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.
-
Clerk Typist
Liverpool, L14 3LB
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clerk Typist
Carlisle, CA2 7HY
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- 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
-
Medical Typist/Administrator
Canterbury, CT1 1WL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northgate Medical Practice
-
PACCT Audio Typist
Newport, NP20 2UB
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
Planning Performance & Quality Administrator/Typist
Preston, PR1 6SB
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria 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
-
Secretary/Support Secretary MH & LD
Aberystwyth, SY23 1HB
- Salary :
- £25313.00 to £26999.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Hywel Dda University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Shinfield, RG2 9EH
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- South Reading and Shinfield Group Medical Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Hereford, HR4 8SN
- Salary :
- £14.85
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Taurus Healthcare Limited
-
Secretarial/Administration
Billingham, TS23 2LA
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- QUEENSTREE 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
Plymouth, PL6 5ZF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Personal Secretary
317 02 Royal Victoria Infirmary, NE1 4LP
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Redditch, B97 4AJ
- Salary :
- £12.30 to £13.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Dow Surgery
-
Medical Secretary
Hornsea, HU18 1LP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Eastgate Medical Group
-
Secretarial Assistant
Sheffield, S10 5DD
- Salary :
- £24465.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Truro, TR1 3LJ
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Birmingham, B16 8PE
- Salary :
- £23874.88 to £26397.29
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Modality LLP
-
Medical Secretary
Brightlingsea, CO7 0DT
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Primary Care Careers
-
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
Charlwood, RH6 0BN
- Salary :
- £25058.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Medical Secretary
Stone, ST15 8AP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- CUMBERLAND HOUSE
-
Medical Secretary
Charlwood, RH6 0BN
- Salary :
- £25058.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Medical Secretary
Stone, ST15 8AP
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- CUMBERLAND HOUSE
-
Medical Secretary
Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 9RW
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Oldham, OL1 2JH
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Telford, TF3 4LY
- Salary :
- £12.32
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Teldoc
-
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
Brighton, BN3 4FH
- Salary :
- £27000.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Elysium Healthcare
-
Medical Secretary
Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, CF82 7GP
- Salary :
- £27898.00 to £30615.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
-
Medical Secretary
Halifax, HX2 0QL
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Plane Trees Group Practice
-
Medical Secretary
Great Yarmouth, NR31 6LA
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Clinical Secretary
Kirkby in Ashfield, NG17 7AG
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
-
Team Secretary
Fairfield Industrial Estate, LN11 0LS
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lincolnshire And District Medical Services (LADMS)
-
Medical Secretary
Portsmouth, PO1 1EA
- Salary :
- Negotiable
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Drs Alalade & Klemenz – The University Surgery
-
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
Barrow in Furness, LA14 4LF
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Great Yarmouth, NR31 6LA
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Broomfield, Chelmsford, CM1 7ET
- Salary :
- £27485.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2AP
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Bicester, OX26 6HT
- Salary :
- £12.50 to £13.90
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Montgomery - House Surgery
-
Microbiology Secretary
Chertsey, KT16 0PZ
- Salary :
- £26240.00 to £27928.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Administration Secretary
Sheffield, S10 2SF
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
-
Support Secretary
Manchester, M20 4BX
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Fixed-Term
- Employer :
- The Christie NHS FT
-
Medical Secretary
Plymouth, PL6 8BQ
- Salary :
- £24937.00 to £26598.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
-
Team Secretary
Burnley, BB10 2PQ
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
-
Medical Secretary
Liverpool, L9 7LJ
- Salary :
- £27485.00 to £30162.00
- Type :
- Permanent
- Employer :
- The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust
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