Porter & Security Officer

NHS; Penzance; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Penzance is seeking a motivated porter/security officer to join their team. This role involves ensuring a high-quality service to patients and visitors, maintaining safety, and assisting in patient transfers. Duties include patrolling the premises and ensuring the security of staff and patients. Candidates should possess good communication skills, be physically fit, and be willing to work flexibly. The position offers a supportive working environment and career development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Must be able to speak and write English to an appropriate standard to fulfil the job requirement.
• Must be willing to attend and qualify as a NHS Security Accredited Security Officer within 3 months of employment.
• Previous experience of security in a complex organisation or uniformed service.

Responsibilities

• Provide and maintain a professional, efficient, and effective service to patients and visitors.
• Undertake security operations to support a safe environment.
• Assist in the movement of deceased patients where necessary.

Skills

Good communication skills

Flexibility

Physical fitness

Ability to work under pressure

Education

GCE/CSE/GCSE or equivalent

NHS Security Accredited Security Officer qualification

Tools

CCTV control and monitoring systems

Windows and MS Office

Job description

An opportunity has arisen at the West Cornwall Hospital for an enthusiastic, motivated, and hardworking individual to join the porter/security team. This position requires flexibility to accommodate the needs of the service, good communication skills and a positive and professional attitude.

Main duties of the job

To provide and maintain a professional, efficient, effective and timely service to patients, visitors and other departments that will contribute to achieving high quality patient care.

To ensure the service supports the clinical care of patients and respects the privacy and dignity of every patient.

To ensure the health and safety of both the recipients and of those delivering the service.

To contribute towards the development of best practice within the department and to the training of new starters and inexperienced staff.

To assist the Facilities Management Team in the development of the service.

To provide a portering service to whole of West Cornwall Hospital. Additionally to provide a portering service to other sites as required.

Due to the service being at times unpredictable, you will be expected to provide a flexible and reactive service.

To undertake the security operations required to support a safe and secure environment at The Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust's hospital site and grounds and to provide security for staff, patients, visitors and users. To use their skills and training to manage a variety of security related incidents while conducting themselves in a firm but courteous manner at all times.

Work closely with the Police Liaison Officer and local Police officers as required.

About us

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust is the biggest provider of healthcare services in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Our three main sites are Royal Cornwall Hospital Truro, St Michael's Hospital Hayle and West Cornwall Hospital Penzance, our staff and services are available across the region.

The Trust employs 5,000+ staff, has a budget of around £380 million and 750 beds

We work with health and social care organisations including NHS Kernow and NHS England to ensure local healthcare needs are met. We provide acute medical, surgical and specialist services to around 500,000 which can increase significantly during busy holiday periods.

The Trust has teaching hospitals status as part of the University of Exeter Medical School. Keeping at the forefront of medical advances, we continually developing clinical services and are committed to maximising the range of specialist care offered locally.

We can offer you a rewarding career in a supportive working environment. We have extensive educational links to help you realise your full potential and develop skills to proide outstanding healthcare to the local community.

Enjoy an outstanding quality of life in a place that offers surfing beaches and fishing harbours to beautiful countryside and historic towns. With clean air, plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and excellent schools, colleges and universities (including adult education) it is the ideal place for families and for you to develop your own career

Job responsibilities

Porter related:

To carry out tasks which are allocated by the porter or supervisor which are legal, safe and reasonable in an efficient and professional manner.

To make themselves readily available to carry out further tasks in the earliest possible instance from the termination point of the previous task.

To remain within the confines of the hospital site while on duty and to remain available to be flexibly positioned in the most effective area of the hospital in relation to the service being required.

To be sensitive and supportive to the patient when carrying out any patient related duties.

To ensure that goods, equipment or other items arrive at their delivery point in the same condition in which they left their dispatch point, at the agreed time and to the correct person.

Carry out patient transfers to all wards and departments, on occasions will be required to participate with the ward staff in moving patients.

To participate in the movement of deceased patients (might well include babies and infants).

Collection and delivery of both urgent and non-urgent specimens to all laboratories from all wards and departments.

Changing of all medical gas cylinders throughout the hospital, and unloading and checking the delivery of medical gases from BOC.

Assist with ward and office moves, including all patient transfers and furniture in a ward decant.

Delivery of linen to wards.

The carrying of radios as an important means of communication and work allocation. Adhering to the RCHT protocol regarding the use of radio equipment in sensitive areas.

To be fully conversant in the use of relevant equipment for lifting, handling and transporting patients when responding to their needs.

The position will involve long periods of walking and moving bulky items from various parts of the hospital requiring physical effort for periods during the working day.

Comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Every employee has a responsibility for themselves and others who may be affected by their acts or omissions whilst at work.

To operate equipment in a safe and responsible manner ensuring compliance with Health and Safety under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

Report all accidents/incidents immediately to supervisors/managers as per accident/incident procedure.

To contribute towards the development of best practice within the hospital and to ensure the Trusts philosophy of quality care and customer service is reflected in practice.

To Buddy new employees, assisting them to grasp policy and principals around daily working practices.

To undertake appropriate mandatory training.

Security related:

To carry out frequent patrols of the Trust site and property as appropriate as directed by the Head of Security, and in accordance with set Security procedures.

To help to prevent, deter and detect incidents of theft or criminal damage, liaising with the Police as necessary and to take steps which may lead to apprehension of the person/s responsible.

To secure premises found insecure and set and de-activate intruder alarms as required. In the event of any alarm being activated, to immediately investigate and liaise with the police where necessary and as required in accordance with set procedures.

To liaise with the Estates helpdesk on issues relating to security maintenance topics such as failed site lighting, damage, locks, access control systems etc. on NHS Trust property.

To assist in preventing acts of violence or disorderly conduct on NHS Trust property and detain offenders using minimal force for hand-over to the police.

To assist medical and nursing staff in the safe restraint or detention of patients, while appropriate assessments are undertaken.

To respond to intruder, lift and Fire alarms as trained while monitoring the incident until the arrival of a senior member of staff or emergency service officer.

In accordance with Trust procedures assist in searching Trust property and grounds for vulnerable patients absent from ward areas.

To support Staff during planned resolution meetings with potentially difficult patients or relatives to ensure staff safety during these meetings.

To remove trespassers and unauthorised persons from hospital property in accordance with the policy and guidelines.

To ensure that all incidents that occur during a duty shift are accurately recorded with the appropriate amount of detail and evidence required to support further investigation or action.

To deal with incidents relating to lost and found property and to handle lost and found property in accordance with the Trusts policies and procedures.

To operate and monitor Closed Circuit Television and associated equipment as required in accordance with the procedure.

To provide a key holding service for Departments as instructed by the Head of Security/Security/Facilities Supervisor.

To carry out duties as specified in Trust procedures during Major Incident or Child Abduction Alerts - carrying out searches, cordoning areas and securing entrances as necessary.

To carry out any other reasonable duties relating to security at the discretion of the Head of Security/Security/Facilities Supervisor..

To undertake appropriate training for Health and Safety at Work; industrial accident prevention; fire prevention; first aid; and control, restraint and breakaway techniques and to undertake additional training determined by the needs of the Department and/or legislation.

To operate and use equipment and machinery in accordance with the needs of the Department.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Candidates are able to speak and write English to an appropriate standard necessary to fulfil the job requirement
• Must be willing to attend and qualify as a NHS Security Accredited Security Officer within 3 months of employment
• Must be able to pass written test (not AI generated)
• Must be able to pass visual test
• GCE/CSE/GCSE or equivalent
• NAHS or Security Officer qualification or equivalent

Experience

• Experience of dealing with the general public in a diverse, fast moving, customer-oriented organisation in a position of trust.
• Working a 24/7 Shift service.
• Working in a physically and mentally demanding role.
• Working within a large and widespread environment requiring high levels of fitness.
• Working in the public sector.
• IT literate (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Working in a Hospital environment
• Previous experience of security in a complex organisation or uniformed service
• UK Security / Police or Military background.
• Security / Police or Military background (other)

Practical & Intellectual skills (specialist knowledge)

• Physically fit.
• Highly developed communication skills, both written and oral.
• Organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Capable of exercising influence and control.
• Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to digest relevant legislations, guidance and current protocols.
• Ability to input and access information from a personal computer using windows and MS Office and other software packages
• Knowledge of First aid techniques.
• Knowledge of Health and Safety legislation.
• Knowledge of firefighting techniques.
• Knowledge of criminal and civil law.
• Knowledge of control, restraint and breakaway techniques.
• Experience in teaching/training groups.
• Experience of using CCTV control and monitoring systems.
• NAHS course for security officers or similar to NVQ 2 level
• Smart appearance, enthusiastic, reliable, diplomatic, honest, trustworthy.
• Able to work as part of team or on own initiative.
• Calm sympathetic nature.
• Willingness to work any shift at short notice or in an emergency.
• Evidence of personal development and or training
• Sense of humour.
• Confidence to communicate with the general public and staff groups.
• SIA Licence
• SIA Licence (Held for more than 3 years)
• Previous user of Body Worn Camera

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.

£24,937 to £26,598 a yearPa pro rata. Enhancements for weekend and night shift work.