Any help for getting into working as secretary for NHS not a medical secretary

[tillyandmilly]

Hello can anyone help me - i was made redundant August this year after 15 years as a receptionist secretary.

Job market is so tough but though with my secretarial skills would get a job in no time - how wrong I was!

I have been for 6 interviews mostly secretarial admin roles - really want to work for the NHS - I am a fast audio typist - however have been rejected for four in total after interviews. Two roles in a private hospital and two within NHS even though the roles stated medical experience desirable? I am hoping I will get a job as my job seekers is running out in 3 months time and at this rate will be on the streets! Really worried I won’t find work - agencies have not come up with anything at minute - do you think I should to a medical secretarial course? Any medical secretaries out there ?

Could you do a course in medical terminology?

With the NHS, you just need to get your foot in the door. They are very focused on your last few roles so NHS people are probably pipping you at the post.

What band are the roles you're applying for?

If I were you, I would start applying for receptionist and booking clerk roles. You might have to work your way up to secretary. I know it's bizarre but there will literally be hundreds of applicants.

Also, try NHS Professionals which look after temp admin roles.

Did you ask for feedback from your interviews? It's worth asking and they won't mind.

You're doing well to get interviews so you must be doing something right. Keep going!

I'm a medical secretary in the NHS! My advice (and advice I was given from others) would be:

• When you answer the question try to answer as fully as possible (easy to say I know!) but NHS interviews are done solely on a score system so if a question is weighted, say, 3 points and you don't answer fully enough to get those 3 points you've immediately got yourself on the backfoot.
• Memorise the trust values - they almost always ask a question on them and thats some easy points to get if you've learnt them.
• Confidentiality is almost a guarantee to come up - learn some key points from the data protection act to give yourself some strong answers i.e How to store it safely, legally and securely... how to safely dispose of it... as well as the more obvious 'not discussing confidential information with friends and family' etc.

I also did an ECDL level 2 course so I had proof on my CV that I had a typing qualification but I'm not sure if thats really necessary to be honest, but maybe something you'd like to consider rather than a full medical secretary qualification. I don't actually know a medical secretary who has taken an official medical secretary course!

Anyway, hope some of that might be helpful... Just keep trying! It took me ages to get my first NHS job but once you're in its very easy to move around and get more internal opportunities etc.

I'm in admin/secretarial for NHS for the last year. Prior to that I worked in law for 30 years as a legal Secretary so totally different for me. I'm still trying to work out if I like it to be honest!

I agree it is about getting your foot in the door. Don't bother even attempting to apply for anything over a band 3 in admin if you've never worked for the NHS as you will find it very hard to get in. Even after a year I still feel I've an awful lot to learn and wouldn't feel confident even going for a band 4 post yet as a Secretary even though I've been a Secretary for 30 years.

It took me two attempts applying for the same job before I got it. The first time I never gave enough detail in my answers to the questions and was told to re apply. Luckily got the job the second time. There were over 100 applicants so its quite difficult to get your foot in the door.

I work in a team of six admin, most of us have pretty extensive admin background, one is an ex teacher, another a retired civil service manager, so you can see what you might be up against. Most of us have taken a pay cut for one reason or another!

Once you are in, there are lots of opportunities and I do feel if you are already working for the NHS you have an advantage. Good luck.

Just a thought but have you thought about applying to be on the bank at your local trust? I know ours are recruiting atm for admin for the covid vaccine. I imagine most trusts will be the same.

Sign up to bank in your local trust. You might get a few hours in and then you can use it as experience. I am a med sec as part of my role with no prior experience. I would go for reception / admin type roles possibly and get a foot in the door.

Everyone - thank you everyone for your helpful answers - unfortunately due to Covid - they are not taking on bank staff and I can't even volunteer for the Trust at the moment apparently - so really frustrating....... I went for another role as a team secretary as it stated experience would be desirable but not essential on Band 3 but didn't get the job unfortunately - been for 4 interviews so far - will keep applying - someone must want me!

I have been a medical secretary for around 30 years and have been to many interviews. At interviews they will be looking for detailed answers to questions, backed up with examples. They are very keen on confidentially . You should read up on the Caldecott Report and quote from it at interview.

A good knowledge of medical terminology is helpful, but can be picked up later. Good luck!

Study the person spec and the job description for each role and try to memorize the key words. Also, start a list of questions you are being asked and could potentially be asked and rehearse the answers. You need to be as detailed as possible when you respond. Each question will have a score and you will be marked on your answer so you need to get all the key details across.

You're clearly just being pipped at the post possibly by someone who has NHS experience. Keep plugging away. You'll get there!

www.amspar.com

The AMSPAR training is highly prized and if there is a candidate with medical experience and/or AMSPAR training, they will get the job.

From the many, many (oh, so many) NHS job interviews I've been to, I can offer this advice.

Information governance, confidentiality and safeguarding are massive concerns - a lot of the interview questions have been about that area, even if I wasn't applying for a patient facing role.

GDPR, Caldicott Guardianship and Freedom of Information are big in every hospital - revise the laws which might affect you and consider the questions carefully before answering.

Every hospital had 'core values' - a wanky mission statement, which is often reduced to a useless acronym.

Vision, values, care promises - they'll be listed on the trust website somewhere.

Interview questions have often been themed around these values and promises - you're expected to recognise this (even if they aren't announced in the interview) and mould your answers towards them.

Each hospital trust is it's own little bubble and, quite often, they assume prior knowledge of working practices, ethos and culture.

It's infuriating from an outsider's point of view.

Research the trust website, look out for any news, visit the hospital if you can (I know, Pandemic, I know) - look online for any newsletters, charity drives or meeting minutes.

A bit late to this thread but just wanted to say that this year I started a job as a medical secretary (Band 4) after many many years as a legal secretary. It was my first application to the NHS. May just have been luck but loads of my skills were absolutely transferable and although I had to learn new systems (a fact that I acknowledged in my application) it hasn't been difficult. There are loads of ex legal secys in my department and the managers seem to be happy enough with us. Agree with the comments about trust values - keep trying - be confident (without being cocky) and good luck.