Senior Clerk

The Methodist Church in Britain; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a senior clerical post within the Newcastle Breast Screening Service. You will run the computerised call/recall system, book and change appointments by phone, and lead a team of junior administrative staff.

You will also provide reception at screening and assessment clinics, interacting with distressed patients and relatives with tact and empathy, and answer queries from patients and GPs. Interviews are on 12 November 2026.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, or equivalent level experience.
• GCSE standard education or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Operate the National Breast Screening System daily, entering complex clinical information accurately.
• Make and change appointments by telephone.
• Coordinate and prioritise clerical duties to keep the service running efficiently.
• Lead and support a team of junior administrative staff.
• Ensure the team follows departmental Quality Management protocols and National Quality Assurance standards.
• Provide reception at screening and assessment clinics, dealing with distressed or anxious patients and relatives with tact and empathy.
• Answer queries from patients, relatives, GPs, PCTs and other screening offices.
• Provide clerical support for the breast imaging symptomatic service using RIS.
• Operate other systems such as PAS and RIS when required.

Skills

Keyboard skills

Communication

Working under pressure

Team leadership

Organisational skills

Education

NVQ Level 3

GCSE

Tools

National Breast Screening System

RIS

PAS

Job description

This senior clerical post sits within the Newcastle Breast Screening Service, part of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the National Breast Screening Programme. The postholder runs the programme's computerised call/recall system, books and changes appointments by phone, and leads a team of junior administrative staff. Reception work at screening and assessment clinics, often with several clinics running at once, is a major part of the day. Interviews are on 12 November 2026.

What the job involves

• Operate the National Breast Screening System daily, entering complex clinical information accurately
• Make and change appointments by telephone
• Coordinate and prioritise clerical duties to keep the service running efficiently
• Lead and support a team of junior administrative staff
• Ensure the team follows departmental Quality Management protocols and National Quality Assurance standards
• Provide reception at screening and assessment clinics, dealing with distressed or anxious patients and relatives with tact and empathy
• Answer queries from patients, relatives, GPs, PCTs and other screening offices
• Provide clerical support for the breast imaging symptomatic service using RIS
• Operate other systems such as PAS and RIS when required

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, or equivalent level experience
• GCSE standard education or equivalent

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent keyboard skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with staff at all levels and the public
• Ability to work under pressure and concentrate through constant interruptions
• Team leadership skills, including teaching and motivating junior staff
• Good organisational skills

Other

• Ability to cope with the flexible demands of the post
• Ability to understand and follow procedures and policies

Nice to have

• In-depth knowledge of the National Breast Screening Service
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team in a healthcare environment
• Good knowledge of data protection procedures
• Adaptable and willing to learn
• Audio typing skills

What’s offered

• Staff benefits set out in an attached document
• Openness to flexible working arrangements