Personal Assistant / Senior Administrator

Job overview

The Senior Administrator and Personal Assistant will play a pivotal role in providing high-level, proactive administrative support to the Head of Service for mental health support teams in Essex. This role is essential in ensuring that senior staff members can operate effectively and focus on strategic priorities by managing their administrative workload. The role involves a mix of traditional personal assistant responsibilities alongside high-level project and office management tasks. It requires a dynamic individual who is comfortable with multitasking, problem-solving, and adapting to the evolving needs of a fast-paced community mental healthcare environment.

We are specifically looking for someone who has:

-          Experience in an administrative or PA role, ideally within the healthcare or public sector.

-          Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities.

-          Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

-          Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail.

-          Discretion and ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.

-          Proactive, flexible, and able to work independently as well as part of a team.

Advert

Alongside the attached job descritpton please ensure your personal statmenent reflects your experience in the following areas:

• Manage and coordinate complex diaries for senior leaders, scheduling meetings, appointments, and events.
• Prepare agendas, take minutes, and follow up on action points for meetings.
• Draft, review, and distribute correspondence, reports, and other documents on behalf of senior staff.
• Serve as the first point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, handling inquiries professionally and efficiently.
• Support project management by coordinating tasks, tracking progress, and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Maintain and organise electronic and paper records, ensuring information is accessible and up-to-date.
• Handle confidential information with the utmost discretion and in compliance with NHS policies.
• Assist with budget tracking, expense processing, and procurement tasks as required.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance administrative efficiency within the team.
• Liaise with other departments and teams to ensure smooth communication and collaboration.

Working for our organisation

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focusing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex. 

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

Please see the NELFT recruitment video which explains more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nX8CImoDX8

Higher Cost Allowance

This post has a base of Phoenix House in Basildon and also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £1,258 and a maximum payment of £2,122 per annum pro rata).