Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

General Porter

The closing date is 26 May 2025

Job summary

The post holder will be a member of the general Portering team and will provide a full Portering service to all wards and departments as instructed by the Portering Services Manager or duty Charge hand Porter. Core duties will involve the transportation of patients, records, equipment, removal of waste, specimens and supplies, together with other tasks as detailed in this job description. The Porters can be asked to do any jobs by the manager included in Portering according to demands of the day.

Main duties of the job

  • To distribute clean linen to all wards and departments in an emergency out of hours service.
  • Collection and transportation of pathology specimens.
  • Collection of medical gases etc. from store, transport to ward, and department and assemble where necessary.
  • Change medical gas cylinders in manifold rooms
  • Deal with all general inquiries from staff, patients, visitors and members of the public in a helpful and courteous manner.
  • Be prepared to carry out the transportation of patient from and or between wards and departments.
  • Carry out the removal of deceased patients to the mortuary. (Assist & with viewings as directed.)
  • Be prepared to carry and undertake duties at departmental level as directed, i.e. A&E, X-Ray, OPD, Pharmacy, Utility Services and Post Room.
  • Carry out Portering of a general nature such as furniture removals.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details

Date posted

12 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,169 a year Weekend and night enhancements

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-COR8283-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

South Wing, Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Assemble equipment as necessary such as beds, tables etc. Store as necessary in the bed store.
  • Deal with all general inquiries from staff, patients, visitors and members of the public in a helpful and courteous manner.
  • To collect and record in the appropriate ledger, blood products as requested from the Blood Bank to wards and departments.
  • To carry the respective general, departmental bleep and mobile handsets as directed.
  • To assist in the event of a fire or hospital major security alert in accordance with the relevant Trust policies.
  • Be prepared to carry out planned and ad - hoc security duties as directed.
  • Check the identity of anyone arousing suspicion and report all incidents.

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Assemble equipment as necessary such as beds, tables etc. Store as necessary in the bed store.
  • Deal with all general inquiries from staff, patients, visitors and members of the public in a helpful and courteous manner.
  • To collect and record in the appropriate ledger, blood products as requested from the Blood Bank to wards and departments.
  • To carry the respective general, departmental bleep and mobile handsets as directed.
  • To assist in the event of a fire or hospital major security alert in accordance with the relevant Trust policies.
  • Be prepared to carry out planned and ad - hoc security duties as directed.
  • Check the identity of anyone arousing suspicion and report all incidents.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Read/Write/Spoken English to basic standard
  • GCSE English or equivalent at a pass

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience of working as part of a team
  • Previous experience of working with the public

Knowledge

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Ability to prioritise workload

Desirable

  • Medical Gas handling

Personal skills

Essential

  • Team Player
  • Enthusiastic and self-aware Flexible
  • Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Read/Write/Spoken English to basic standard
  • GCSE English or equivalent at a pass

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience of working as part of a team
  • Previous experience of working with the public

Knowledge

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Ability to prioritise workload

Desirable

  • Medical Gas handling

Personal skills

Essential

  • Team Player
  • Enthusiastic and self-aware Flexible
  • Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

South Wing, Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

South Wing, Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Portering & Waste Services Manager

Biju Joseph

biju.joseph@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk

01234355122

Details

Date posted

12 May 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,169 a year Weekend and night enhancements

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-COR8283-CW

Job locations

Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

South Wing, Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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