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Job summary

Main area
Administration
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 2
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 26 hours per week (2 posts available, one for 26 hours per week and one for 22 hours per week. Evenings and weekend working - working pattern a mixed rota of week day evenings 16:00-20:00 and weekends 10:00-16:00)
Job ref
354-CS-21954
Employer
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
The Harbour Unit
Town
Haywards Heath
Salary
£25,272 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
27/09/2026 23:59
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust logo

Receptionist

NHS AfC: Band 2

Come and join us

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day.

At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development.

We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that tools like AI are becoming part of everyday life and you may choose to use them when preparing your application. We welcome this, as long as what you submit reflects your own experience, skills and voice. AI can be helpful for structuring or refining your answers, but it should not replace your own examples or create content that isn’t based on your real experience.

Our recruitment process is designed to get to know you, and we’ll explore your examples further at interview, so it’s important your application genuinely represents what you bring. You can read more about using AI in applications and interviews on our recruitment process page.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve. If that sounds like the kind of organisation you want to be part of, we’d love to hear from you.

Job overview

Join Us as We Reopen Our New CAMHS Inpatient Unit

We are pleased to invite applications for a brand new receptionist for evening and weekend working to join our newly redesigned Children and Young People’s Mental Health Inpatient Unit, reopening in Autumn 2026.

Following extensive co-design with young people, families and staff, and significant investment in our workforce and therapeutic approach, this is an exciting opportunity to work in a modern, recovery-focused inpatient service delivering high-quality, purposeful care to young people with acute mental health needs.

About the unit

Our refreshed CAMHS inpatient service is built around:

  • Purposeful admissions with early review points
  • Structured, therapeutic care programmes delivered across 7 days
  • Strong links with crisis and community services, including COAST (Crisis Outreach Acute Support Team),
  • Trauma-informed and autism-aware practice
  • A focus on least restrictive practice and improving experience and outcomes
  • Supportive MDT working, safe staffing and strong clinical leadership

You will work as part of a skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team, delivering therapeutic care to young people and working closely with families and carers from admission through to discharge.

Hours

We have 2 posts available, one for 26 hours and one for 22 hours. Working patterns can be discussed at interview. 

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities

  • Reception and Customer Service

    • Greet and offer a warm welcome to visitors,  young people, families and staff in a professional and courteous manner.
    • Provide information and assistance to visitors, including arranging access requirements.
    • Notify relevant staff members of visitor arrivals.
    • Deal politely and effectively with enquiries, including those where communication barriers may exist.

  • Switchboard and Communications

    • Operate the switchboard and answer telephone calls promptly and professionally.
    • Respond to queries or direct calls to the appropriate person.
    • Take and relay messages accurately.

  • Mail and Administrative Support

    • Sort, process, and distribute internal and external mail.
    • Arrange postage, including Recorded and Special Delivery services when required.
    • Carry out general clerical duties such as typing, photocopying, document production, and preparing meeting papers.
    • Produce documents using Trust templates and guidelines.
    •  

  • Facilities and Building Management

    • Maintain beverage machines and monitor stock levels, ordering supplies as required.
    • Report maintenance issues promptly to Estates and Facilities.
    • Monitor building security and report suspicious attempts to gain entry.
    • Contact the Fire Brigade if a fire alarm sounds and attend mandatory fire safety training
 
 

Working for our organisation

Working for our organisation

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust delivers specialist mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services across Sussex.

This post sits within our Specialist CAMHS Services, providing opportunities to gain experience across acute, crisis and community pathways as part of your career development.

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to creating a compassionate and supportive working environment where staff feel valued, developed and able to thrive.

What we can offer you

  • The opportunity to be part of a newly reopened CAMHS inpatient unit
  • Comprehensive induction programme prior to opening where all new staff train together and contribute to the team’s therapeutic approach
  • A welcoming and supportive team culture with strong clinical leadership
  • Access to training 
  • Clear development and progression pathways into senior nursing roles
  • NHS Pension Scheme and Agenda for Change benefits

If you are looking to start or develop your career in CAMHS and want to make a meaningful difference to young people and their families, we would love to hear from you.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

  • NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent) or a good standard of secondary education, including GCSE Grade C/4 or above.
  • PC skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office software.

Knowledge & Experience

  • Previous reception and switchboard experience.
  • Experience of working with the public.

Skills & Abilities

  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Ability to use own initiative.
  • Ability to work in a confidential setting.
  • Good listening skills.
  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Ability to keep accurate records.
  • Excellent telephone manner.
  • Ability to work under pressure.
  • Good timekeeping.
  • Ability to concentrate on specific tasks despite competing demands.
  • Ability to cope with occasional exposure to distressing situations.
  • Ability to deal with clients who may be distressed.

Values & Behaviours

  • Demonstrates support for the Trust's values and beliefs.
  • Demonstrates an understanding of Human Rights principles in service delivery.
  • Effective team working.
  • Punctual and flexible when required.

Desirable Criteria

Knowledge & Experience

  • Lived experience of mental health issues.

Skills & Abilities

  • Ability to keep accurate records (identified as both essential and desirable within the person specification).

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NVQ2 or equivalent / good standard of secondary education; GCSE at Grade C or above
  • PC skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office software

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria
  • Previous reception and switchboard experience
  • Experience of working with the public
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Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Application numbers

Due to high numbers of applications this vacancy may close before the advertised closing date. We will not be able to accept late applications to this post.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Jenny Huddleston
Job title
Business Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07471217263
Additional information

Working pattern Monday - Thursday (9am-5pm)

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