999 Call Handler (Emergency Medical Dispatcher) - Bristol

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Part time

Job summary

A regional ambulance service in Bristol is seeking a 999 Call Handler to manage emergency calls and provide crucial support to patients. The role requires exceptional data input skills and basic computer literacy. Candidates will work in a dynamic environment, responsible for assessing call details and guiding patients. This position offers NHS benefits, competitive annual leave, and opportunities for career development. The service operates 24/7, and shifts will include nights and weekends. Previous customer service experience is essential.

Benefits

NHS Pension

Generous annual leave entitlement

Career progression opportunities

Pay enhancements for out of hours and overtime work

Free parking across Trust sites

Wide range of discounts

Qualifications

• Experience of inputting data accurately and quickly using a keyboard.
• Basic computer literacy is required.
• Completion of First Aid at Work Course is essential.

Responsibilities

• Record accurate information during emergency calls.
• Offer advice or reassurance to callers in distress.
• Ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time.

Skills

Data input skills

Basic computer literacy

RSA Stage 1 keyboard skills

Education

First Aid at Work Course

Job description

Go back South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

999 Call Handler (Emergency Medical Dispatcher) - Bristol

The closing date is 04 January 2026

Ambulance Service, is the patient breathing?

Do you want to make a difference to our patients as part of a supportive and motivated team?

Would you like NHS Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement and NHS Pension?

Would you like to develop your career within the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)?

If you answered yes to these questions, then start your career with the South Western Ambulance Service EOC, where the patient journey begins.

When you ring 999 your call goes through to one of our two Control Rooms based in Exeter and Bristol. Our trained Call Handlers are the first point of contact to the ambulance service for people experiencing a medical emergency. Not every call you deal with will be a matter of life or death but the way you listen, interpret and deal with the calls will make a vital difference to the patients we serve every day. When you receive a call, you are responsible for recording accurate information, sometimes under difficult circumstances and offering advice or reassurance to the caller/patient. You will enter details onto a computer system about the patient and their condition which establishes the seriousness of the illness or injury, ensuring that the patient receives the right care at the right time.

Main duties of the job

Please refer to the attached 'Full EMD advert' document for full details of this vacancy.

Part-time hours will be considered through a flexible working application which will be reviewed on a case by case basis. For further information, please visit Balancing Patient Care and Employee Well-being (swasft-joinus.co.uk)

Please note that this role is 24/7 365 days a year (including bank holidays, weekends, days, nights etc.) and we work shifts to achieve this.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an assessment centre.

For a further insight to this role, please view the following video https://vimeo.com/742269034/8e60f54da6

Please note, we are recruiting to a holding pool for our next course intakes.

About us

Working for us is an experience like no other. We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.

We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.

The role is based in Bristol, a lively yet laid-back city with top class shopping, street food, dynamic events and friendly festivals and excellent national and international transport links.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples' lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills and resources you need to thrive in your role.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles across the Trust and enjoy continuous professional development.

• A standard working week of 37.5 hours
• Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
• Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
• Career and salary progression
• Car leasing scheme
• Free parking across Trust sites
• Staff networks
• Wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see attached the job description and person specification attached

Right to work / Certificate of Sponsorship

This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current Home Office regulations. You must have the existing right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.

For further information on visa sponsorship and eligibility, please refer to the UK Government guidance on Skilled Worker visas: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Experience of inputting data accurately and quickly using a keyboard
• Basic computer literacy
• RSA Stage 1 keyboard skills
• First Aid at Work Course

Previous Experience

• Previous experience of dealing with members of the public in a customer service environment

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.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust