Medical Secretary - Wickford | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Wickford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Wickford is looking for an experienced Medical Secretary to support the Consultant and clinical team in providing exceptional patient care. The successful candidate will handle administrative duties including communication with patients, documenting clinical advice and managing appointments. This challenging position requires excellent organizational skills, the ability to work under pressure, and a patient-centric approach to care. Previous experience in a medical secretarial role is preferred, particularly in a mental health setting.

Benefits

27 days holiday, plus bank holidays

Excellent pension of up to 14.5%

Staff discounts and benefits

£8K relocation package

Interest-free season ticket loans

Qualifications

• Previous medical secretarial experience in a mental health or NHS setting is desirable.
• Audio typing skills and experience in a similar role would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative support to the Consultant.
• Communicate with patients and healthcare professionals with professionalism and sensitivity.
• Manage and prioritize workload under pressure.

Skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Team player

Flexibility

Ability to work under pressure

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Medical Secretary in Wickford.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to become a Medical Secretary at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), based in the Wickford area.

This challenging position requires someone who is a team player, flexible, organised and able to work well under pressure. The post holder will provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative support to the Consultant and clinical team. As a medical secretary, you will be the first point of contact for patients, doctors and staff throughout the Trust.

This position requires excellent communication skills, dedication to exceptional patient care and service, the ability to meet the demands of working in a busy environment and ability to represent their team and department with due professionalism.

A vacancy has arisen for a Medical Secretary in the Mental Health Team for Specialist Services.

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

The Medical Secretaries are an important part of a team and are very much in the front line with the patients and their families.

To provide a vital link for staff, patients, relatives and outside agencies as required.

Your main responsibilities will be to provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative support to the Consultant and their team. Previous medical secretarial experience in a mental health or other NHS setting, or clinical systems knowledge is highly desirable. Audio typing skills and experience in a similar role would be beneficial.

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 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.
• To become an effective member of the Medical Secretariat, developing productive working relationships with other members of the team, developing and demonstrating a sound understanding of the aims and business activities of the Trust.
• To work flexibly to provide efficient, high quality secretarial, administrative and support services to the Consultant and their medical colleagues as required and to maintain office cover.
• To produce documents such as clinic letters and discharge summaries, clinician’s reports, general correspondence, minutes and presentations, etc., using audio, shorthand or copy typing skills as required.
• Process case‑notes of patients discharged from clinical caseloads; follow through ongoing care plans as indicated in reports.
• Ensure follow‑up appointments or referrals to other specialties are arranged where necessary.
• Ensure discharge summaries and other time‑sensitive information are dictated and 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, carers, health professionals and other professional bodies.
• Maintain excellent communication skills, build relationships with other medical/professional staff and external doctors involved in patient care.
• Communicate with patients on the telephone, especially those with neuro‑developmental and neuro‑disability health conditions, with extreme patience and sensitivity.
• Pass on information received from patients/carers regarding their health condition, medication, problems, etc., to the Consultant accurately and promptly.
• Relay clinical advice to patients, carers, GPs and members of the clinical team, acting on the instructions of the Consultant.
• Maintain the Consultant’s diary; arrange meetings and associated administration such as room bookings, hospitality and agenda preparations.
• Participate in arrangements for training programmes and conferences, ensuring all necessary documentation and practical arrangements are in place.
• Provide effective support to the Consultant in various specialist activities (e.g. academic, research, service development, complaints).
• Record new patient referrals and ensure the information is processed within Trust guidelines.
• Act as minute secretary at meetings, case conferences, working groups, etc., and ensure appropriate administrative follow‑up action.
• Liaise with Reception Administrators for appointments and diagnostic services to expedite urgent or routine investigations.
• Arrange investigation appointments and ensure all results are brought to the Consultant’s attention.
• Coordinate actions for patients requiring admission, liaising with necessary professionals.
• Work as part of the clinical support team to deliver a comprehensive and effective administration service.
• Provide advice and demonstrate workplace routines to new or less experienced employees within the team.
• Maintain confidentiality within the role and support clinical changes to pathways across the EPUT.
• In the absence of the Consultant, take initiative to signpost patients in crisis to appropriate services.
• Maintain good working knowledge of the electronic patient records system used in the team.
• Provide secretarial cover to other Consultant teams as necessary for colleagues on sick/annual leave.
• Process applications for annual leave/study leave for doctors within the team.
• Submit invoices for Consultants’ expenses in a timely manner.
• Sort, record and action post/email/telephone enquiries efficiently, drafting responses where appropriate.
• Co‑operate with others to maintain efficient filing, records and bring‑forward systems.
• Access and use NHS and Trust information systems to retrieve patient care related information.
• Maintain and order stocks of stationery; take responsibility for the care and maintenance of office equipment.
• Assist with the collection and collation of data and statistical information relevant to the Consultant’s scope of work.
• Provide day‑to‑day support and assistance to new and temporary members of staff during induction and teamwork.
• Assist in the induction of trainee doctors new to the Consultant’s team, providing templates and timetables.
• Maintain a system to ensure that doctors are provided with safety alarms, Dictaphone, bleeps, and keys during induction.
• Comply with performance indicators, patient choice, waiting times, and regulatory targets.
• Adhere to equal opportunities provisions.
• Report health & safety issues and fire hazards to the Manager.
• Fully comply with GDPR and related policies.
• Recognise the sensitivity of business undertaken and ensure strict confidentiality.

This advert closes on Monday 5 Jan 2026.