Trainee Emergency Call Handler - Waterloo/Newham

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

DO YOU THRIVE IN A HIGH PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT?

WANT TO BE THE FIRST PERSON SOMEONE SPEAKS TO WHEN THEY CALL 999?

BE THE VOICE TO REASSURE AND SUPPORT?

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DEVELOP YOUR CAREER WITH THE LONDON AMBULANCE SERVICE?

IF SO, YOU COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

This is a vital role for the London Ambulance Service, receiving and taking charge of all incoming emergency calls. You are the first point of contact for our callers and patients, some of whom will be distressed, anxious or panicking. Using effective communication, interpersonal and persuasive skills, you will deal with all callers in a professional manner in order to obtain the required essential patient information.

Using the Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS), you will obtain an initial assessment of both the patient and the scene in an efficient manner. You will also be responsible for accurately recording essential patient information in a precise and timely manner.

This role is Band 3 rising to Band 4 on completion of 12 months service.

Main duties of the job

You must be able to remain calm in an emergency. When people are panicking, your role is to be clear and assertive where required to ensure the caller remains focused. You will need to be able to follow a script and reassure the caller, but also to be firm where necessary about what they need to do.

Our staff are on the end of the line while new life is born into the world and we helped to deliver them. We provide support and reassuring words for someone alone with no one else to turn to. We stay on the line with those who are vulnerable having engaging conversations to find out more information. We are the voice that comforts those who have lost a family member and we are there, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Following a shift you will need to be able to switch off, which can be hard, especially after dealing with difficult calls. As part of a team, your colleagues are there for you and will help, support and enable you to realise the difference that you have made.

About us

We are one of the world's busiest ambulance services. We have around 8,000 staff and volunteers in our Service: around 3,300 frontline crews in ambulance stations across London, 500 people in our two 999 control rooms and hundreds of support staff based in our offices across the city.

Working for us is an experience like no other, in a city like no other. Whatever your role you'll be helping people who need us the most.

Together, we all play a key part in making sure that we can respond to anyone needing our help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

We are committed to promoting equal opportunities across everything we do, in terms of employment and training, providing services and our engagement and decision making. We welcome diversity and look for self-motivated, enthusiastic people from all backgrounds who care about making a difference.

What We Can Offer You

  • Post-training salary of £31,073 p.a increasing to £34,247 p.a after 12 months of service*
  • Training Salary of £26,618 p.a inc (Pro rata)
  • Generous NHS Pension Scheme
  • 27 days annual leave plus additional bank holiday leave allocated
  • MPDS qualification (Nationally recognised triage system used in 45 countries)
  • NHS Discounts in over 200+ stores including Holidays, Days out, Car insurance, Restaurants and Clothing

*Actual salary will vary dependent on the number of unsocial hours worked.

Date posted

19 January 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,618 to £28,065 a year Per annum inc HCAS.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

308-EOC-0075

Job locations

Waterloo or Newham

St Andrews Way

London

E3 3PA


London Ambulance Service Nhs Trust

220 Waterloo Road

London

SE1 8SD


Job description

Job responsibilities

To effectively answer all types of emergency and non-emergency calls made to the 999 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) from both Health Care Professionals, external agencies and members of the public

To ensure all calls are answered and responded to as laid out in the Trusts policies and procedures

To be confident in utilising the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) to accurately enter patient information in an efficient way

To ensure all details are inputted and passed to relevant personnel to ensure appropriate dispatch of resources

To deal with complex, sensitive or contentious information regarding a patients condition.

To communicate tactfully and empathetically with callers showing care when handling all calls

To monitor patient incidents to ensure all information is gathered and the patients condition has not deteriorated

To maintain effective control of the call to ensure efficient handling time to improve the response to the patient

To remain calm and resilient in a pressurised environment

To be able to modify and adapt communication styles taking into consideration the differing needs of the callers especially in complex situations

To be able to effectively communicate and deal with highly emotional callers, including traumatic incidents such as death

Be confident to utilise negotiating skills when handling calls where the caller is abusive or uncooperative

To cover a 24/7 rotating shift pattern

To continually maintain standards and develop through annual education and personal development

Please note that the training for this role will take place in Barking. The role is based at either our Waterloo or our Bow site (which is moving to Newham), and may require travel to other EOC sites subject to the requirements of the service.

If your application is shortlisted, you will be required to attend a Typing, Audio Recall and Comprehension assessment, and if successful will be invited for an interview.

*******RECRUITMENT FAIR - SATURDAY 15TH APRIL 2023*******

PLEASE VISIT LINK BELOW TO BOOK YOUR FREE SLOT

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/join-us-for-the-next-big-recruitment-fair-london-ambulance-service-nhs-tickets-556893081197

Job description

Job responsibilities

To effectively answer all types of emergency and non-emergency calls made to the 999 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) from both Health Care Professionals, external agencies and members of the public

To ensure all calls are answered and responded to as laid out in the Trusts policies and procedures

To be confident in utilising the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) to accurately enter patient information in an efficient way

To ensure all details are inputted and passed to relevant personnel to ensure appropriate dispatch of resources

To deal with complex, sensitive or contentious information regarding a patients condition.

To communicate tactfully and empathetically with callers showing care when handling all calls

To monitor patient incidents to ensure all information is gathered and the patients condition has not deteriorated

To maintain effective control of the call to ensure efficient handling time to improve the response to the patient

To remain calm and resilient in a pressurised environment

To be able to modify and adapt communication styles taking into consideration the differing needs of the callers especially in complex situations

To be able to effectively communicate and deal with highly emotional callers, including traumatic incidents such as death

Be confident to utilise negotiating skills when handling calls where the caller is abusive or uncooperative

To cover a 24/7 rotating shift pattern

To continually maintain standards and develop through annual education and personal development

Please note that the training for this role will take place in Barking. The role is based at either our Waterloo or our Bow site (which is moving to Newham), and may require travel to other EOC sites subject to the requirements of the service.

If your application is shortlisted, you will be required to attend a Typing, Audio Recall and Comprehension assessment, and if successful will be invited for an interview.

*******RECRUITMENT FAIR - SATURDAY 15TH APRIL 2023*******

PLEASE VISIT LINK BELOW TO BOOK YOUR FREE SLOT

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/join-us-for-the-next-big-recruitment-fair-london-ambulance-service-nhs-tickets-556893081197

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of 3 GCSE's or equivalent at grade C / 5 or above including Maths and English, NVQ level 3 in a relevant subject or equivalent
  • Experience within customer orientated environment
  • Experience of using a telephone as a regular means of communication at work/or through voluntary/charity work

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Inquisitive mind and proven questions skills (The ability to question and obtain relevant information)
  • Ability to work to defined procedures and instructions (has an understanding of specific instructions/guidelines and able to follow as directed)
  • Ability to work to deadlines without compromising on standard of performance
  • Assertive and empathetic manner/ Tactful and Diplomatic as required

Desirable

  • Understanding and commitment to diversity

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Resilience when faced with distressing situations
  • Ability to work 24 hour rotating shifts
  • Good verbal & written communication skills, Possess basic keyboard skills (including well-presented application form, literacy, spelling with no omissions i.e. fully completed application form)
Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

  • Minimum of 3 GCSE's or equivalent at grade C / 5 or above including Maths and English, NVQ level 3 in a relevant subject or equivalent
  • Experience within customer orientated environment
  • Experience of using a telephone as a regular means of communication at work/or through voluntary/charity work

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Inquisitive mind and proven questions skills (The ability to question and obtain relevant information)
  • Ability to work to defined procedures and instructions (has an understanding of specific instructions/guidelines and able to follow as directed)
  • Ability to work to deadlines without compromising on standard of performance
  • Assertive and empathetic manner/ Tactful and Diplomatic as required

Desirable

  • Understanding and commitment to diversity

Other Requirements

Essential

  • Resilience when faced with distressing situations
  • Ability to work 24 hour rotating shifts
  • Good verbal & written communication skills, Possess basic keyboard skills (including well-presented application form, literacy, spelling with no omissions i.e. fully completed application form)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Address

Waterloo or Newham

St Andrews Way

London

E3 3PA


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Address

Waterloo or Newham

St Andrews Way

London

E3 3PA


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

Recruitment

LAS Recruitment

londamb.999recruitment@nhs.net

Date posted

19 January 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£26,618 to £28,065 a year Per annum inc HCAS.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

308-EOC-0075

Job locations

Waterloo or Newham

St Andrews Way

London

E3 3PA


London Ambulance Service Nhs Trust

220 Waterloo Road

London

SE1 8SD


Supporting documents

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