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform a wide range of duties according to the Job Description

Key Messages

We are a forces-friendly employers.

Candidates should ensure that all submissions and interactions reflect the candidate’s own skills, experience, and understanding. Any use of AI that compromises the integrity, fairness, or authenticity of the recruitment process may result in disqualification from consideration, withdrawal of offer, or dismissal if this these circumstances come to light post hire.

Candidates that require sponsorship to work in the UK are strongly advised to check the Government website for up-to-date information about whether the role they are applying for (incl. offered salary) is eligible.

Please let us know if you require an adjustment to our recruitment process and we'll be happy to discuss this with you.

We actively promote flexible working so please discuss any requirements you may have with us.

Secondments will be considered for fixed term positions when both parties agree. Candidates should seek approval from their current line manager before application.

• All correspondence will be sent via the email address you have registered as your TRAC account.Selection is based on the Trust's values, and the criteria outlined in the Job Description for the role.
• Appointments are subject to a 6-month probationary period. LED Doctors are subject to a 3-month probationary period.
• You are required to pay for a DBS disclosure where the post requires one, and we encourage applicants to join and remain registered with the DBS update service.
• We do not reimburse travel to interview expenses.