Operational Service Assistant

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

Job summary

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Crewe is seeking an Operational Service Assistant to provide comprehensive administrative support to Community Teams within CCICP across Leighton Hospital. The role focuses on managing calls, referrals, patient records, and coordinating with GP Out of Hours and Urgent Care processes.

You will work 12 hours per week, typically Tue-Thu 9am-5pm, with flexibility to support service needs. NHS experience and proficiency in MS Office are essential.

Qualifications

• 5 GCSE level A-C qualifications or equivalent in English and Math’s or equivalent experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft applications including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Level 3 Business Admin or Team Leading Qualification

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to Community Teams, including managing calls, referrals, and patient flow.
• Liaise with internal and external services to coordinate referrals, appointments, records, and MDT activity.
• Maintain effective relationships with stakeholders and support appropriate signposting.
• Manage information and databases to support audits and reporting. Work flexibly within the admin team, providing cross‑cover and supporting efficient use of resources.
• Coordinate the GP Out of Hours/Urgent Care rota and annual leave processes to ensure service continuity.

Skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Medical terminology

Education

GCSE English & Maths (A-C)

Level 3 Business Admin or Team Leading

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Main area Administration Grade NHS AfC: Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 12 hours per week (12 hours per week, typically worked over two weekdays (Tuesday-Thursday, 9am–5pm). Working days may vary in line with divisional requirements, and flexibility is essential.) Job ref 412-COMM-8001244-A

Site Leighton Hospital Town Crewe Salary £25,760 - £27,476 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 17/11/2026 23:59

Want to work somewhere you can really make a difference? Somewhere you’re encouraged to have ideas and empowered to create positive change?

Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP) deliver NHS Community Services across Cheshire. With a wide range of clinical disciplines, we are a dynamic, future-facing organisation passionate about delivering the highest quality healthcare whilst collaborating with our community partners.

We foster a culture of continuous improvement, built on compassion.

Over 83% of staff would recommend CCICP as a place to work

90% of staff say the people they work with show appreciation to each other

88% staff say that patient care/service users are the organisations top priority

Over 70% of staff believe there are opportunities for them to develop their career

If a friend or relative needed treatment 81% of staff are happy with the standard of care provided

We are recognised nationally

With over 24 Queen’s Nurses (and growing) we have one of the highest percentages proportionate to the size of our team

Nursing Times Award winners in 2023 and finalists in 2024 for a Bladder and Bowl project. Our specialist Stoma service is currently shortlisted for a Nursing Times and British Journal of Nursing awards.

Two Specialist clinicians have recently had their work recognised by Wounds UK

Leighton Hospital Urgent Treatment Centre, run by CCICP, was reviewed by Care Quality Commission and awarded the highest score in the North West

Job overview

The post is primarily based within the GP OOH & Urgent Treatment Centre; however, the Trust operates a flexible workforce model and the post‑holder may be required to support other service areas according to operational need.

The Operational Service Assistant will provide comprehensive, quality, confidential administrative support to the Community Teams employed by the Trust. The post holder will be expected to organise their own workload and co-ordinate their activities, in conjunction with and supervised by the Community Coordinator, to ensure that an efficient service is provided.

The post holder will be capable of the full administrative function within the team and will act as a flexible resource to support the Community Service teams across the CCICP footprint to ensure continuity of services. The post holder will have direct contact with service users, carers, the general public or other external stakeholders, as well as internal and external clinical and non-clinical colleagues. It is essential that the post holder is able to exercise initiative suitable to the role and is fully supportive of other colleagues within the team.

Main duties of the job

• Provide administrative support to Community Teams, including managing calls, referrals, and patient flow.
• Liaise with internal and external services to coordinate referrals, appointments, records, and MDT activity. Handle and respond to enquiries, escalating when necessary.
• Maintain effective relationships with stakeholders and support appropriate signposting.
• Manage information and databases to support audits and reporting. Work flexibly within the admin team, providing cross‑cover and supporting efficient use of resources.
• When necessary coordinate the GP Out of Hours/Urgent Care rota and annual leave processes to ensure service continuity.

Working for our organisation

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community services for East Cheshire (population 399K) and West Cheshire and Chester (population 357K). Our services include planned and unplanned/emergency care, cardiac and critical care, child health, maternity, and intermediate care across Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford.
Through our community arm, Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership, we deliver extensive services in 26 medical centres and schools in collaboration with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS FT and the South Cheshire and Vale Royal GP Alliance. With 500 beds and around 5,500 staff, we are one of the area’s largest employers.

Since the formation of Integrated Care Systems in July 2022, the Trust has become a key partner in Cheshire East & Cheshire West and Chester and in two provider collaboratives, aligning our strategic goals with the Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care System.
As part of the national New Hospital Programme, we’re reimagining Leighton Hospital to create a new health and care neighbourhood, transforming healthcare delivery for a Healthier Future. Learn more on our Healthier Futures website .

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

Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Community Teams and associated Clinical Services including managing calls, referrals, and supporting the clinical staff to respond to the health needs of the population. This may include processing and monitoring patient flow or waiting times, liaising with clinical staff to ensure timely and efficient patient care.
Support the Community Coordinator to liaise with a range of internal and external services and teams including clinical and non-clinical staff regarding referrals, appointments, patient records and multi-disciplinary meetings.
October 2025
Make, receive and respond to a variety of enquiries, using appropriate communication and judgement skills to resolve enquiries personally where possible, or escalation to relevant team members and colleagues, ensuring each enquiry is addressed with the necessary level of urgency.
Build and maintain constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services for patients and to support signposting to other services where appropriate.
Understand when it is relevant and appropriate to provide and receive information to and from parents/carers/advocates on behalf of the patient, in accordance with the Trust’s policies and guidelines.
Adopt a flexible and supportive role, working effectively within the administration team by assisting with workload and providing cross cover for other administration staff when required, and to be flexible regarding working hours to meet the needs of the service.
Support the Community Teams with audits, reports and other measurement activity, including managing databases, obtaining information, and presenting the results.
Support the Community Teams in the efficient and effective use of resources, e.g. equipment, supplies and materials.
Carry out any additional duties and responsibilities as appropriate and delegated by the Community Coordinator or other Senior Manager.
Additional duties for GP Out of Hours/Urgent Care
Co-ordinate the GP Out of Hours and Urgent Care GP rota, annual leave approval/recording process in line with Standard Operating Procedures ensuring that there are no gaps in service provision.

Person specification

Qualification

• 5 GCSE level A-C qualifications or equivalent in English and Math’s or equivalent experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft applications including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of medical terminology
• Level 3 Business Admin or Team Leading Qualification

Skills

• Verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to problem solve
• Good Interpersonal skills
• Excellent time management, organisational skills and ability to prioritise own workload
• Proactively manage change
• Understanding of health records/waiting lists
• Understanding of computer systems used by the department.
• Ability to Audio Type

Experience

• Previous administrative experience
• Awareness of the need for confidentiality in accordance with Data Protection Act and national/local guidelines
• Previous experience within the NHS

We offer enviable benefits* which include:

- Recognition: monthly ‘Because You Matter’ awards, with an annual awards celebration. CCICP Star of the Month acknowledgements

- Flexible working, tailored to the service, role and individual

- Training and development opportunities

- Mentoring and coaching

- Generous holiday allowance of 28 days plus bank holidays. Increasing with length of service. Option to buy / sell annual leave.

- Fast track physiotherapy access

- Enhanced maternity / paternity / adoption leave pay

- Sick pay

- Access to free counselling service 24/7

- Carers leave

- Free Flu and Covid Vaccinations

- Discounted complimentary therapies

- Access to hundreds of staff discounts nationally and locally

- Cycle to work scheme

- Long service awards for all NHS service

KEY MESSAGES

Please let us know if you require an adjustment to our recruitment process.

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.

Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that their employees have a “right to work” in the UK. Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust hold a Sponsor Licence, which means that we MAY be able to sponsor you IF the role meets the UK Government requirements for sponsorship. Not all NHS roles are eligible for sponsorship. To be eligible for sponsorship, the role must be in an eligible occupation code and must meet the skill level and the minimum salary threshold (usually £38,700 per year for Skilled Worker or £23,200 for Health Care Worker Visa). You can find more information on the Government website .

Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the entry point (bottom) of the pay band.

Appointments are subject to a 6-month probationary period. LED Doctors are subject to a 3-month probationary period.

Please provide a contact email address for referees when you submit your application. We will not request any references until after you have been made a formal job offer.

You will be required to pay for your DBS disclosure (where the post requires one). This will be done via 3 monthly instalments from your pay. We encourage applicants to join and remain registered with the DBS update service.

We do not reimburse travel to interview expenses.

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

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.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Zara Mount