Administrative Assistant

Job Overview

Dorset Healthcare is looking for enthusiastic, flexible and driven professionals to join our administrative team at the Bournemouth Older Persons Community Mental Health Team as an Experienced Administrative Assistant.

You will be fully supported by an experienced Team Leader, receive all necessary training and tools, and enjoy regular supervision, yearly appraisals, and opportunities to contribute ideas and drive continuous improvement.

Your flexibility will be essential to manage the workload of this busy Community Mental Health Team. We embed our Trust’s values in everything we do, prioritising a patient‑centred approach that focuses on recovery and wellbeing.

The working pattern is 5 days a week from 08:30 until 17:00, with an hour for lunch.

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of. Applicants who subscribe to the DBS update service may present a valid DBS certificate instead of requiring a new check.

Please note visa sponsorship for this role is unfortunately not available. Ensure you hold valid right to work in the UK and will not require sponsorship if successful.

You will provide efficient secretarial, administrative and reception support for the team.

You will liaise with members of the public and a variety of professionals in both primary and secondary care services. Some patients may contact us in distress; we seek resilient applicants who can manage such situations with training, communication, and a compassionate work ethos.

You will have a solid administrative background or be an experienced secretary, and be able to multi‑task, manage your time effectively, and meet deadlines with the highest level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Required skills include an understanding of Office 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel), an outstanding telephone manner, and the ability to communicate effectively with difficult patients.

You must be organised, able to motivate yourself and your colleagues, and maintain a high standard of accuracy in all tasks.

You will be responsible for keeping the Trust’s patient record system (RIO) up to date, following data protection and GDPR legislation.

You will provide secretarial support to the team by completing clinical correspondence and dictation, managing onward referrals, and arranging and attending as a minute‑taker for various meetings.

You must have an intermediate level of audio‑typing skills.