General Porter

NHS; Northampton; On-site; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused hospital in Northampton is seeking a General Porter to join their dedicated team. The role involves the safe transportation of patients and equipment across multiple wards and clinics, supporting the hospital's 24/7 operations. Suitable candidates should possess good communication skills, teamwork ability, and the physical endurance to meet the demands of this diverse role. This position offers a Band 2 salary of £24,465 per annum. Applications from all backgrounds are encouraged.

Qualifications

• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.
• Must have excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to maintain patient dignity and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Transport patients and equipment safely throughout the hospital.
• Communicate sensitively with patients during transportation.
• Conduct routine cleaning of Portering equipment.
• Move refuse, laundry, and clinical waste as required.

Skills

Customer service skills

Ability to follow instructions

Teamwork

Physical endurance

Communication skills

Education

No formal education required

Customer service NVQ/Apprenticeship (desirable)

Job description

Job summary

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 Trust’s 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.

There will also be additional development offered in line with appraisals to cover other Portering activities.

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 extremely diverse role, physically demanding, requiring good self‑organisational skills, teamwork and strong communication and confidence.

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

About us

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.

Our Excellence Values

Compassion

Accountability

Respect

Integrity

Courage

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 under‑represented 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.

Date posted

12 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year Per annum or pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full‑time

Reference number

265-7614861-COR

Job locations

Northampton General Hospital

Cliftonville

Northampton

NN1 5BD

Job description – 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 the role.
• 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 the 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 two‑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.

Person Specification – Skills (Essential)

• 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.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• 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 trolleys, 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 legibly.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure or challenging situations.

Knowledge (Essential)

• Previous experience of working in a customer‑facing role.
• Knowledge & understanding of different cultural needs.
• Knowledge of good health & safety practices.

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in a healthcare setting.
• Previous portering experience.
• Trained in health and safety practices.

Educations, Training and Qualifications (Essential)

• No formal education is required as on‑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).

Certifications – NVQ/Apprenticeship (Desirable)

• NVQ/Apprenticeship (or equivalent) in customer services.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details

Northampton General Hospital

Northampton General Hospital

Cliftonville

Northampton

NN1 5BD

Employer's website

https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx