Switchboard Operator

The Methodist Church in Britain; Birtley; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 15,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Development opportunities

Flexible working

Focus on wellbeing

Job summary

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is recruiting three Switchboard Operator to join the 24-hour switchboard serving The Princess Alexandra, St Margarets and Herts & Essex hospitals. Each role is 30 hours per week on rotating early, late and night shifts, providing first-class telephone and reception support and handling emergency 2222 calls.

Ideal candidates will have GCSE maths and English and prior telephonist or receptionist experience in a busy organisation, with the ability to stay

Qualifications

• GCSEs or equivalent, including maths and English.
• Experience as a telephonist or receptionist in a medium to large organisation.
• Experience of a busy switchboard and reception area.

Responsibilities

• Handle internal and external calls professionally, including complex, distressing or prolonged calls.
• Manage emergency 2222 calls.
• Monitor hospital alarm systems, including fire and medical gas alarms, and act in line with local policy.
• Respond to emergency alerts such as cardiac arrest, trauma and fire calls.
• Liaise with Security, Portering and Estates during incidents and disturbances.
• Undertake reception duties, including signing keys in and out and answering enquiries.
• Arrange taxi bookings.
• Support the Major Incident Policy, liaising with senior management, ambulance, police and other agencies.
• Maintain daily management, departmental and medical on-call rotas and contact on-call staff by Alertive or telephone.
• Complete weekly Alertive test calls and relay messages to external pager holders via the Flare paging system.
• Keep the switchboard directory accurate and up to date.
• Maintain mandatory training in line with Trust requirements.

Skills

Excellent communication

Good listening

Calm under pressure

Education

GCSE Maths and English

Job description

Three Switchboard Operator posts sit within the switchboard at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, covering The Princess Alexandra, St Margarets and Herts & Essex hospitals. The work centres on answering internal and external calls, managing emergency 2222 calls and monitoring fire and medical gas alarms, alongside reception duties. Each post is 30 hours a week on rotating early, late and night shifts, as the switchboard runs 24 hours a day, year-round. Candidates need GCSE maths and English, and previous applicants for this role are excluded.

What the job involves

• Handle internal and external calls professionally, including complex, distressing or prolonged calls
• Manage and ?? emergency 2222 calls
• Monitor hospital alarm systems, including fire and medical gas alarms, and act in line with local policy
• Respond to emergency alerts such as cardiac arrest, trauma and fire calls
• Liaise with Security, Portering and Estates during incidents and disturbances
• Undertake reception duties, including signing keys in and out and answering enquiries
• Arrange taxi bookings
• Support the Major Incident Policy, liaising with senior management, ambulance, police and other agencies
• Maintain daily management, departmental and medical on-call rotas and contact on-call staff by Alertive or telephone
• Complete weekly Alertive test calls and relay messages to external pager holders via the Flare paging system
• Keep the switchboard directory accurate and up to date
• Maintain mandatory training in line with Trust requirements

Qualifications

• GCSE or equivalent, including maths and English

Experience

• Telephonist or receptionist experience in a medium to large organisation
• Experience of a busy switchboard and reception area
• Confidence following emergency procedures
• Ability to work well under pressure in a professional manner

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent communication skills in person and by email
• Good listening skills

What’s offered

• Development opportunities
• Flexible working
• Focus on wellbeing