Switchboard Operator

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

The closing date is 10 December 2024

Job summary

An opportunity has arisen for two Switchboard Operator flexi posts. You will be joining a small friendly team on a busy Switchboard, providing a 24/7, 365 days a year service for the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Switchboardis the first point of contact for the Hospital Trust. You will need to be able to competently operate the computer-based Switchboard system, answering in a professional manner and dealing with Patients, Relatives, Visitors, GP Enquiries, all calls, bleeps, and pagers.

You will be dealing with all types of emergency calls including cardiac arrests, traumas, fire, and alarms, calmly and efficiently in a fast-moving communication environment.

Full training will be given to the successful candidates.

Where relevant, some of these posts will attract unsocial hours payments - (under the current agenda for change system - Weekdays [after 8pm till 6am], Weekends and Bank Holidays are paid at an enhanced rate).

IMPORTANT: Please see attached documentation for default shift patterns. As these are flexi posts, shift patterns will be scheduled approximately one month before. If no changes are required, the default pattern (attached document of shift pattern) will be scheduled.

Shifts will be scheduled for 24/7 - 365 days a year.

Please ensure you specify at the beginning of your supporting information which of the two vacancies you are applying for from the options provided in the attached supporting document (you may select more than one option): -

Main duties of the job

  • Work as a telephonist, dealing with all incoming calls to the Switchboard.
  • Switchboard operates on a 24hr pattern.
  • Operate the Multitone Bleep System (messaging and changing of devices)
  • Operate the PageOne pager system.
  • Deal with all digital alarms (medical gases, lifts etc) in a calm and efficient manner, following the necessary standard operating procedures.
  • Deal with emergency calls (cardiac arrests, fire, traumas) in a calm and efficient manner, following the necessary standard operating procedures.
  • Compile and update where necessary, the daily on call rota.
  • Communicate to a high level and pass on information accurately to the Team Leaders and Manager, and handover any essential info to colleagues.
  • Communicate with all services users.
  • Ability to work on own, making your own decisions and deal with any situations that may occur.
  • Ensure all departmental procedures are followed and ensure an accurate record of any task completed is kept.
  • Work as part of a team.
  • Good communicational skills are key.
  • Experience in Excel, Word, email and possess good organisational and keyboard skills would be advantageous.

Annual Leave Entitlements for these posts are as follows: Under the current agenda for change system - First five years = 27 days + bank holidays (pro rata), Years 5-10 = 29 days + bank holidays (pro rata), Years 10+ = 33 days + bank holidays (pro rata).

About us

We are proud to provide 'Outstanding' care and be a great place to work

We provide safe, compassionate and high quality care to half a million people living or visiting East Sussex. We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex, the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex. Our extensive services are provided by 7000 + members of staff working from acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites and in people's own homes.

In 2020 the Care Quality Commission rated us as 'Good' overall, and 'Outstanding' for being caring and effective. The Conquest Hospital and our Community Services are rated 'Outstanding'. Eastbourne DGH rated 'Good'.

In 2020, the Trust launched its ambitious 'Building for our Future' programme. This once in a lifetime programme aims to repair, redevelop and expand our hospitals, transforming the environment in which we provide care for generations to come.

Date posted

26 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£23,615 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

374-JY936

Job locations

Conquest

The Ridge

St. Leonards-on-Sea

TN37 7RD


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description and vacancy options attached.

If you have any questions about this position, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the job description and vacancy options attached.

If you have any questions about this position, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • IT courses: Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer

Desirable

  • NVQ 1 & 2

Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of a general healthcare environment

Desirable

  • Knowledge of a switchboard system

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Essential

  • Good verbal communication
  • Good keyboard skills
  • Organised
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • React positively to distressed/rude customers
  • Confident
  • Motivated
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • IT courses: Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer

Desirable

  • NVQ 1 & 2

Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of a general healthcare environment

Desirable

  • Knowledge of a switchboard system

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Essential

  • Good verbal communication
  • Good keyboard skills
  • Organised
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • React positively to distressed/rude customers
  • Confident
  • Motivated

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

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Conquest

The Ridge

St. Leonards-on-Sea

TN37 7RD


Employer's website

http://jobs.esht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Conquest

The Ridge

St. Leonards-on-Sea

TN37 7RD


Employer's website

http://jobs.esht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Switchboard Team Manager

Mathew Fuller

mathew.fuller@nhs.net

03001314359

Date posted

26 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£23,615 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

374-JY936

Job locations

Conquest

The Ridge

St. Leonards-on-Sea

TN37 7RD


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)