Bank General Porter - October

Northampton General Hospital; Northampton; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Northampton General Hospital in Town Northamptonshire is seeking a General Porter to support patient and equipment transfers across 25+ wards and 60+ clinics. The role covers 24/7 shift patterns, with training provided during the first month.

You will transport patients using wheelchairs and beds, move equipment and post, manage gas cylinders and clinical waste, and help maintain infection control. We value teamwork and flexibility.

Qualifications

• No formal education is required as on the job instruction, training and theoretical knowledge is provided.
• NVQ/Apprenticeship (or equivalent) in customer services is desirable as part of a structured progression.

Responsibilities

• Transport patients within the hospital in conjunction with Trust policies and departmental procedures.
• To communicate with all patients that are being transported within the hospital in a sensitive and tactful manner.
• Undertake general mortuary duties in accordance with the agreed procedures.
• Delivery, collection and disposal of refuse, laundry and clinical waste from wards and departments.
• Safe collection and delivery of gas cylinders, beds, blood products, specimens, pharmacy products and other equipment around the hospital site.
• Sorting, collection and delivery of all mail to designated areas.
• Maintaining infection control and hand hygiene during duties.
• Work with Supervisors to deliver high standards of service to patients, staff and visitors.

Education

NVQ/Apprenticeship (or equivalent) in customer services

Job description

Site University Hospitals of Northamptonshire Town Northamptonshire Salary £25,272 Per annum or pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 01/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 10/11/2026

Job overview

Porters at Northampton General Hospital are the main support for the site in the transfer of patients and equipment. within this role you will be expected to support the safe and effective transfer of patients around our 25+wards and 60+ clinics.

Depending on the skills and person fit of the successful candidate these roles could be covering the full 24/7 shift rota or it could be working within our radiology transfer team.

To undertake general portering duties for all wards and departments, providing a professional and quality service to all users. This will include the safe transportation of patients using wheelchairs, stretchers and beds. The movement of equipment, collecting and delivering post are some of the duties undertaken by a porter.

Main duties of the job

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is looking to recruit a ‘General Porter’ to work in our busy Portering Services role. All staff at our hospital are dedicated to care for our Patients in many different ways. The Trusts Portering service is part of that caring ethos, supporting clinical care and the smooth running of the Trust 24/7 365 days a year.

The role is a diverse role and may include such duties as: transporting patients throughout the hospital, medical gas management, collection and delivery of post, movement of equipment and furniture, cleaning of Portering equipment, safe transport of deceased from wards with additional duties as required to meet the needs of the service and assist in providing the best possible care for patients.

Successful applicant within this role will be expected to cover shifts across the full 24 hour period including weekends and bank holidays, this will initially be a structured rota pattern but may be adjusted to meet the needs of the service.

This is an diverse role with a diverse team, often physically demanding, requiring good self organisational skills, team work and strong communication and confidence.

We are an equal opportunities employer welcoming applications from all people within our society.

Working for our organisation

We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.

We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.

We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Transport patients within the hospital in conjunction with Trust policies and departmental procedures.

To communicate with all patients that are being transported within the hospital in a sensitive and tactful manner, whilst building a rapport. Ensuring they understand any instructions to maintain their safety whilst being transported.

Undertake general mortuary duties in accordance with the agreed procedures.

Delivery, collection and disposal of refuse, laundry and clinical waste from wards and departments.

Safe collection and delivery of gas cylinders, beds, blood products, specimens, pharmacy products medical equipment, furniture and any other equipment around the hospital site.

Change and replenish medical gas pipelines.

Sorting, collection and delivery of all mail to designated areas.

Cleaning duties as required in designated areas, incorporating trolley, wheelchairs, electric tugs, and all other relevant equipment.

Undertake all training as necessary to enable satisfactory and competent completion of ro e.

To comply with specific instructions and working patterns when based in a particular department.

Maintain high standards of infection control and hand hygiene during the performance of his/her duties.

Work closely with Supervisors in producing a high standard of service to patients, staff and visitors.

To contribute to the development of the Portering Service by putting forward suggestions for improvement.

When nominated to lead and coordinate teams when supervisors are not available.

To use 2 way radios to communicate.

Flexibility in areas of work, as prescribed for the departmental needs

To carry out all duties in accordance with the Trust’s Health & Safety Policy and local departmental working practices.

Any other work commensurate with the post or as requested by the Line Manager.

Successful candidates will be trained in all duties required for the role throughout the first month of working here to show in more detail what each of these roles entails

Skills

• Ability to follow instructions
• Ability to develop rapport with staff, patients and visitors
• Ability to multi task effectively and move from one task to another rapidly when priorities change
• Ability to prioritise & use initiative
• Computer Skills
• Ability to input data to manage monthly timesheet
• Self-motivated to work under minimal supervision
• Ability to lead and coordinate a team when on duty
• Respect for patient privacy, dignity and confidentiality
• Able to undertake the frequent physical duties of the role such as pulling/pushing trollies, beds or similar
• Ability to undertake medical gas duties once trained
• Commitment to working the hours to fulfil the requirements of the job, including flexibility or working, where required
• Ability to carry out the full range of portering duties once trained
• Ability to record information correctly and legible
• Ability to remain calm under pressure or challenging situations

Knowledge

• Previous experience of working in a customer facing role
• Knowledge & understanding of different cultural needs
• Knowledge of good health & safety practices
• Previous experience of working in a healthcare setting
• Trained in health and safety practices

Educations, Training and Qualifications

• No formal education is required as on the job instruction, training and theoretical knowledge is provided. Therefore the ability to retain information and learning is essential together with excellent communication skills (oral and written)
• NVQ/Apprenticeship (or equivalent) in customer services

At Northampton General Hospital we provide general acute services and hyper-acute stroke, vascular and renal services to people living in Northamptonshire. As well as this we are an accredited cancer centre and provide cancer services to a wider population of Northamptonshire and parts of Buckinghamshire.

We are proud to be the first hospital in the UK to have obtained Pathway to Excellence® designated accreditation from the American nurses credentialing centre (ANCC).

We celebrate staff achievements and value the importance of working as one big team. That’s why we talk about Team NGH. It’s all about working together to provide the best possible care for our patients and supporting each other to grow and develop our skills. We are driven to helping you to be the best you can be.

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Our Excellence Values:

• Compassion
• Respect
• Integrity
• Courageous
• Accountable

Due to the high number of applications received we are unable to respond to each application individually. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you have been unsuccessful in this application.

For further information on nursing, apprenticeships, A&E or any other departments please visit our specific website or pages that are indicated on the right hand side of this advert.

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust recognises that staff of differing backgrounds and life experiences enrich our workforce and bring different skills and knowledge. We therefore encourage and welcome applications for our vacancies from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE VACANCIES PRIOR TO THE ADVERTISED CLOSING DATE WHEN WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF SUFFICIENT APPLICATIONS

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.