Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.

We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week

We are looking for a highly motivated individual to provide comprehensive reception service to the Countess of Chester Hospital, as directed by the Assistant Service Manager.

The successful candidate must be able to work using their own initiative, and also as part of a busy team. This position is based in the Jubilee Day Surgery Centre (JDSC) and is primarily a Monday to Friday job with some flexibility required as part of the working rota.

Main duties of the job

Uphold excellent standards in customer service, dealing with patient queries associated with the service.

To be responsible for booking patients into pre-assessment clinics and admitting patients to JDSC Theatres whilst ensuring that all demographic information held on the hospital computer system and in the patients’ casenotes are correct.

To input all attendances, outcomes and procedures onto the Meditech computer system.

Respond to all enquiries telephone/visitors in a positive, tactful and helpful manner giving advice where necessary.

To ensure administrative duties are carried out on a daily basis.

Respond to all enquiries either on telephone or face-to-face in a positive, tactful and helpful manner giving advice where necessary.

To ensure that notes are prepared for readily available for all planned attendances.

Working for our organisation

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.

• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.

• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Qualification

Essential criteria

NVQ Level 2 or equivalent in Business Administration.

Educated to GCSE level or equivalent

ECDL

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

The ability to prioritise work load, work on own initiative and work unsupervised.

The ability to communicate and liaise with colleagues at all levels

Willingness to undertake further training and personal development

Excellent keyboard skills and computer literacy with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Software, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access & Outlook

Ability to set up and maintain both paper and electronic filing/administrative systems & diaries

Previous experience of working in a similar environment

Desirable criteria

A working knowledge of the Cerner EPR system would be advantageous

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 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.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.