About this role
Job summary
We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Senior Personal Assistant to provide comprehensive and efficient secretarial and administrative support to the Service Group Director and Senior Service Group Leadership Team within Mental Health & Learning Disabilities.
This is a pivotal role, acting as a key representative for the Service Group and ensuring the smooth organisation of meetings, correspondence, diaries, and documentation. You will be the first point of contact for enquiries, handling requests with professionalism, discretion and initiative.
The post holder will make informed decisions within their area of responsibility, ensuring that agreed standards and targets are consistently met in line with Trust, departmental and national policies and procedures. You will also act as a source of advice and guidance to senior leaders, maintaining high standards of confidentiality when managing complex and sensitive information.
As a key member of the leadership team, you will contribute to wider service group responsibilities, including project work and full coordination of formal committees and senior-level meetings.
Main duties of the job
Provide comprehensive PA and secretarial support to the Service Group Director and Senior Leadership TeamManage complex diaries, prioritising and coordinating appointments using sound judgementOrganise, coordinate and support formal meetings, including agenda preparation, minute taking and action trackingAct as the first point of contact for the Service Group, handling enquiries professionally and efficientlyMaintain effective communication with senior leaders, internal teams and external stakeholdersPrepare, format and quality check reports and documentation for senior reviewEnsure all confidential and sensitive information is handled with discretion and in line with policiesSupport the coordination and delivery of projects and service group initiativesMaintain effective administrative systems, ensuring accuracy, accessibility and audit complianceWork collaboratively with other PAs and administrative staff to ensure seamless service deliveryProvide advice, guidance and support to staff across the service in relation to administrative processes
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities Please see attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details of duties and responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Educated to degree level or demonstrate equivalent experience Diploma level/NVQ 4 in Business and AdministrationGCSE A Levels or equivalentRSA/OCR III or equivalent typing/word processing
Desirable
Additional professional qualifications relevant to the post
Experience Essential
Experience in taking minutesExperience in Audio TypingExperience in managing small projectsExperience of setting up and maintaining office systems
Desirable
Proven previous experience working as a PA to a Director/Senior ManagerExperience of managing staffExperience in shorthand
Additional Criteria Essential
Access to transport to travel in connection with the post to attend meetings, work from different bases, or training events across the county
Desirable
Driving Licence
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Wellsprings Hospital
Cheddon Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA2 7AU
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)