Apprentice Haematology Support Secretary

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people. We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries. We welcome and encourage applications from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining a healthy home-life balance. Working patterns such as part-time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

An opportunity has arisen to join a busy and forward-thinking team within the Haematology Department as a Support Secretary Apprentice. This is a full-time position of 37.5 hours to be worked Monday - Friday. If you are an enthusiastic, experienced and motivated person we welcome your application to join a secretarial team embedded within a proud and hardworking Unit. The successful candidate will be expected to support the medical secretaries and the clinical team providing cross cover during periods of staff absence.

Responsibilities:

• Use of Microsoft Office packages
• Medical audio typing
• Dealing with patients and medical staff via telephone and in person
• Making appointments internally and via the e-RS system Choose & Book

As part of this job role, you will be expected to undertake a Business Administrator Level 3 apprenticeship. Due to the current Government eligibility criteria for Government funded Apprenticeship schemes, we are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years. We are unable to accept anybody who is currently on a funded programme.

Main duties of the job:

• To provide a high-level clerical service for the Haematology team.
• To facilitate audio-transcription of clinic letters, results, and discharge letters.
• To provide a high-level clerical service and support for medical secretaries throughout the department.
• Making appointments internally and via the e-RS system Choose & Book.
• The post holder will be required to work as part of a team providing cross cover during periods of staff absence.

An Initial Assessment, as part of the Apprenticeship enrolment process, will be required to be completed to ascertain what level Numeracy, Literacy and ICT you are currently working at to ensure you are eligible to undertake an Apprenticeship programme. If you have already achieved English & Maths at GCSE (Grade A-C/4-9) or Functional Skills Level 2, this can be transferred over, with evidence of achievement.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Quality: The achievement of quality objectives is set within a Hospital Wide Quality Assurance Framework, which requires each member of staff to participate and ensure quality is assured in each aspect of their work.
• Confidentiality: Each member of the Trust's staff is responsible for ensuring the confidentiality of any information relating to patients and to comply with all the requirements of the Data Protection Act while carrying out the duties of the post.
• Health and Safety: Each member of the Trust's staff is responsible for ensuring that they carry out the duties of their post in accordance with all appropriate Health and Safety legislation, guidance and procedures.
• External Interests: Each member of the Trust's staff is responsible for ensuring that any external interest they have does not conflict with the duties of their post.
• Fire Training: Each member of the Trust's staff has a statutory obligation to attend a Fire Lecture each year.
• Flexibility: Job descriptions are intended to act as a flexible guide to the duties of a post and therefore will require revision in consultation with the post holder.

Person specification:

• Word processing – Qualified to RSA III/NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification/demonstrable skills
• ECDL or equivalent qualification/demonstrable skills/experience
• City and Guilds Certificate in Medical Terminology, or equivalent demonstrable skills/experience

Experience:

• Experience of successfully working within tight time frames and to deadlines
• Ability to communicate in a clear and concise manner
• Good numerical skills
• Good command and understanding of English, punctuation and grammar
• Experience of providing secretarial services in a hospital environment
• Experience of using NHS IM&T systems for data entry
• Experience of using digital dictation systems
• Experience of medical audio typing

Personal:

• Motivated, flexible and proactive
• Tactful, courteous and polite
• Smart appearance in accordance with BVH dress code
• Ability to move and handle case notes 2-5 kg+
• Thrives from a busy workload
• Keen to help others
• Willingness to complete the Business Administrator Level 3 apprenticeship

Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form. If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre-employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months from your salary or as a one-off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are – Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50. You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures. Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here. Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this.

Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until the published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier. Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non-smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking. The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.