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Job summary

Main area
Personal Assistant
Grade
Band 4
Contract
6 months (Fixed term)
Hours
Part time - 30 hours per week
Job ref
351-CEN2245-LG
Employer
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
West Strand House
Town
Preston
Salary
£26,530 - £29,114 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
06/04/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust logo

Personal Assistant

Band 4

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:

•    Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
•    Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
•    Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.

For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.

Job overview

We are seeking a highly motivated, enthusiastic, flexible, conscientious, and kind individual to join our service as a Personal Assistant (PA). 

The post holder will exclusively support a visually impaired clinician who is currently training to deliver cognitive behaviour therapy within the Preston Talking Therapies service. 

The clinician to whom the PA support will be provided is a guide dog user, so being at ease around dogs is essential. 

Excellent interpersonal skills are essential due to the role's context within mental health services and the postholder must possess emotional resilience when accessing information that may be distressing.

Talking Therapies is an innovative and forward-thinking service that provides a rapid accessible mental health screening, assessment and treatment whilst enabling people accessing the service to have a collaborative role in the choice of intervention they receive.

The Talking Therapies service has dedicated teams of Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs), Cognitive Behavioural Therapists and Counsellors who offer a range of support to help people make positive changes to reduce stress and anxiety and improve their wellbeing.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will work closely and collaboratively with the clinician daily who will be taking the lead and directing your assigned duties on a day-to-day basis. The PA will take direction led by the clinician, which includes all aspects of receiving, managing, and inputting information into the patient's electronic care record, preparing materials to support client therapy, and typing notes and diagrams of client sessions completed in readiness for the next therapeutic session. 

The post holder will have knowledge of all the relevant administrative and secretarial procedures applicable to this role and the ability to deal with non-routine activities that arise. Problem-solving is an integral part of the role.  

Previous experience using digital software such as adobe to create and edit documents, comprehensive understanding and use of excel, pdf to word conversion processes and Microsoft word is essential. The postholder will also be trained in the use and operation of the electronic patient clinical care record IAPTus.

Working for our organisation

Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.

The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.

Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks. We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.

For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NVQ level 4 in customer care or administration or equivalent experience
  • Demonstrable commitment to continuous personal development

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Awareness of issues in the Mental Health field
  • Intermediate knowledge of a range of administrative procedures and practice

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous experience using digital software such as adobe to create and edit documents, comprehensive understanding and use of excel, pdf to word conversion processes and Microsoft word
  • Previous experience of working in a fast moving, confidential, sensitive, pressurised deadline driven environment
  • Experience of supporting and minuting meetings

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive issues with tact
  • Able to demonstrate skills in organising and prioritising with in their daily work

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Emily Steiner
Job title
Team Leader
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

Aisha Hussain – Clinician - [email protected] 
Will Butterworth – Diversity and Inclusion Manager – [email protected] 

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