• Job Description

  Req#: C9369-25-0220-3?language=en&page=7&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  An exciting opportunity has arisen for a permanent, office based Business Administrator to join our community mental health teams in Exeter, whose aim is to support the local community with their mental health needs.

  This is a hugely rewarding and unique administration role which will give you an excellent insight into adult mental health conditions and the range of therapies and interventions that we offer. It will also provide you with lifelong skills in dealing with challenging situations and people from diverse backgrounds as well as the ability to work in an ever changing environment where you can contribute to positive changes in the NHS.

  Supporting our patients on their path to recovery, whatever this might look like for them, provides our staff with a huge sense of pride and joy. You will also feel great satisfaction from providing our clinicians with an excellent administration service which makes their job easier and enables them to spend more time with our patients. You will be supported to reach your full potential, with opportunities for continuing development, training and career progression into a wide range of administrative, management and/or clinical roles depending on your area of interest.

  Please note that applicants requiring a certificate of sponsorship should review the link "Coming to work in the UK Visa information" on the advert to see if they meet the requirements.

  Main duties of the job

  The post-holder's role will be to work in partnership with the Clinical Team Manager, as the senior administrator in the team ensuring high quality administrative support that will enable the provision of the best possible care to service-users. The Business Administrator will lead the administrative team alongside their peers to ensure a safe and effective service as well as support the clinical manager with administrative and reporting tasks enabling them to focus on clinical work and team leadership.

  In summary, we are looking for two exceptional candidates (one permanent and one temporary) with the following key skills and attributes:

  • A passion for delivering excellent patient care and experience
  • Great attention to detail and accuracy
  • Outstanding planning, organisational and time management skills
  • Excellent IT skills and ability to use multiple systems
  • A strong team player
  • Upholding our trust values
  • A strong desire to learn and adapt
  • A can do attitude and ability to meet deadlines
  • The ability to follow trust policies and procedures

  If this appeals to you and you have the relevant transferrable skills, administration experience, and you are also highly motivated to perform to a high standard and provide an excellent service then please do not hesitate to APPLY. Please contact me if you would like to know more about the role before you apply as this enables us to explore whether the role aligns with your skills, goals, values and experience.

  About us

  About Devon Partnership Trust

  We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

  Our values

  We not only recruit employees based on their qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess and demonstrate the behaviours which underpin the core values of our organisation. These values include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

  We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health & learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Employer.

  Details

  Date posted

  03 July 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 4

  Salary

  £26,530 to £29,114 a year

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  C9369-25-0220-3

  Job locations

  Wonford House Hospital

  Dryden Road

  Exeter

  EX2 5AF

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please refer to the Job Profile, full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  Please refer to the Job Profile, full Job Description and Person specification attached to this advert which will provide further information on this role

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • RSA 3 Word Processing or equivalent level of experience in practice
  • NVQ4 in Administration or equivalent level of administration experience (e.g. medical or legal secretary, systems administrator, corporate or clinical administrator)
  • GCSE English
  • Evidence of continuing professional and personal development

  Desirable

  • European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) or International Certification of Digital Literacy (ICDL) or Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

  Planning and Organisational Skills

  Essential

  • Describe a time when you had to plan and prioritise a diverse workload, and meet deadlines while working under pressure. Consider what you did to ensure that your approach was organised and methodical whilst also being flexible when required. How did you deal with any interruptions?

  Analytical & Judgemental Skills

  Essential

  • Provide an example where you exercised initiative within procedural guidelines and worked without direct supervision.
  • Outline a task or project where your attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work were crucial. Describe the steps you took to ensure accuracy and excellence, and explain how your approach impacted the outcome.

  Experience

  Essential

  • Describe your experience in managing administrative staff and what strategies you used to ensure effective team performance, and how you handled challenges related to staff management and development.
  • Provide an example of a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment or processes. Think about how you handled the transition, and what strategies you used to ensure continued productivity and effectiveness.
  • Outline a situation where you had to manage sensitive or confidential information, and how you ensured its security and confidentiality.

  Other

  Essential

  • Briefly describe a situation where you supported a colleague, patient or client experiencing poor mental health and how you approached the situation, and what steps you took to provide support. Consider the outcome and what you learnt from the experience about your attitude towards mental health.

  Communication & Relationship Skills

  Essential

  • Provide brief examples that demonstrate your excellent interpersonal and communication skills, your ability to deal tactfully with people at all levels and your experience in conveying clear messages. Include an example where you have used an alternative communication method and explain the impact of this. Additionally, please share an instance where you have dealt with a distressed client, patient or colleague calmly and confidently. Include the steps you took to resolve it and the outcome. How did you ensure that your approach was professional, calm and empathetic?

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Describe your knowledge and experience in managing administrative tasks, including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), diary management, electronic records and database management.
  • Briefly outline your knowledge or experience of minute taking in a professional setting. Please consider how you prepare for meetings, the process you follow during the meeting to ensure accurate minute taking and how you handle the distribution and follow-up of the minutes.
  • Please demonstrate your understanding of our business by describing how you think administration supports patient care within an adult mental health setting.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • RSA 3 Word Processing or equivalent level of experience in practice
  • NVQ4 in Administration or equivalent level of administration experience (e.g. medical or legal secretary, systems administrator, corporate or clinical administrator)
  • GCSE English
  • Evidence of continuing professional and personal development

  Desirable

  • European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) or International Certification of Digital Literacy (ICDL) or Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

  Planning and Organisational Skills

  Essential

  • Describe a time when you had to plan and prioritise a diverse workload, and meet deadlines while working under pressure. Consider what you did to ensure that your approach was organised and methodical whilst also being flexible when required. How did you deal with any interruptions?

  Analytical & Judgemental Skills

  Essential

  • Provide an example where you exercised initiative within procedural guidelines and worked without direct supervision.
  • Outline a task or project where your attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work were crucial. Describe the steps you took to ensure accuracy and excellence, and explain how your approach impacted the outcome.

  Experience

  Essential

  • Describe your experience in managing administrative staff and what strategies you used to ensure effective team performance, and how you handled challenges related to staff management and development.
  • Provide an example of a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment or processes. Think about how you handled the transition, and what strategies you used to ensure continued productivity and effectiveness.
  • Outline a situation where you had to manage sensitive or confidential information, and how you ensured its security and confidentiality.

  Other

  Essential

  • Briefly describe a situation where you supported a colleague, patient or client experiencing poor mental health and how you approached the situation, and what steps you took to provide support. Consider the outcome and what you learnt from the experience about your attitude towards mental health.

  Communication & Relationship Skills

  Essential

  • Provide brief examples that demonstrate your excellent interpersonal and communication skills, your ability to deal tactfully with people at all levels and your experience in conveying clear messages. Include an example where you have used an alternative communication method and explain the impact of this. Additionally, please share an instance where you have dealt with a distressed client, patient or colleague calmly and confidently. Include the steps you took to resolve it and the outcome. How did you ensure that your approach was professional, calm and empathetic?

  Knowledge

  Essential

  • Describe your knowledge and experience in managing administrative tasks, including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), diary management, electronic records and database management.
  • Briefly outline your knowledge or experience of minute taking in a professional setting. Please consider how you prepare for meetings, the process you follow during the meeting to ensure accurate minute taking and how you handle the distribution and follow-up of the minutes.
  • Please demonstrate your understanding of our business by describing how you think administration supports patient care within an adult mental health setting.

  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

  Devon Partnership NHS Trust

  Address

  Wonford House Hospital

  Dryden Road

  Exeter

  EX2 5AF

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Devon Partnership NHS Trust

  Address

  Wonford House Hospital

  Dryden Road

  Exeter

  EX2 5AF

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

Notice