Switchboard Operator

NHS; Shrewsbury; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust is recruiting for a part-time Switchboard role at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in Shrewsbury. The post is 30 hours per week with an alternating weekend early/late rotation. Salary is £25,272 per annum pro rata.

The successful candidate will handle emergency calls, operate the Net call system, manage bleeps, and respond to public and professional enquiries, working within a 24/7 rota and a busy NHS environment.

Qualifications

• Switchboard experience required.
• Working knowledge of Mitel System.
• Working knowledge of Stanley Blick paging system.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.

Responsibilities

• General call taking dealing with Emergency calls Rota watch relating to on call staff Swiss phone paging system.
• To operate a Net call telephone system without supervision.
• To operate the bleep system, issue and re-programme bleeps in the absence of the Supervisor.
• To assist with telephone enquiries from members of the Trust, general public, GP's, Hospitals and other organisations.
• General call taking dealing with Emergency calls Rota watch relating to on call staff Swiss Phone paging system.
• To take part in a rota system, covering 24-hours, 7 days per week.
• To be knowledgeable and fully competent of answering and following procedures for all emergency telephone calls/alarms, e.g., cardiac arrest, fire, helicopter landing trauma, paediatric emergencies and major incidents.
• To monitor all audible alarms and in the event of the alarms being activated inform the appropriate staff.

Skills

Switchboard experience

Mitel System

Stanley Blick paging system

Medical terminology

Job description

Main area Switchboard Grade Band 2 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 30 hours per week (4 x 7.5 hrs per week alternate weekends early/late rotation) Job ref 223-SBO-820

Site Royal Shrewsbury Hospital Town Shrewsbury Salary £25,272 per annum/pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 15/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

Often referred to as the Hub of the Hospital, Switchboard is open 24-7, 52 weeks of the year.

Are you a skilled multitasker who can remain calm under pressure, whilst providing outstanding patient care? The post holder will be able to work under pressure, enjoy challenges and be flexible.

We're on a mission to provide high quality, safe care to our patients, in an environment our incredible staff are proud to work in.

Main duties of the job

• General call taking dealing with Emergency calls Rota watch relating to on call staff Swiss phone paging system.
• To operate a Net call telephone system without supervision.
• To operate the bleep system, issue and re-programme bleeps in the absence of the Supervisor.
• To assist with telephone enquiries from members of the Trust, general public, GP's, Hospitals and other organisations.
• General call taking dealing with Emergency calls Rota watch relating to on call staff Swiss Phone paging system.
• To take part in a rota system, covering 24-hours, 7 days per week.
• To be knowledgeable and fully competent of answering and following procedures for all emergency telephone calls/alarms, e.g., cardiac arrest, fire, helicopter landing trauma, paediatric emergencies and major incidents.
• To monitor all audible alarms and in the event of the alarms being activated inform the appropriate staff.

Working for our organisation

We believe that compassionate care sits at the heart of everything we do. Every member of our team — clinical or non-clinical — plays a vital role in ensuring that patients, families, and colleagues are treated with dignity, empathy, and respect at all times.

We expect all staff to demonstrate compassion not only through their words, but through their actions: by listening attentively, communicating clearly and kindly, and recognising individual needs, feelings, and circumstances of those in our care.

Effective communication is central to safe and high-quality healthcare. We value colleagues who take the time to understand others, explain information in a meaningful way, and respond to concerns with patience and understanding.

By joining our team, you are committing to uphold these values — ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and valued, and that compassion is embedded in every interaction, every day.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full duties and responsibilities please refer to the attached document entitled Job Description.

Knowledge and experience

• Switchboard experience
• Working knowledge of Mitel System
• Working knowledge of Stanley Blick paging system
• Knowledge of medical terminology

Skills

By submitting your application to Trac, you are giving your consent for parts of your application data to be transferred to the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and other secure, internal NHS Workforce systems. This is to support and manage your recruitment and employment within your employing organisation.

If the role requires a qualification/professional registration, you will need to provide proof during the recruitment process. By submitting your application you are giving the Trust permission to check the qualification certificates provided back to the source provider. Please note that a sample of all applicant’s qualifications will be checked with the educational institution or provider.

If you require the application form in an alternative format, please call the Recruitment Team on 01743 492402 or email us at [e-mail]

In the event of a high response to this advertisement, this post will be closed. Early applications are advised.
We commit to removing barriers for people with disabilities or long-term health conditions in recruitment, training, and career progression. We will offer an interview to all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the above position and will support reasonable adjustments wherever possible. In addition, whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are male, from black and minority ethnic backgrounds or who have a disability, as these are currently under-represented in our workforce.

We are committed to offering an interview to applicants from the Armed Forces community who meet the minimum criteria for the position. In addition, for those who are successfully appointed from the Armed Forces community, the Trust are committed to recognising previous service and rank in terms of pay, annual leave and other terms and conditions.

We are committed to equal opportunities in employment. The policies and practices of the Trust aim to promote an environment that is free from all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination and values the diversity of all people. At the heart of our policy, we seek to treat people fairly, flexibly and with dignity and respect.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from an Ethnic minority background are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We aim to create a trusting, flexible workplace, that attracts talent and enables everyone to be their best working self. Many of our colleagues work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise a fair and equitable process that balances your needs, the needs of our patients and service delivery.

Our Commitment to Safety and Respect - The Trust is a signatory to the NHS Sexual Safety Charter and is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace, free from sexual misconduct, harassment and discrimination. We expect everyone working, training or learning within the Trust to uphold appropriate professional boundaries, demonstrate respectful behaviour and contribute to a culture in which colleagues feel safe to speak up.

Thank you for your interest in The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, we look forward to receiving your application for employment.

Application numbers

In the event of a high response to this advertisement, this post will be closed. Early applications are advised.

Name Pauline Harbourne Job title Switchboard Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01743261010

If you have problems applying, contact

Address The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
Shrewsbury Business Park
1 Douglas Court
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY2 6LG
Telephone [phone]