West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

General Porter

The closing date is 22 September 2025

Job summary

At the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Porters are essential members of staff.

Moving patients and equipment is just part of our job.

We liaise with other teams, helping with whatever way possible with the aim to provide the best possible service to the patient.

The satisfaction of supporting someone visiting the hospital and the friendly working environment makes this an appealing opportunity.

Main duties of the job

General Porters are required to assist with day-to-day duties that are necessary for the smooth running of the Department. These duties include but are not limited to:

- Transportation of patients to and from wards and departments.

- Delivery and collection of essential items within the hospital grounds, which will require interpersonal skills and the ability to carry out manual handling tasks.

- Working with a variety of people including staff at all levels, patients and visitors.

Applicants must have good customer service and communication skills coupled with a professional appearance which is appropriate to a front of house role.

Full training is provided and a health assessment will be required before becoming a team member

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Details

Date posted

08 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per annum, pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7253970-F

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP32 2QZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification for more details on job role and responsibilities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification for more details on job role and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications to demonstrate a good standard of general education.
  • Basic skills in literacy and numeracy.
  • NVQ Level 2 in Portering; or willing to work towards

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of providing high quality customer service.
  • Proven ability to work without supervision.
  • Able to drive tugs, move laundry bags and carry out all other manual handling tasks as required.

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a hospital environment.
  • Previous Portering experience.

Skills

Essential

  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Proven track record of reliability, punctuality, and trustworthiness.
  • Flexible approach to working hours with the ability to work an alternating shift pattern.
  • Able to work using own initiative.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications to demonstrate a good standard of general education.
  • Basic skills in literacy and numeracy.
  • NVQ Level 2 in Portering; or willing to work towards

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of providing high quality customer service.
  • Proven ability to work without supervision.
  • Able to drive tugs, move laundry bags and carry out all other manual handling tasks as required.

Desirable

  • Previous experience of working in a hospital environment.
  • Previous Portering experience.

Skills

Essential

  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Proven track record of reliability, punctuality, and trustworthiness.
  • Flexible approach to working hours with the ability to work an alternating shift pattern.
  • Able to work using own initiative.

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

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP32 2QZ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP32 2QZ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Portering and Security Assistant Manager

Jorge Costa

Jorge.costa@wsh.nhs.uk

01284713028

Details

Date posted

08 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per annum, pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7253970-F

Job locations

West Suffolk Hospital

Hardwick Lane

Bury St Edmunds

IP32 2QZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)