Switchboard Control Operator

Dsfs Ltd; Bolsover; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

DSFS are recruiting a Switchboard Control Operator to join the team at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. This role handles high‑quality switchboard duties and is often the first point of contact for the public, requiring excellent verbal communication and a calm demeanour.

The post is a 21 hours per week permanent contract with 7 days a week, 365 days a year coverage. Night shifts are included, and flexibility is essential to cover holidays and sickness.

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE standard or equivalent.
• Switchboard or call centre experience.
• Ability to communicate at all levels.
• Able to prioritise workload.

Responsibilities

• Provide essential switchboard service including emergency calls and unplanned occurrences.
• Cover a 21-hour per week contract with flexible shifts, including a 9-hour night shift.
• Respond calmly and effectively in busy or stressful situations while maintaining service continuity.

Skills

Verbal communication

Teamwork

Multi-tasking

Customer service

Education

GCSE or equivalent

Job description

Our people are our greatest strength and through our people we strive to make continuous improvements.

See below for our current list of live job opportunities.

Main area Switchboard Operator Grade Grade A Contract Permanent Hours Flexible working - 21 hours per week (9 hours night shift will be included in this contract) Job ref 166-DSFS-8238417

Site Chesterfield Royal Hospital Town CHESTERIELD Salary £25,156 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 01/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

DSFS are looking to appoint a Switchboard Control Operator to join our team based at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital. As the post is often the first point of contact with the general public you must be aware of the importance of delivering a high quality, efficient service and to be able to demonstrate excellent verbal communication skills.

The hours can vary as this post is a 21 hours contract (we provide 24 hour cover.) You will be required to cover for holidays ,sickness and other leave, sometimes at short notice, therefore flexibility is an essential requirement of the post as we provide this important service over 7 days a week 365 days a year.

Hours covered between 7.00am- 7.00am variable shifts available. This post will include a 9 hour night shift.

Interview date to be confirmed

Main duties of the job

Unlike other Switchboard posts, this role also provides an essential response service for emergency calls, fire alarms and unplanned occurrences and therefore we are looking to recruit a person who is able to work in a calm and competent manner in a sometimes stressful and seemingly chaotic environment whilst continuing to provide a consistent Switchboard service.

You must be educated to GCSE standard (or equivalent) and be comfortable working autonomously and as part of a team.

A comprehensive training period (with weekly assessments) covering all aspects of the post and shift patterns will be undertaken to ensure full capability of the Switchboard and Trust Policy and Procedure before the successful candidate will be allowed to work alone out of hours .

Working for our organisation

Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services Ltd. (DSFS) is a subsidiary company that’s 100% owned by Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

DSFS has just over 900 staff across Soft and Hard Facilities Services, and our corporate services including, ICT, Patient Records, Switchboard, Procurement, Finance and Clinical Engineering. Very much part of the ‘Chesterfield Royal family’, DSFS builds on solid NHS foundations to offer a more commercial approach that’s dynamic, flexible, and proactive.

DSFS are proud to be striving to achieve a truly diverse and inclusive flexible workforce by valuing and welcoming everyone’s abilities, uniqueness, and individuality. All our colleagues have the right to and should be able to feel 100% themselves at work; we believe that all our people add to and should improve our culture and not just fit in with it. By embracing our diverse backgrounds and differences our culture becomes richer and makes us stronger together.

Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services Limited currently do not offer a Certificate of Sponsorship, any applications which require sponsorship will not be considered

Please see below link for the DSFS website.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more details of this exciting role.

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

• Educated to GCSE standard or equivalent

Experience

• Able to prioritise workload
• Able to perform effectively in a busy and noisy working environment
• Able to perform effectively in a solitary environment when working out of hours
• Able to deal with difficult and aggressive customers
• Able to derive relevant information from callers
• Able to work as part of a team
• Switchboard or call centre experience

Skills and Knowledge

• Able to multi task and remain calm whilst under pressure
• Resilience – particularly with reference to unplanned occurrences
• Attention to accuracy and detail.

Personal Attributes

• Previous positions of responsibility
• Clarity of Speech
• Ability to communicate at all levels
• Self-motivated
• Adaptability to meet the needs of the service
• Experience of working unsocial hours

Flexible Working

If you're looking for flexible or predictable working arrangements, please speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate this. If it works for our service and patients, we will do our best to make it work for you.

VISA's and Immigration system

Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services Limited currently do not offer a Certificate of Sponsorship, any applications which require sponsorship will not be considered at this point in time.

When DSFS Ltd are able to offer sponsorship to work in the United Kingdom (UK), applicants will be required to provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Overseas applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided in continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Derbyshire Support and Facilities Services (‘DSFS’) is committed to ensuring the safety of all our staff and patients therefore encourages and supports staff to be vaccinated against COVID19 as this remains the best line of defence against the virus.

Communications

Communications throughout the application process will be via e‑mail therefore please check your e‑mail account, spam folders and NHS Jobs (where applicable) account regularly.

References are also requested by email (where possible). Therefore, to speed up the recruitment process please provide an up to date email address for all referees when completing your application form.

If you require any support in completing the application form, please do not hesitate to contact the DSFS Human Resources team on 01246 513737 / [e-mail] and we will be happy to provide assistance.

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Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.