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Job summary

Main area
Administrative Services
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 4
Contract
Permanent: 1 x post available - 24 hrs per week.
Hours
  • Part time
  • Home or remote working
  • Other
24 hours per week (To discuss at interview)
Job ref
190-8021-DIR
Employer
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Hallamshire Hospital
Town
Sheffield
Salary
£25,147 - £27,596 pa/pro rata for part time staff
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
04/08/2024 23:59
Interview date
15/08/2024

Employer heading

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

PALS Officer

NHS AfC: Band 4

We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated so whilst you care for our patients and clients, we’ll take care of you. We offer many different ways of helping staff including career development opportunities, flexible working, good annual leave and pension schemes , health and wellbeing packages and financial support systems. Joining the Trust also allows you access to a number of saving options via our salary sacrifice schemes and a wide range of discount opportunities with retailers and service providers.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a part time role in the PALS team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.

Flexible working pattern will be available over the week, with at least 24 hours a week and up to 24 hours a week, depending on the right candidate and ensuring we provide cover for the department.

The PALS Team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals is the main point of contact for patients and families who wish to raise concerns, compliments and queries about the care being received at the Trust.

The successful candidate will need to be able to show empathy, have good listening skills and be able to react quickly to any concerns and resolve them by liaising with key members of staff.   They will also offer support to the rest of the department including administrative support and cover.
 

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will bring empathy, understanding and a caring nature to this role. They must have good listening skills, be able to speak to people of all backgrounds and have a positive attitude. A desire to help and encourage patients and their families is essential. Excellent organisational and administrative skills are required.

The team of PALS Officers ensure office cover, on a rota basis, between the hours of 9am – 5pm.

(a)    Patient Services

  • Provide a telephone response service dealing with calls sensitively and confidently whilst maintaining a professional approach in a caring and understanding manner.
  • Provide a ‘drop-in’ service for patients and relatives who need advice or wish to raise concerns.
  • Display a customer focussed attitude and a willingness to help.
  • Maintain comprehensive and accurate records, including ensuring information is accurately entered onto the complaints management system.
  • Provide first line advice and guidance to staff both within the department and across the Trust in relation to the post’s areas of responsibility.
  • Attend and contribute to relevant meetings and discussions regarding service provision, evaluation and development.

(b)    Department Administration

  • Provide general administration support to the Complaints Team in the absence of the Department Administrators. This includes:
    • Meeting and greeting visitors and answering telephones.
    • Coordinating the department’s incoming and outgoing mail.

 

Working for our organisation


You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.

You will be working in a busy, vibrant and friendly atmosphere in a close-knit team. You must be supportive not only to patients but also to your colleagues. The workload is varied and rewarding and you will work alongside a team that is dedicated to everyone who contacts them to get the best experience and outcomes.

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.

When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

 

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Educated to Level 4 NVQ in customer services or related subject plus, extensive experience in a customer facing service dealing with complex and/or sensitive enquiries, which would equate to a Level 4 qualification.
  • GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4 or above, or equivalent qualification and/or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
  • RSA 2 in Typing / Word processing or equivalent qualification and/or equivalent experience

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of the function of PALS
  • Experience of working within a customer care environment in an advisory capacity
  • Experience of working to deadlines
  • Experience of providing information in a clear and concise manner
  • Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office and other applications
  • Experience of dealing with conflict and highly emotional situations
  • Fully aware of the need to maintain confidentiality and how this is achieved
  • Experience of inputting data
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of NHS complaints procedures, GDPR, clinical governance, health & wellbeing issues, acquired through training and experience
  • Experience in a similar role or equivalent knowledge
  • Experience of dealing with external NHS stakeholders
  • Experience of Datix system
  • Experience of working within the NHS or Healthcare Setting

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Excellent communication skills, including listening and negotiating skills, face to face and over the telephone
  • Able to problem solve
  • Able to use own initiative
  • Work well under pressure, and autonomously whilst prioritising a diverse workload with competing priorities within a busy environment
  • Work individually or as part of a team

Other

Essential criteria
  • Ability to travel between hospital sites

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Stonewall Gold 2022Step into healthArmed Forces Covenant

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
Paula Rickwood
Job title
PALS Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0777 654 6343
Additional information

Available for calls between 11am and 3pm Monday to Thursday

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