Switchboard Operator | East Hospitals NHS Trust

Some people are just born with a natural ability to listen and communicate effectively, and we are trying to find you. We want you to be the first voice callers to our hospitals hear. With your caring and compassionate style and approach, you’ll ensure patients and staff alike feel respected and valued. Indeed, that is at the heart of what our team aspire to achieve…so if that appeals to you and you are looking to work within a team with shared goals and doing what it takes to provide the best possible service – then we really want to hear from you.

Our Switchboard is the primary point of call for callers to the Trust so we want someone who is bold and enthusiastic with great customer service skills, being calm under pressure, supporting our callers quickly and efficiently.

As a member of our close knit team, you will have excellent communication and organisational skills, with the ability to work as part of a team and on your own.

This role involves shift work at both Royal Preston and Chorley Hospital.

You will operate the hospitals computerised operator console and large electronic telephone directory, bleep system, monitoring of alarms and first point of contact in most emergency situations. Don’t worry, we know it sounds scary but there’s a whole training package behind it. The role isn’t for the faint hearted and it is essential you are able to prioritise and undertake numerous tasks simultaneously.

Needing to respond to emergencies extremely quickly and efficiently, you’ll be able to work well under pressure and retain/relay information accurately.

As you would expect, we do work on a shift basis working across both sites – our switchboard is a 24 hours a day 7 days a week service so everyone gets involved working different shifts. Typically, you would usually work a three shift system; early, late and nights.

We are not going to shy away from saying this is ideally a job for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment. We’re a very busy team, undertaking numerous tasks simultaneously often these being emergencies requiring an extremely quick response – but for the right candidate, we know this will make the role even more exciting for you.

We are based at Chorley Hospital and Preston Hospital.

So what can we offer you? Well as well as working for an award winning organisation, you will join a very strong and dedicated team who work so hard together and have fun along the way. We will help you develop your skills, give you opportunities to try new things and we actively encourage you to challenge us to constantly review what we do, our processes and approaches.

It’s hard to cram it all into one advert and we are sure you will have a question or two, so why not have a chat with Leigh by dropping her an email and arranging a good time to have a chat:

• Be responsible for providing and receiving telephony information to and from the public, Trust staff, patients, relatives and external agencies. Using skills and knowledge and deliver the service in a timely manner
• In order to ensure the provision of a continuous service, staff shall arrive in good time in order to update themselves with information during shift change - over and take over overall responsibility from colleagues
• Use a range of communication equipment to transmit verbal and non-verbal messages concisely often in emergency situations
• Receive sensitive information from the general public demonstrating reassurance skills, confidentiality and the ability to be emphatic
• Be diplomatic and understanding when dealing with communication barriers e.g. language/hearing difficulties confused and elderly patient and aggressive callers
• Be proficient in delivering IMT and telephony related issues to Trust staff and other agencies and be familiar with medical terminology i.e. specialities acronyms and staff grades
• Communicate effectively and professionally with staff at all level
• Preserve at all times the confidentiality received about particular patients, as required by legislation and Trust Policy.
• Ensure the smooth transition for Dr’s change over at the periodical rotation
• Assist in the training of new staff in all aspects of the job…