Ward Clerk

Cddft; North East; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Ward Clerk for the Medical Short Stay Unit at University Hospital North Durham. The role entails reception, clerical and administrative duties to support efficient service delivery.

You will work as part of a team and use your initiative to coordinate duties, with emphasis on patient flow and maintaining confidentiality. Prior healthcare experience is advantageous.

Qualifications

• 3 X GCSE's Including English and Mathematics

Responsibilities

• Provide reception duties as requested by line manager.
• Liaise with consultants, secretaries and support services for patient enquiries and appointments.
• Answer telephone and visitor enquiries, take messages and refer to appropriate person.
• Meet and greet visitors, maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Administer admissions, transfers and discharge in real time using the systems.
• Validate and monitor data, support Trust targets and policies, including VTE assessment and EDIS monitoring.
• Keep work areas clean, tidy and welcoming.
• Contribute to stock control and budget awareness.
• Undertake other duties as requested by the nurse in charge.

Skills

Computer literacy

Keyboard skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Prioritisation

Organisational skills

Data protection

Telephone manner

Medical terminology

Authority communication

Education

GCSEs incl English & Maths

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Ward Clerk

The closing date is 10 November 2026

Anopportunity has arisen for a full time Ward Clerk within County Durham &Darlington NHS Foundation Trust based at University Hospital North Durham.

Thepurpose of the role is to provide general clerical, administrative andreception duties to the Short Stay Medical Unit.

Thesuccessful applicant will be expected to work both as part of a team and to usetheir own initiative and work unsupervised to ensure the effectiveco-ordination of duties.

Previousclerical experience and knowledge of the healthcare environment is stronglydesired. The short stay Unit is a 16 bedded ward, receiving patients directlyfrom AMU, SDEC and ED.

Patientsare usually with us for a short period of time whilst their acute condition isbeing diagnosed, stabilised, monitored and treated. The aim is to then discharge patients within72 hours.

Main duties of the job

To provide administrative and clerical support tothe Medical Short Stay Unit to facilitate the efficient functioning of theservice. Working over 5 days Monday Friday to ensure continuity of care. Welcoming patients and visitors onto theMedical Short Stay Unit ensuring a friendly, kind, caring introduction.

Working alongside a friendly welcoming team toensure patients receive the very best experience.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Please note that we may close any vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Job responsibilities

To undertake a full range of reception duties as requested by line manager.

To liaise with consultants, secretaries and other support services to ensure that patient enquiries and appointments are dealt with in an efficient manner.

To deal with telephone and visitor enquiries; taking messages as appropriate and referring calls and enquiries to the most appropriate person.

To meet and greet all visitors to the department, ascertaining the purpose of the visit whilst ensuring that confidentiality is always maintained.

Undertake the administration of admissions, transfers and discharge of patients in real time using the appropriate systems.

To participate in the validation of system data to ensure that the data held is up-to-date, accurate and recorded appropriately; to support the monitoring of the Trust targets and adherence to the varying policies and procedures; including VTE assessment and Electronic Discharge Letter monitoring.

To ensure work areas are kept clean, tidy, and welcoming always.

To contribute to prudent stock control/maintenance.

To be aware of resource constraints and the importance of working within budget.

Any other duty as requested by the nurse in charge of the department within the scope of the role.

Person Specification

Special Requirements

• Flexible, dependable, punctual, empathetic, tactful and sensitive. Clear, legible handwriting. Friendly persona. Able to work as part of a team. Able to use own initiative and work unsupervised.

Qualifications

• 3 X GCSE's Including English and Mathematics

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Computer literacy and keyboard skills.
• Organisational skills.
• Ability to prioritise.
• Understanding of data protection.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Confident telephone manner.
• Ability to understand medical terminology. Ability to converse with all levels of authority

Experience

• Previous experience in a healthcare setting.

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Computer literacy and keyboard skills.
• Organisational skills.
• Ability to prioritise.
• Understanding of data protection.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Confident telephone manner.
• Ability to understand medical terminology. Ability to converse with all levels of authority

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust