• Job Description

  Req#: C9435-25-0239?language=en&page=898&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  We are looking to recruit a part-time member of staff to join a small and friendly team providing switchboard services for Westmorland General Hospital, Furness General Hospital and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. The switchboard, based at Westmorland General Hospital is a 24hour service provided over 7 days a week.

  Average weekly hours are 23.3hrs. Shift hours do vary either 8am to 3.30pm, 3.30pm to 9.30pm or some weekends 8.45am to 6pm, but will be known in advance. You will also be required to assist with cover for absences which in general will be planned.

  Main duties of the job

  • First point of contact for all enquiries including internal and external callers, making decisions about the most appropriate referral point.

  • Support responses to emergencies, contacting and liaising with Medical Staff and Senior Managers on call. This includes responding to emergency crash calls (i..e. adult & paediatric cardiac crash calls, fire, major incidents)covering all hospital sites.

  • Follow procedures for on-call arrangements for UHMBT and other NHSorganisations.

  • Demonstrate sensitivity, calmness, compassion and empathy with callers who may be patients, visitors or staff who may be anxious or angry.

  • Report to and liaise with Estates and I3 staff when faults occur with key equipment.

  • Arrange for or provide cover for sickness out of hours or, in the absence of the Assistant Facilities (Switchboard) Manager. This entails contacting colleagues from the staff list for availability at short notice.

  • Make bookings for the most costs effective ad hoc transport (taxis, Blood Bikers, ad hoc transport services).

  • Provide an access/ egress service for the WGH main hospital site overnight.

  • Monitor the security cameras in Switchboard and if felt necessary (i.e. Urgent Treatment Centre), contacting the Police.

  • The post holder will be required to undertake all relevant training with current or new systems during their Probationary training period (6 months).

  About us

  You can expect to be busy but will be joining a small, friendly and helpful team contributing to providing a valuable service to the local community and to the wider Healthcare system.

  Details

  Date posted

  16 June 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 3

  Salary

  £24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum, pro rata

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Part-time

  Reference number

  435-1SC-UHMBT-037-25

  Job locations

  Westmorland General Hospital

  Burton Road

  Kendal

  LA9 7RG

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  General

  • Act as the first point of contact for all enquiries including internal and external callers whilst making decisions about the most appropriate referral point.

  • Communicate with internal and external contacts to support effective responses to emergencies, contacting Medical Consultants directly or escalating issues and providing information to Senior Managers on call.

  • Follow procedures for on-call arrangements for UHMBT and other Morecambe Bay NHS organisations including, One LSC, Community, Psychiatry and Commissioning Groups.

  • Demonstrate sensitivity, calmness, compassion and empathy whilst being polite and efficient with callers who may be patients, visitors or staff who may be anxious or angry, and may involve information, which is confidential, personal and sensitive.

  • Assist in coordinating responses to emergency crash calls (adult cardiac, adult trauma, paediatric arrest, paediatric trauma, obstetrics and neo-natal) fire, major incidents, security or bomb alerts, covering all hospital sites.

  • Liaise with and support all levels of Estates and I3 staff when faults occur with key equipment.

  • Arrange for and provide cover for sickness out of hours or in the absence of the Assistant Facilities (Switchboard) Manager. This entails contacting colleagues from a central staff list for availability at short notice.

  • Receive and make bookings for ad hoc transport (taxis, Blood Bikers, ad hoc transport services) selecting the most cost-effective service to use to ensure transportis available in a timely fashion.

  Outside office hours

  • Provide an access/ egress service, carrying out identity checks, for the WGH main hospital site overnight through either the main front hospital door or via the rear staff entrance, supporting the safety and security of the hospital and all persons present.

  • Monitor the security cameras in Switchboard and if felt necessary or requested by others (i.e. Urgent Treatment Centre), contacting the Police.

  • Take calls from the RLI patient / visitor car park system on Ashton Road to let vehicles out by raising the exit barrier.

  • Due to the complexity of the Organisation and the large amount of information and detail required for an effective service the post holder will be required to undertake all relevant training with current or new systems during their Probationary training period (6 months

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  General

  • Act as the first point of contact for all enquiries including internal and external callers whilst making decisions about the most appropriate referral point.

  • Communicate with internal and external contacts to support effective responses to emergencies, contacting Medical Consultants directly or escalating issues and providing information to Senior Managers on call.

  • Follow procedures for on-call arrangements for UHMBT and other Morecambe Bay NHS organisations including, One LSC, Community, Psychiatry and Commissioning Groups.

  • Demonstrate sensitivity, calmness, compassion and empathy whilst being polite and efficient with callers who may be patients, visitors or staff who may be anxious or angry, and may involve information, which is confidential, personal and sensitive.

  • Assist in coordinating responses to emergency crash calls (adult cardiac, adult trauma, paediatric arrest, paediatric trauma, obstetrics and neo-natal) fire, major incidents, security or bomb alerts, covering all hospital sites.

  • Liaise with and support all levels of Estates and I3 staff when faults occur with key equipment.

  • Arrange for and provide cover for sickness out of hours or in the absence of the Assistant Facilities (Switchboard) Manager. This entails contacting colleagues from a central staff list for availability at short notice.

  • Receive and make bookings for ad hoc transport (taxis, Blood Bikers, ad hoc transport services) selecting the most cost-effective service to use to ensure transportis available in a timely fashion.

  Outside office hours

  • Provide an access/ egress service, carrying out identity checks, for the WGH main hospital site overnight through either the main front hospital door or via the rear staff entrance, supporting the safety and security of the hospital and all persons present.

  • Monitor the security cameras in Switchboard and if felt necessary or requested by others (i.e. Urgent Treatment Centre), contacting the Police.

  • Take calls from the RLI patient / visitor car park system on Ashton Road to let vehicles out by raising the exit barrier.

  • Due to the complexity of the Organisation and the large amount of information and detail required for an effective service the post holder will be required to undertake all relevant training with current or new systems during their Probationary training period (6 months

  Person Specification

  Essential and desirable

  Essential

  • 5 GCSEs or equivalent including C in English
  • Computer keyboard skills
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Calm and professional
  • Experience of working with the general public

  Desirable

  • Customer Care training or experience
  • Prioritisation skills

  Person Specification

  Essential and desirable

  Essential

  • 5 GCSEs or equivalent including C in English
  • Computer keyboard skills
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Calm and professional
  • Experience of working with the general public

  Desirable

  • Customer Care training or experience
  • Prioritisation skills

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  Additional information

  Disclosure and Barring Service Check

  This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

  Certificate of Sponsorship

  Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

  From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

  Address

  Westmorland General Hospital

  Burton Road

  Kendal

  LA9 7RG

  
  

  Employer's website

  http://jobs.elht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

  Address

  Westmorland General Hospital

  Burton Road

  Kendal

  LA9 7RG

  
  

  Employer's website

  http://jobs.elht.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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