Apprentice Patient Services Administrator

Summary

The Administrator/Scheduler is an integral member of the Medical Day Unit team, under the supervision of the MDU Admin Manager and Day Units Scheduling Manager for Cancer Services. The post holder will coordinate all administrative aspects of the Day Care Services including data collection, reception, and clerical duties.

Wage

£24,335 a year

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Training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, 08:00 - 16:00 or 09:00 - 17:00.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Friday 1 August 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Appointments, scheduling, and capacity management:

To deal with all new patient chemotherapy referrals from clinicians, ensuring that the first chemotherapy treatment is scheduled within Cancer Waiting Times targets
To liaise directly with the patient regarding their treatment, providing information and reassurance and managing patient expectations around the chemotherapy experience
To liaise with the clinical teams and nursing staff to prioritise the scheduling of new referrals
To schedule all chemotherapy treatment on the Medical Day Unit in line with local guidelines and protocols
To plan patient treatment and unit capacity efficiently, having consideration for a range of influencing factors such as the nursing staff rota, pharmacy turnaround times, availability of blood results etc
To plan ahead and to reschedule workload, when necessary, to ensure that the unit capacity is optimally utilised
To book chemotherapy prescribing clinic and treatment appointments for all patients receiving chemotherapy

Clinic management:

To plan all chemotherapy prescribing clinics, ensuing that the clinic profiles are adjusted in line with doctor availability
To pre-prepare all clinics
To manage overbooking of chemotherapy prescribing clinic
To proactively monitor chemotherapy prescribing to ensure that all chemotherapy prescriptions are pre-prescribed in line with hospital policy and liaise with individual clinicians to rectify any missing prescriptions
To arrange extra prescribing and treatment clinics to meet unusual levels of patient demand, for example after bank holidays
Tracking chemotherapy prescriptions, from confirmation to release of treatment and liaising with pharmacy regarding chemotherapy releasing status and to keep patients and nursing staff informed

Reception Duties:

To meet and greet all patients and visitors to the MDU and Centre for Urgent Care in a professional, courteous, and friendly manner
To deal calmly and sensitively with vulnerable patients and a range of difficult situations
To deal with a high volume of patients with complex needs on a daily basis, both face-to-face and over the phone
To communicate effectively with patients in relation to their use of services on the MDU, guiding patients around the Unit on arrival
To deal proactively and effectively with a wide range of enquires from clinicians, nurses and administrative colleagues, escalating to other staff when appropriate

Where you'll work

Fulham Road
London
SW3 6JJ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

PMA LTD

Your training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.

Your training plan

Business Administrator Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
PMA will deiver the training - through an oline delivery method
Sessions will be delivered once a month using Microsoft Teams

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4 or Above)
Maths (grade 4 or Above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Administrative skills
Team working
Non judgemental
Patience

About this company

The Royal Marsden has a vital role in championing change and improvement in cancer care through research and innovation, education and leading-edge practice. We are incredibly proud of our international reputation for pushing the boundaries and for our groundbreaking work ensuring patients receive the very latest and best in cancer treatment and care.

http://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Patient Service Administrator
Medical Secretary

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