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Job summary

Main area
Telecomms
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 2
Contract
Permanent: Flexible
Hours
Part time - 32.5 hours per week (working shifts between 6am -22.30pm 5 days out of 7 including weekends and Bank Holidays)
Job ref
190-1131-DIR-S
Employer
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Northern General Hospital
Town
Sheffield
Salary
£24,465 pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/03/2026 23:59
Interview date
23/03/2026

Employer heading

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Switchboard Telephonist

NHS AfC: Band 2

We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated so whilst you care for our patients and clients, we’ll take care of you. We offer many different ways of helping staff including career development opportunities, flexible working, good annual leave and pension schemes , health and wellbeing packages and financial support systems. Joining the Trust also allows you access to a number of saving options via our salary sacrifice schemes and a wide range of discount opportunities with retailers and service providers.

Job overview

The switchboard operator position performs a key and vital role in the smooth running of the organisation providing a helpful and professional service for both the public and staff.

The post holder will be a member of the Switchboard team, providing an efficient 24/7 service to the Northern General Hospital, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Weston Park Hospital, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, Jessop Wing and the many and varied community site which the trust staff work from.

Calls are handled through a digital solution which is windows based within the Northern General Hospital. The post holder will be working within an extremely busy Switchboard environment prioritizing the answering of calls and co-ordinating emergencies such as cardiac arrests and critical alarms, all whist maintaining professionalism. The service handles in excess of 40,000 calls per week, with a general split of 70% external and 30% internal.

The post holder is expected to be flexible to cover some shift which can be at short notice to accommodate colleagues absence, this may include night shifts, evenings, weekends and bank holidays

Main duties of the job

Act as first point of contact for internal and external calls.

Taking internal emergency calls on behalf of organisation

Acting as a single repository of information for callers both internal and external

Act as an intermediary STH telephone engineers for fault reporting purposes.

Working for our organisation

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

Person specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to GCSE level 4/C in Maths & English or equivalent experience/ qualifications’

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience working in a role which places emphasis on communication / customer care
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of dealing with the public
  • Experience of working within a team

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Able to work as an individual and part of a team
  • Good communication and organisational skills
  • Good time management skills
  • Literate and numerate
  • Ability to assess and prioritise work
  • Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
  • Ability to deal with difficult situations
  • Understanding of the need for confidentiality
Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of healthcare terminology and the basic structure of a hospital enviroment

Personal Qualities

Essential criteria
  • Flexible
  • Excellent time keeping
  • Positive attitude
Desirable criteria
  • Prepared to undertake further training

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall Gold 2022Step into health

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Sue Daughtry
Job title
Switchboard Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0114 2266557
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