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Job summary

Main area
Switchboard
Grade
QF0A-10
Contract
Fixed term: 6 months
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
297-QEF-6276030
Employer
QE Facilities
Employer type
NHS
Site
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Town
Gateshead
Salary
£22370
Closing
21/05/2024 23:59

Employer heading

QE Facilities logo

Switchboard Operator (Shifts)

QF0A-10

In the event of excessive applications being received this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date, you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible  

IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.


Job overview

*FIXED TERM 6 MONTHS*

To provide an efficient and responsive service to public and staff at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust and QE Facilities Ltd, dealing with internal and external calls to site in a prompt and courteous manner, monitoring and responding to alarms based within the switchboard area, dealing with emergency calls and contacting hospital staff on and off site as and when required. 

 Undertaking reception and/or estates and facilities helpdesk duties as and when required, including system administration and administrative tasks commensurate with the role.   

Main duties of the job

  • Dealing with internal and external calls to site in a prompt and courteous manner. 
  • Use Careflow and other systems to direct callers to the correct location. 
  • Monitor and respond to alarms based within the switchboard area. 
  • Deal with emergency calls and contact hospital staff on and off site as and when required. 
  • Operate the hospital iMessage bleep system, divert and exchange bleeps when required. 
  • Ensure on-call information is kept up-to date. 
  • Ensure emergency procedures are accurate, participate in regular reviews. 
  • Ensure untoward incidents are recorded and handed over.  
  • Ensure faults are reported to the appropriate team. 
  • Receptionist duties as and when required, including but not limited to the issue of keys. 
  • General administrative duties, including but not limited to maintenance and upkeep of telephone directory. 

Working for our organisation

QE Facilities (QEF) is a wholly owned subsidiary company of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust (GHNT), based in the North East of England.

We provide a range of non- clinical services to GHNT and other NHS organisations. Our services include: estates, facilities services, procurement, medical engineering and devices, endoscopy decontamination and sterile services, transport, out-patient pharmacy, and prevention & management of violence & aggression training (PMVA). 

In addition we provide consultancy services, advising clients on all aspects of establishing a subsidiary company within an NHS body to the provision of VAT compliance advice.

QE Facilities work to their own Terms and Conditions and these are not the same as Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust Terms and Conditions. This is not an Agenda for Change Pay Rate.

We do not hold a sponsorship licence and are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

  • Dealing with internal and external calls to site in a prompt and courteous manner. 
  • Use Careflow and other systems to direct callers to the correct location. 
  • Monitor and respond to alarms based within the switchboard area. 
  • Deal with emergency calls and contact hospital staff on and off site as and when required. 
  • Operate the hospital iMessage bleep system, divert and exchange bleeps when required. 
  • Ensure on-call information is kept up-to date. 
  • Ensure emergency procedures are accurate, participate in regular reviews. 
  • Ensure untoward incidents are recorded and handed over.  
  • Ensure faults are reported to the appropriate team. 
  • Receptionist duties as and when required, including but not limited to the issue of keys. 
  • General administrative duties, including but not limited to maintenance and upkeep of telephone directory. 

Person specification

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Excellent telephone manner
  • Ability to work independently and use initiative, while being part of a team.
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of hospital switchboards
  • Knowledge of paging systems
  • Use of databases

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience working in a fast paced, customer orientated, reception environment
Desirable criteria
  • Experience within an NHS switchboard environment
  • Experience of CCTV environments

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • English GCSE pass
  • Maths GCSE pass
Desirable criteria
  • Customer Service qualifications

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Carole Lewis
Job title
Senior Admin Team Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01914452081
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