Medical Secretary (Xn03)

2. Job Purpose To provide a comprehensive and high quality medical secretarial service to support clinical teams (Consultants, their medical teams e.g. junior medical staff or specialist nursing staff as appropriate) in delivering high quality care to the patients of Leeds and beyond. This role will additionally make a key contribution in improving the patient experience by supporting Directorate teams with the movement of patients through their 18-week pathway or other national waiting time standards as appropriate. 3. Job Dimensions The post-holder will: Work as part of a team to ensure that all clinical correspondence is turned around in a timely manner to allow patients to move through their pathway without any delays Work with Consultants and their medical teams. Manage their workload in line with departmental requirements or as identified by the Senior Medical Secretary. Deal with patient enquiries. Play a key role in ensuring that patients move systematically through their pathways by ensuring that the next steps are in the pipeline. 4. Organisation chart Business Manager Patient Services Coordinator Assistant PSC Medical Secretary 5. Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required Qualifications Audio typing/Word Processing Skills (RSA II) or equivalent experience (essential) GCSE Grade C or above English and Maths (or equivalent e.g. AMSPAR Level 2 qualification) (essential) ECDL (desirable) Experience Using a variety of Microsoft office packages including word, excel and PowerPoint (essential) Using patient information systems such as PAS (essential) and PPM (desirable) or the ability to quickly develop this knowledge in a short time frame. In some specific cases additional system knowledge would be considered desirable e.g. using Mosaic within the Oncology & Physics teams. Prioritising and managing workload to meet deadlines (essential) Dealing with internal and external enquiries originating from a variety of sources including but not limited to: staff in other Departments, patients, staff in GP surgeries (desirable) At least one year of secretarial experience (essential) Previous secretarial experience in a healthcare setting (desirable) Skills & Knowledge The candidate must demonstrate excellence and ability within the following areas: Interpersonal and communication skills (essential) Organisational skills and time management (essential) Understanding of customer care principles (essential) A broad understanding of medical terminology and its use within clinical correspondence (essential) Ability to work as part of a team (essential) Ability to communicate sensitively with a wide range of people including patients, using tact and diplomacy (essential) Ability to deal with sensitive and often emotive information (essential) Ability to deal with enquiries in an appropriate and supportive manner (essential) Knowledge and application of the Data Protection Act in relation to patient confidentiality and the appropriate care of patient information (essential). A good understanding of relevant Trust standards and National Waiting Time Standards e.g. 5-day turnaround of clinical correspondence, 18 week wait for patients (desirable). Training will be offered as part of the role to ensure appointed candidates meet this requirement during the course of their employment. 6. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are: Patient-centred Collaborative Fair Accountable Empowered All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values 7. Core Values & Behaviours This individual will be expected to work well as part of a team and should be patient focused, professional and flexible in their approach to work. 8. Core Knowledge and Understanding See Knowledge/Skills and Experience above. 9. Principal duties and areas of responsibility Clinical Correspondence & Support to Clinical Services Typing/proof reading clinical correspondence relating to outpatient and inpatient attendances and other patient related correspondence on behalf of the consultant and clinical teams. Use a range of IT skills to support the clinical work of the consultant e.g. use of databases and spreadsheets to monitor test results for patients. Support administrative process as deemed appropriate by the Senior Medical Secretary and PSC. To support the clinical teams in the delivery of excellent patient care by actively working with colleagues and other Departments to ensure that all patients registered within the service are proactively supported through their patient journey (This would include but is not limited to: ensuring that follow-up and/or discharge appointments have been made for patients when required escalating to the Patient Services Co-ordinator where appointments have been booked outside the requested timescales). Any other general administrative duties associated with the consultant/clinical team outpatient and inpatient workload. Answer phone calls and deal with enquiries relating to patients and clinical work from a variety of sources, directly resolving where possible or transferring to appropriate personnel. Liaise with GPs, hospital staff and others on behalf of consultant in relation to clinical workload. Maintain appropriate databases (both Trust and Departmental) to support with the delivery of the 18-week pathway or other waiting time standards as appropriate. Assist in the coordination of test results, bringing these to the attention of the consultant and taking resulting action as required. Maintaining an effective administration service Together with colleagues to deputise for the Senior Medical Secretary in cases of absence to ensure Departmental standards are maintained In conjunction with other Team Medical Secretaries and under the supervision of the Senior Medical Secretary to work collectively as a team proactively planning workloads to meet different deadlines and timescales. Create and maintain appropriate record systems relating to clinical workload e.g. tests and results spreadsheets Provide guidance to clerical support officers as necessary. Ensure that health records are tracked on entering and leaving the Department and stored in an appropriate manner in line with Trust Policy and patient confidentiality. Ensure that health records are maintained to a high standard at all times. All documentation and investigation results must be securely filed in the correct section in chronological order. Support Data Quality Indicators by ensuring that patient information is accurate and updated on relevant paper and computerised systems. Access information systems to obtain clinical information as required by the medical teams including investigation results or other information e.g. from results server, PPM or WinDIP Work as part of the team to ensure that all phone calls are answered within the department during core office hours. Provide information to Senior Medical Secretary/PSC/Assistant PSC, as appropriate, relating to workload and work outstanding. Provide cover for other team secretaries/clerical staff when on annual leave or sick leave. Additional duties Any other duties that from time to time may be deemed necessary by the Trust/Directorates that are commensurate to the role. Health and Safety/Risk Management All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting System. Infection Control The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precaution. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment. Equality and Diversity The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc. Patient and Public Involvement The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and planning services. All staff have a responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements based on patient feedback. Training and Personal development - Continuous Professional Development The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manger for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role. Respect for Patient Confidentiality The jobholder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role. Communication and Working Relationships: The post holder will be expected to establish, maintain and respect good working relationships and communication with both internal and external organisations, institutions and individuals with whom they come into contact.