Personal Assistant/Project Support Officer (FTC)

Role overview

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is hiring a Personal Assistant/Project Support Officer for the Forensic Directorate on a 14-month fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave. This post is central to helping the Director of Forensic Mental Health coordinate directorate priorities, strategy, and day-to-day operational activity.

The position combines high-level diary and communications support with project coordination across workstreams in the Forensic Directorate. It requires excellent organisation, the ability to juggle several priorities at once, and the confidence to keep multiple tasks moving forward to deadline.

To succeed in this role, you will need to communicate clearly, build strong working relationships, and work with a high degree of accuracy, sound judgement, and attention to detail.

Key duties

• Deliver full administrative and project support to the Director of Forensic Mental Health, serving as a first point of contact and handling communications with discretion and strict confidentiality.
• Manage a busy and complex diary, arrange meetings and events, and make sure agendas, papers, and minutes are prepared and circulated on time and without errors.
• Assist with planning, tracking, monitoring, and reporting on Directorate priorities and project workstreams so that deadlines are met and progress is clearly recorded.
• Prepare reports, briefing notes, and presentations, and maintain robust systems for information handling and document control.
• Work effectively with internal teams and external contacts, maintaining productive relationships through strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Work independently to organise your workload, adapt to shifting demands, and put efficient processes in place that support service delivery.
• Provide leadership and line-management support to administrative colleagues, helping with team development, service improvement, and the delivery of accurate work in line with organisational policy and governance standards.

Additional requirements

The ability to travel independently between sites within the Trust is essential.

Application guidance

Candidates are encouraged to tailor their supporting statement carefully to the role and address the essential criteria set out for the post. Oxford Health also encourages people to apply based on aptitude, motivation, and alignment with the organisation’s values, even if they do not meet every requirement.

About the organisation

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical health, mental health, and social care services for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath, and North East Somerset. Care is delivered through community bases, hospitals, clinics, and people’s homes, with the aim of providing support as close to home as possible.

The Trust’s vision is to deliver outstanding care through an outstanding team, and its values are caring, safe, and excellent.

Benefits

• Strong opportunities for career progression
• Access to personalised and organisation-wide learning and development
• 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS discounts at a wide range of shops, restaurants, and retailers
• A competitive pension arrangement
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation, subject to waiting lists
• Staff networking and support groups run by the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Contact for informal enquiries

Name: Candy Holley
Job title: PA/Project Support Officer
Email: Candy.holley@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Telephone: 07385395145