Ambulance Dispatcher - Exeter

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

Unsocial hours pay

Career progression

Car leasing scheme

Free parking across Trust sites

Staff networks

UK-wide discounts

Job summary

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust in Exeter is seeking Ambulance Dispatchers to join the 999 control room. You will deploy and manage Trust vehicles across emergencies and non-emergency calls, working a 24/7 rota with shift patterns.

The role offers a starting salary around £26,530 with enhanced unsocial hours, and opportunities for career progression within the Clinical Hub and wider Trust.

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs at C grade or above, including English (or equivalent)
• Good oral communication skills
• The ability to be tactful and diplomatic as required is also necessary
• Be prepared to work shifts (24/7 rota providing cover on weekends, nights and bank holidays)
• Ability to work calmly under pressure

Responsibilities

• Integral member of the 999 control room team responsible for the deployment and management of Trust vehicles to emergency and non-emergency calls across the Trust area
• Support 24/7 rota cover including weekends, nights and bank holidays

Skills

Good oral communication

Tactful/diplomatic

Shift work 24/7

Calm under pressure

Education

GCSEs including English

Tools

Keyboard

Job description

Employer South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Exeter EOC Town Exeter Salary £28,392 - £31,157 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 24/09/2026 23:59

Ambulance Dispatcher - Exeter

Band 4

Job overview

Opportunities have arisen within South Western Ambulance Service in the Clinical Hubs for Dispatchers. The successful candidates will be integral members of the 999 control room team with responsibility for the effective deployment and management of Trust vehicles to emergency and non-emergency calls across the Trust area.

Part-time hours will be considered through the flexible working application.

The role is 24/7 365 days a year and we work shifts to achieve this. Please visit the additional information for an example shift pattern.

All shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an assessment centre, date TBC.

*Unsocial will be paid under Section 2 of NHS Terms and Conditions. Please see attached A4C Handbook for more details.

Main duties of the job

Your background

• 4 GCSEs at C grade or above, including English (or equivalent)
• Good oral communication skills
• The ability to be tactful and diplomatic as required is also necessary
• Be prepared to work shifts (24/7 rota providing cover on weekends, nights and bank holidays)
• Ability to work calmly under pressure

What we can offer you

• Starting salary of £26,530
• Unsocial hours enhancements (In accordance to NHS Terms and Conditions Agenda for Change section 2)
• 27 days annual leave plus additional bank holiday leave allocated
• Access to the trust staying well service, offering emotional support such as counselling specialist trauma work and a range of other advice and information services offered through statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Significant career progression opportunities within the Clinical Hub and wider trust.

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

Working for our organisation

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 Exeter, one of the most vibrant, attractive and historically interesting cities in England, with excellent transport links and a great mix of independent shops, cafes and bars.

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

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information about the role.

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

• 4 GCSE's (or equivalent) at Grade C or above including English
• Experience in dealing with a diverse range of people in a customer/patient environment
• Experience of inputting data accurately and quickly using a Keyboard
• Experience in working in the voluntary or health sector
• Experience using a telephone / computer as a regular means of communication in a work environment

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.