South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Telephonist

The closing date is 06 October 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a (20 hours per week) Telephonist to join our team, operating a very busy switchboard serving both Sunderland Royal and South Tyneside Hospitals. The Departments operate 24/7 and staff are required to work within a rota to ensure service needs are met effectively.

Upon Appointment you will be supported with a thorough training programme and after which you will be able to answer all operator-directed calls and transfer callers to the appropriate extensions, providing appropriate additional information the caller may require.

You must possess switchboard experience or call centre handling, preferably using a console-based switchboard.

You must have excellent communication skills, be able to work as part of a team and have the ability to work under pressure.

This role will also involve a wide variety of related activities including contacting on-call personnel outside of normal working hours, answering emergency calls that deal with cardiac arrest and fire situations, monitoring of alarms, collating rotas for on-call medical staff and reporting faults to appropriate engineers.

  • Please note the Trust are not able to offer Skilled Worker Sponsorship for this role as it does not meet the UKVI threshold requirements. You are requested to consider this when making your application. Please visitGov.UKfor further information

Main duties of the job

This Post requires a flexible working approach across both Sunderland Royal and South Tyneside hospitals to meet service needs. This includes working shifts including, dayshift, backshift and nightshift, both during the week and at weekends.

The Telephonists provide a 24/7 service with an emphasis on quality, ensuring all call response times are met as per Switchboard Managers' requests. You will use a bleep system to locate various staff throughout the Trust, programming and maintaining bleeps where necessary. You will handle calls relating to any internal emergencies including cardiac arrests, medical emergencies, fires, major incidents, and any other emergency that may arise.

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Details

Date posted

22 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year pro-rata for part-time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9155-CSAC-0925-22

Job locations

Trust Headquarters

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Job description

Job responsibilities

Providing the Trust and other healthcare establishments within the Sunderland area with a high-quality, effective and efficient voice communications network.

PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Providing the Trust and other healthcare establishments within the Sunderland area with a high-quality, effective and efficient voice communications network.

PLEASE REFER TO ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

Person Specification

Physical Skills

Essential

  • Sitting for long periods at workstation.
  • Manual dexterity.
  • Must be able to comply with manual tasks.

Other

Desirable

  • Please provide a contact telephone number.

Experience

Essential

  • Working on a NHS Switchboard or Call Centre.
  • Experience in an office environment.
  • Experience in managing workload to meet deadlines and standards.
  • Experience of working with Microsoft packages including Word and spreadsheets.
  • Experience of working with numerous computer packages and systems.
  • Evidence of working as a team.

Desirable

  • Experience of operating a digital switchboard.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to follow written procedures.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to communication in a clear and professional way, where there may be barriers to understanding.
  • Excellent telephone manner.
  • Data input skills.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified to GCSE level (9-3) or equivalent.

Desirable

  • NVQ Call Handling Level 2.

Personal Qualities / Attitude

Essential

  • Flexible approach to work.
  • Evidence of working without direct supervision.
Person Specification

Physical Skills

Essential

  • Sitting for long periods at workstation.
  • Manual dexterity.
  • Must be able to comply with manual tasks.

Other

Desirable

  • Please provide a contact telephone number.

Experience

Essential

  • Working on a NHS Switchboard or Call Centre.
  • Experience in an office environment.
  • Experience in managing workload to meet deadlines and standards.
  • Experience of working with Microsoft packages including Word and spreadsheets.
  • Experience of working with numerous computer packages and systems.
  • Evidence of working as a team.

Desirable

  • Experience of operating a digital switchboard.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Ability to follow written procedures.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to communication in a clear and professional way, where there may be barriers to understanding.
  • Excellent telephone manner.
  • Data input skills.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualified to GCSE level (9-3) or equivalent.

Desirable

  • NVQ Call Handling Level 2.

Personal Qualities / Attitude

Essential

  • Flexible approach to work.
  • Evidence of working without direct supervision.

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust Headquarters

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust Headquarters

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Laura Sweeney

laura.sweeney11@nhs.net

01915656256

Details

Date posted

22 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year pro-rata for part-time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9155-CSAC-0925-22

Job locations

Trust Headquarters

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)