Medical Secretary (Basildon MHU) | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious NHS Trust in Basildon is looking for a dedicated Medical Secretary to support the Psychotherapy Department and Eating Disorder Services. The role involves providing essential administrative support to consultants and their teams, ensuring efficient patient care and managing sensitive information. Candidates should possess excellent secretarial and communication skills, along with previous experience in medical settings. The position offers a flexible work environment, generous holiday benefits, and a supportive community with mental health resources.

Benefits

27 days holiday, plus bank holidays

Excellent pension of up to 14.5%

Staff discounts and benefits

£8K relocation package available

Interest-free season ticket loans

Qualifications

• Experience in a mental health or NHS setting with clinical systems knowledge is desirable.
• Ability to work unsupervised and under pressure.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative and secretarial support to the Consultant and their team.
• Ensure discharge summaries and other time-sensitive information are typed within designated time limits.
• Manage and prioritize own workload appropriately.

Skills

Excellent secretarial skills

Strong communication skills

Audio typing skills

Adaptability to new systems

Education

Previous medical secretarial experience

Job description

A vacancy has arisen for a Medical Secretary to support both the Psychotherapy Department and Eating Disorder Services based at Basildon Mental Health Unit.

The Medical Secretary will support two Consultant Psychiatrists and their medical team/s for both the Psychotherapy Department and the Eating Disorder Services.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person who is flexible and has excellent secretarial and communication skills. You must be able to work unsupervised and under pressure, and deal sympathetically with patients and relatives of people with mental health problems.

The Medical Secretary is an important part of the team and is very much on the front line with the patients and their families, providing a vital link for staff, patients, relatives and outside agencies as required.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive administrative and secretarial support to the Consultant/s and their team.
• 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 NHS setting with clinical systems knowledge is desirable.
• Develop productive working relationships with other team members, demonstrating a sound understanding of the Trust's aims and activities.
• Provide efficient, high‑quality secretarial, administrative and support services to the Consultant and their medical colleagues, maintaining office cover.
• Produce documents such as clinic letters, discharge summaries, clinician reports, general correspondence, minutes and presentations using audio, shorthand or copy typing skills as required.
• Ensure that discharge summaries and other time‑sensitive information are typed within designated time limits.
• Manage and prioritise own workload appropriately, frequently under pressure, without supervision.
• React quickly to urgent situations to coordinate an excellent service to patients, their carers, health professionals and other professional bodies.
• Maintain good relationships with other medical/professional staff to ensure urgent situations are handled promptly.
• Pass on information from patients/carers regarding health condition, medication, problems, etc. to the Consultant accurately and timely.
• Relay advice of a clinical nature to patients, carers, GPs and members of the clinical team, acting on the Consultant's instructions accurately and comprehensively.
• Maintain the Consultant's diary, arrange meetings, manage room bookings, prepare and circulate agendas and related papers, and act as a point of contact for coordinating necessary details.
• Assist with training programmes and conferences, ensuring all documentation is processed and necessary practical arrangements are in place for seamless events.
• Provide effective support to the Consultant in specialist areas (e.g. academic, research, service development, clinical director, SI investigations, dealing with complaints) in line with Trust policies.
• Arrange investigation appointments (bloods, EEGs, ECGs, X‑rays, MRI scans, etc.) and ensure results reach the Consultant for timely action.
• Work as part of the clinical support team to deliver a comprehensive and effective administration service to clinical personnel across the directorate.
• Provide advice and demonstrate workplace routines to new or less experienced employees within the team.
• Maintain confidentiality within the role regarding clinical changes to pathways across the Trust.
• Have working knowledge of the electronic patient records system and update records with clinical information, personal data, email, telephone, and paper communications promptly.
• Provide secretarial cover to other Consultant teams as necessary for colleagues on sick/annual leave, working flexibly as a team member.
• Process applications for annual leave/study leave for doctors within the team, ensuring cover arrangements are clear.
• Ensure post/email/telephone enquiries are promptly sorted, recorded and actioned, filtering them efficiently and drafting responses where appropriate.
• Cooperate to maintain efficient filing, records and searching systems, properly indexed and cross‑referenced.
• Access and use NHS and Trust information systems to retrieve patient care related information.
• Take responsibility for the care and maintenance of office equipment supplied to secretaries and the Consultants, notifying IT of any problems.
• Assist with collection and collation of data and information, including statistical data relevant to the Consultant’s scope of work.
• Provide day‑to‑day support and assistance to new and temporary staff within the team as part of induction and good teamwork.
• Assist in induction of trainee doctors new to the Consultant’s team, providing template letters, admission and discharge summaries and a timetable of activities, clinics, ward rounds, etc.
• Maintain a system ensuring doctors receive personal safety alarms, Dictaphone, bleeps, and keys, keeping an up‑to‑date log.
• Adhere to the principles and processes defined within the equal opportunities provision.
• Report health & safety issues or fire hazards to the Manager and take immediate action to minimise risks.
• Fully comply with GDPR and related policies.
• Ensure strict confidentiality of sensitive business undertaken.

Qualifications

Experience: previous medical secretarial experience in a mental health or NHS setting with clinical systems knowledge is desirable. Audio typing skills and adaptation to new systems are essential.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and other 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

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

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.

This advert closes on Sunday 4 Jan 2026.