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.
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Audio Typist
Scarborough, YO12 6QL
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clerk Typist
Penrith, CA11 8JA
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Audio Typist
York, YO31 8HE
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Audio Typist
Sheffield, S10 2JF
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clerical Officer/Typist
Liverpool, L7 8YE
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
PACCT Audio Typist
Newport, NP20 2UB
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
Admin Clerk / Medical Typist
Halifax, HX3 0PW
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
-
Secretary/Support Secretary MH & LD
Carmarthen, SA31 1DN
- 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
Plymouth, PL46LF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Livewell Southwest
-
Medical Secretary
Plymouth, PL46LF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Livewell Southwest
-
Medical Secretary
Exeter, EX2 5AF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Devon Partnership NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Hereford, HR4 8SN
- Salary :
- £14.85
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Taurus Healthcare Limited
-
Medical Secretary
Plymouth, PL6 8DH
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Secretarial/Administration
Billingham, TS23 2LA
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- QUEENSTREE PRACTICE
-
Medical Secretary
Stafford, ST19 9BQ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Brewood Medical Practice
-
Support Secretary
Coventry, CV2 2DX
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7HY
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Radiology Secretary
Brighton, BN2 5BE
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
-
Medical Secretary
Bedford, MK40 2TX
- Salary :
- £13.25
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
Medical Secretary
Minehead, TA24 6DF
- Salary :
- £26530.00 to £29114.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Bedford, MK40 2TX
- Salary :
- £13.25
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
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
Brightlingsea, CO7 0DT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
Medical Secretary
Oldham, OL1 2JH
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Birmingham, B16 8PE
- Salary :
- £23874.88 to £26397.29
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Modality LLP
-
Team Secretary
North Shields, NE29 8NH
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Durham, DH1 5TW
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Sheffield, S10 2SF
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Northwich, CW9 5HR
- Salary :
- £21988.00 to £24129.60
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Danebridge Medical Practice
-
Medical Secretary
St Albans, AL5 5TL
- Salary :
- £28860.00 to £31671.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Bangor, LL57 2PW
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Selby, YO8 9BX
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ
- Salary :
- £26530.00 to £29114.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Hull, HU8 8DH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dove House Hospice
-
Medical Secretary
Abbots Langley, WD5 0HT
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Support Secretary
Sheffield, S20 1NZ
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Northallerton, DL7 8AW
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mayford House Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
Stockton on Tees, TS19 8PE
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Chelmsford, CM1 7ET
- Salary :
- £24937.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, CF82 7GP
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Derby, DE23 6QQ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Derby Family Medical Centre
-
Team Secretary
Fairfield Industrial Estate, LN11 0LS
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lincolnshire And District Medical Services (LADMS)
-
Medical Secretary
Birmingham, B43 6EE
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Scott Arms Medical Centre
-
Team Secretary
Huyton, L36 9GA
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Portsmouth, PO1 1EA
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Drs Alalade & Klemenz – The University Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
Barrow in Furness, LA14 4LF
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Guildford, GU2 7XX
- Salary :
- £28860.00 to £31671.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
-
Team secretary
Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6HG
- Salary :
- £28860.00 to £31671.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Worksop, S80 1HP
- Salary :
- £10.00 to £12.21
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Newgate Medical Group
-
Medical Secretary
Charlwood, RH6 0BN
- Salary :
- £25058.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Microbiology Secretary
Chertsey, KT16 0PZ
- Salary :
- £26240.00 to £27928.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Blackpool, FY1 6JX
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Support Secretary
Manchester, M20 4BX
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Christie NHS FT
-
Medical Secretary
Charlwood, RH6 0BN
- Salary :
- £25058.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Medical Secretary
Balsall Heath, Birmingham, B12 9LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Dr Walji & Colleagues
-
Medical Secretary
Bodelwyddan, LL18 5UJ
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Durham, DH1 5TW
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Truro, TR2 4JZ
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Probus Surgery
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