Job summary
- Main area
- Telephone Services
- Grade
- Band 2
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time - 28.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 430-CORP26-353A
- Employer
- Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Telecommunications (Dept)
- Town
- Milton Keynes
- Salary
- £24,465 Per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/02/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Switchboard Operator
Band 2
Job overview
Switchboard Operator
Department: Switchboard Department
Band 2 (Part Time)
Hours: 28.5 hours (varied shifts to cover 24/7, 365 days)
We are seeking an Operator to join our Switchboard Team. The post includes directing calls and managing communications throughout the Hospital Trust as well as following procedures in the event of emergencies / alarms.
The service operates 24/7 and the role will require you to cover service demand. This post will be hours to include weekdays, evenings, nights, weekends and Bank Holidays on a rotating shift pattern. You will be flexible and be able to cover additional shifts at short notice. A flexible attitude and understanding of the service is a pre-requisite for this challenging role. You must have good communication skills and customer service experience, ideally in an NHS environment.
If you would like to find out more about this position, please contact Karen Barrett on 01908 660033 or by email [email protected]
Interview date: 3 March 2026
We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role
Main duties of the job
“- NHS Survey, 2024'' We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute
73.8% of this team would strongly recommend their organisation as an excellent place to work.
The role of the Switchboard Operator is to provide courteous fast lines of communication and information to Hospital staff and the general public, using your initiative in applying all resources available to you to meet the need of the Users of the Service.
1. To respond promptly to all incoming and internal calls and connect them as required by the caller, or to take appropriate action.
2. To provide cover for the department on a 24/7 service.
3. To conduct the daily testing of "Baton" crash team bleeps and the emergency "Red" phone. Ensure response from this listed as on-call.
4. Be able to interpret on-call rotas across both Trusts for Medical and Nursing Staff, Executive and Admin. Managers, Pathology, X-ray, Chaplaincy, Estates and Mental Health.
5. To ensure changes in on-call rotas are made and liaise with relevant Trust staff, being responsible for highlighting shortfall to Managers, to ensure cover is met.
6. Liaise effectively, for on-call purposes, with outside agencies i.e. Strategic Health Authority Bucks Shared Services.
Working for our organisation
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a “Good” rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.
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Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. To be familiar with, and implement correct procedure for all emergency incidents, including fire alarm activation’s, cardiac arrest crash calls and code victors.
2. To action the proper response to notification of a Major Incident when informed by the emergency ambulance service.
3. To implement the correct procedure, when notified through our security monitoring station, in Primary Care Trust and other on-site controlled premises.
4. To maintain accurate records of all emergency incidents in the relevant logs, for the whole site as required by the Switchboard Communications Manager and following Trust Policies and Procedures.
5. To be familiar with the correct procedure to operate the staff personal receivers call system (bleeps) and activate radio page system as required.
6. To issue and re-programme replacement/loan bleeps into consuls in instances of lost or out of order bleeps and maintaining records of such changes. Run controlled tests to ensure correct programming has been installed.
7. Record any changes to contact details for amending the screen-based VDU directory of home numbers book.
8. To be responsible for the out of hour’s issue of Accommodation packs, ensuring correct completion of paperwork, mobile phones and Locum Packs.
9. Communicate effectively to all levels of the organisation and the general public.
10. Understand and manage situations which may arise as a result of stress related issues when dealing with patients, visitors and staff. Such incidents will require high levels of diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills.
11. Demonstrates switchboard systems to new starters.
12. Maintain high standards of personal presentation and hygiene during the performance of your duties.
13. Any other duties commensurate with the post or as directed by the line manager.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Person specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential criteria
- Keyboard skills
- BT trained or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
- Switchboard experience in a large organisation
Desirable criteria
- General knowledge of NHS Switchboard
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to work accurately under pressure
- To be able to multi-task
- Ability to work consistently when dealing with customers and deadlines
Personal and people development
Essential criteria
- Commitment to personal development
Communication
Essential criteria
- Polite and courteous to all customers
Specific requirements
Essential criteria
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Karen Barrett
- Job title
- Switchboard Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
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