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Job summary

Main area
Telecoms
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Permanent: 6 week working pattern
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (6 week working pattern)
Job ref
418-COR7909-SJ
Employer
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Bedford Hospital
Town
Bedford
Salary
£24,625 - £25,674 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
09/05/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Switchboard Operators

NHS AfC: Band 3

Job overview

The job role includes answering the majority of all calls coming into the hospital and we are responsible for ensuring those calls reach the correct persons and departments. We also man the emergency phones as well as  the emergency alarms.

We work on  a 6  week rota basis and this will consist of some lone working and weekend working.

Main duties of the job

Customer care / Answering calls / Dect Phones / Handing out of the keys / First point of contact for any persons contacting the hospital, clinic or ward / Operating switchboard equipment to receive calls and take all emergency calls to  pass onto correct person or department.

We would require good telephone manner and good IT and literacy skills and excellent customer care communication skills.

Working for our organisation

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.

We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities

  • Effective delivery and discharge of Operator duties utilising the Trusts various Telephony systems across Hornbill and Unify platforms.
  • Provide advice on Telephony systems both in and out of hours 
  • Undertake lone working duties as part of a rotating shift pattern for long periods of time.
  • Troubleshoot basic network across both voice and data networks issues affecting Trust users.
  • Take ownership of user problems and follow up the status of problems on behalf of the user and communicate progress in a timely manner.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to GSCE Level 4 including English & Maths or equivalent

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of face to face / direct contact with members of public, patients or equivalent
  • Experience of high call volumes
  • Ability to work under pressure
  • Experience of providing Telephony support in a business environment, identifying issues and resolving them.
  • Experience of working in a customer focused environment in a large and complex organisation.
  • Experience of supporting a range of IT/telephony equipment, software and systems.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in a technical environment in a large complex organisation
  • Experience of using service management principles to guide approach to work.
  • Use of a Screen Based operator console

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Good customer service and communication skills to enable the post holder to identify Telephony issues accurately with the client and advise of action to rectify them.
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to speak a second language

Personal skills

Essential criteria
  • Willingness to learn and self develop

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodDisability confident employerNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024Employer with Heart

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sarah Norman
Job title
Assistant telecoms manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01234792631
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