Secretary/typist
Typists and secretaries provide clear and concise documents and records helpling our frontline healthcare professionals and other staff to support and care for NHS patients .
Working life
As a typist, you'll use word processing systems to create a range of documents. These may be reports, letters, case notes, etc. If you work as an audio typist, you'll listen to dictated information dictated and type what you hear, turning it into a well-presented document potentiall in a variety of formats.
As a secretary, you'll usually work for a particular senior member of staff or group of staff. Or you may support the work of a particular department. As well as typing, including audio typing, you may:
- arrange meetings
- take minutes of meetings
- manage diaries
- deal with enquiries by phone and email
- order stationery
- keep a filing system
- create and update spreadsheets and databases
Secretaries and typists work across the NHS, in clinical and non-clinical areas such as:
- hospital departments and clinics of all types
- GP surgeries and health centres
- the headquarters of an NHS trust
As a secretary or typist, working on a ward or in a clinic or health centre, you'll have a lot of contact with patients and their relatives and carers. You will also have contact with healthcare professionals including nurses and doctors, including GPs or surgeons, for example. Other secretaries/typists may have little or no contact with patients, for example, those in headquarters. They work closely with admin staff and other members of the wider healthcare team.
Entry requirements, skills and interests
There are no set entry requirements for a secretary/typist. However, employers expect excellent keyboard skills. They are likely to ask for qualifications in typing or word processing. Employers also expect a good standard of literacy, numeracy and IT skills. They may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. You may be able to enter an apprenticeship through an administrative role and through further training and qualifications, progress to more senior secretarial or typing role.
Personal characteristics
As a secretary/typist, you'll need to:
- work accurately and methodically
- meet deadlines
- use medical terminology
- pay attention to detail
- work in a team but use their own initiative
- work with all types of people
- be helpful and reassuring if dealing with patients and their families
Skills required
- excellent keyboard skills
- IT skills
- good spelling and grammar
- organisational skills
Training and development
You will get the training you need to do the job. This includes an introduction to the department, how to use the IT and phone equipment and the procedures to follow. You may also have training in customer care.
You may be offered the chance to take vocational qualifications such as those from:
- the Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Managers, Administrators and Receptionists (AMSPAR)
- the British Society of Medical Secretaries and Administrators (BSMSA)
Some secretaries/typists become members of AMSPAR or BSMSA. Both AMSPAR and BSMSA offer training, online forums and newsletters so staff can network with others doing the same type of work.
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Administrative staff in the NHS are paid on the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay system. As a new entrant, working as a secretary/typist you would typically start on band 2 and could progress, with further training and qualifications to posts at bands 3 or 4, for example as a medical secretary. Secretaries/typists work standard hours of around 37.5 a week. In some jobs, this could involve early starts, evenings and weekends. Terms and conditions for staff working outside the NHS will vary
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With experience, you could become a team leader, coordinating the work of a team of secretaries/typists. With further experience, you could become a manager, responsible for the staff in a department.
Some secretaries/typists move into specialist roles such as medical secretary or PA. Others may move into areas such as finance, or health records.
You may also have the opportunity to move into informatics, specialising in electronic data, or into IT.
If you're applying for a role either directly in the NHS or in an organisation that provides NHS services, you'll be asked to show how you think the NHS values apply in your everyday work. Find out more about NHS values.
Most NHS trusts advertise their vacancies on NHS Jobs. Some of the current vacancies are below.
-
Audio Typist
Oswestry, SY10 7AG
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Typist
Chesterfield, S44 5BL
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Administrator/Typist
Nottingham, NG8 5HL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Melbourne Park Medical Centre
-
Clerk Typist
Carlisle, CA2 7HY
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Typist / Booking Clerk
Doncaster, DN2 5LT
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS FT
-
Bank Clinical Typist
Chesterfield, S44 5BL
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Typist/Admistrative Assistant
Halifax, HX3 0PW
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
-
Admin Assistant/ Audio Typist, Band 2- Paediatrics & Neonatal
Gloucester, GL1 3NN
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Secretary
Hull, HU9 2LR
- Salary :
- £24336.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- City Health Practice Limited
-
Secretary
Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
-
Secretary/Support Secretary MH & LD
Haverfordwest/Carmarthen, SA61 2PZ
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hywel Dda University Health Board
-
Secretary/Support Secretary MH & LD
Llanelli, SA14 8QF
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hywel Dda University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Sleaford, NG34 7HD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sleaford Medical Group
-
Medical Secretary
Huddersfield, HD1 4TS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Paddock and Longwood Family Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Ipswich, IP9 2QS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
Medical Secretary
Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 9DT
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
-
Team Secretary
Carlisle, CA2 7HY
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Norwich, NR50RS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Coastal Partnership
-
Team Secretary
Warwick, CV34 5BW
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Cardiff, CF14 2TL
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Velindre University NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Cardiff, CF14 2TL
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Velindre University NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Milton Keynes, MK113LL
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Watling Street Network PCN
-
Medical Secretary
Crowborough, TN6 1DL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Saxonbury House Medical Group
-
Team Secretary
Welwyn Garden City Herts, AL8 6HG
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Leigh on Sea, SS9 3NG
- Salary :
- £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
Support Secretary
Bournemouth, BH7 7DW
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Telford, TF3 4LY
- Salary :
- £12.32
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Teldoc
-
Team Secretary
Nottingham, NG5 3FL
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Bodelwyddan, LL18 5UJ
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Gateshead, NE11 0QD
- Salary :
- £12.75
- Type :
- Bank
- Employer :
- Community Based Care Workforce Solutions LTD
-
Medical Secretary
Northallerton, DL7 8AW
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mayford House Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
High Peak, SK22 4BP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sett Valley Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Cardiff, CF11 9LJ
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Public Health Wales
-
Medical Secretary
Bradford, BD7 3JX
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Ridge Medical Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
London, SW12 8TT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Thurleigh Road Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Doncaster, DN1 2DS
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Regent Square Group Practice
-
Medical Secretary
North Shields, NE29 8NH
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Team Secretary
TBC, CA1 2NS
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Support Secretary
Bodelwyddan, LL18 5UJ
- Salary :
- £24833.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Support Secretary
Bodelwyddan, LL18 5UJ
- Salary :
- £24833.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Derby, DE23 6QQ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Derby Family Medical Centre
-
Medical Secretary
Wrexham, LL13 7TD
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Team Secretary
Carlisle, CA2 7HY
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Company Secretary
Exeter, EX2 7HY
- Salary :
- £91342.00 to £105337.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Leeds, LS14 5BD
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Windmill Health Centre
-
Personal Secretary
Mansfield, NG18 4GW
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5ES
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Powys Teaching Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Charlwood, RH6 0BN
- Salary :
- £25058.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Team Secretary
Yeovil, BA20 2BN
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 8LN
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Charlwood, RH6 0BN
- Salary :
- £25058.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Medical Secretary
Norwich, NR1 4NU
- Salary :
- £13.46
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lionwood Medical Practice
-
Departmental Secretary
Sheffield, S5 7AU
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Team Secretary
Carlisle, CA2 7HY
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Support Secretary
Manchester, M40 5BP
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT
-
Therapies Support Secretary
Stafford, ST16 3SA
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary/PA
Blackburn, BB2 3HH
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary (XN03)
Leeds, LS9 7TF
- Salary :
- £24071.00 to £25674.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Leeds Teaching Hospitals
-
Medical Support Secretary
Stoke-on-Trent,, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
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