Job summary The role of a bank telephonist is to answer the hospital switchboard, respond to emergency calls, provide cover to the main reception and car park intercom out of hours. Be aware of fire, major incident and lockdown procedures ensuring that all services are delivered in an efficient, courteous and polite manner to both internal and external customers. Shift pattern is Morning 1 07:00 - 15:00Morning 2 07:30 -15:30Afternoon 1 15:00 - 22:00Afternoon 2 15:30 - 22:30Night shift 22:30 - 07:30 As a bank telephonist you would need to be available to cover all shift patterns. The department runs 24 hours a day 7 days a week, 365 days of the year. Main duties of the job Within the role you will be required to answer the emergency phone within 5 seconds & respond via the imessage system, answer all general calls within 30 seconds, respond to fire alarms and alert the relevant teams and respond to other departmental monitoring alarms by notifying the correct departments. The role consists of Main Reception cover out of hours and dealing with car park queries, payments, taxi bookings and sorting out general issues which arise on shift. About us At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer: Flexible working options to help you balance work and life NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work. We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds. Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London. The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future. Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy. Date posted 03 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 3 Salary £24,071 a year Pro rata Contract Bank Working pattern Part-time Reference number 184-OL-BA-2308 Job locations Yeovil District Hospital Higher Kingston Yeovil Somerset BA21 4AT Job description Job responsibilities The post holder will work with all levels of staff, including clinicians and senior managers, contractors, stakeholders associated with the Trust including clinicians and system users. Communicates effectively with external stakeholders, GP's, other hospitals, Ambulance services, local authorities, police and council, dealing with service or general queries, together with taking appropriate action. Responsible for receiving and providing information which can be of a sensitive nature and is often complex and detailed on a regular basis. Organises own work, flexibility required switching from admin tasks, reporting or analysis to answering phone throughout the shift in order to provide an accurate and timely service To ensure the switchboard is manned at all times and calls are answered quickly and politely and routed to appropriate departments/personnel. Answer the emergency phone immediately, and respond to emergency by call out correct emergency team. Record call and action on appropriate record sheet. Attend to Main Reception duties giving a courteous service to enquirers outside office hours. To allocate and issue accommodation and keys via the Trust's Accommodation Booking system. Inform relevant staff of medical gas shortages, fire alarms and other alarms which are linked to switchboard. To take payment for parking, accommodation and prescription charges either with cash or using the Chip and Pin terminal for card payments. Record payments on the relevant form including refunds. Attend to the car parking assistance call system, dealing with calls using own initiative and call relevant personnel regarding car park system failure when necessary. To issue keys to relevant personnel, checking ID, and record their distribution on the key database. To be fully aware of the fire alarm procedure. To be fully aware of the major incident procedure. The position involves lone working out of hours. Answer calls for the EFM helpdesk on ext 4444 and report the faults on FM first. Provide support to the EFM admin team as required. Book contract taxis when requested and keep a central record. The post holder will be expected to support the training and development of new colleagues. Ensuring all alarms and faults are reported, communicated clearly and actioned 24/7 in a timely manner and ensuring the correct staff are contacted for the alarm and the time of day. Keep a record of all actions taken in a major incident. Comply with all SSL Policies and Procedures including (but not exclusively), Quality, Environmental Equality, Diversity, Safety, Human Resources and Financial. Be fully conversant with the Switchboards emergency procedures, including those for a Major Incident and fire security, cardiac arrests etc developed through training Undertakes surveys or audits when necessary for own work. Provides non-clinical advice and information to patients, visitors, relatives, carers, and other services within the hospital when working in Switchboard via the telephone service; Through effective service delivery contribution to positive patient experiences; Completing the complex 24 day rotas at night by transferring individual rota information for each speciality onto a 24 hour day sheet for switchboard. To ensure the correct on call people are contacted. Managing updates and changes to these complex rotas as and when they happen. Responsible for the effective and safe use of highly complex telecommunication systems; Multitone paging system, Arc consoles. Competently operate the PC based ARC consoles and operator workstation equipment to provide a standard and consistent level of service in an efficient and cost effective manner. Competently operate the current paging systems, I-message consoles. Ensuring this service is delivered fast and effectively to support critical emergency calls that are time sensitive. Assists and trains other staff in the use and development of office machinery and equipment specific telecommunication systems. Job description Job responsibilities The post holder will work with all levels of staff, including clinicians and senior managers, contractors, stakeholders associated with the Trust including clinicians and system users. Communicates effectively with external stakeholders, GP's, other hospitals, Ambulance services, local authorities, police and council, dealing with service or general queries, together with taking appropriate action. Responsible for receiving and providing information which can be of a sensitive nature and is often complex and detailed on a regular basis. Organises own work, flexibility required switching from admin tasks, reporting or analysis to answering phone throughout the shift in order to provide an accurate and timely service To ensure the switchboard is manned at all times and calls are answered quickly and politely and routed to appropriate departments/personnel. Answer the emergency phone immediately, and respond to emergency by call out correct emergency team. Record call and action on appropriate record sheet. Attend to Main Reception duties giving a courteous service to enquirers outside office hours. To allocate and issue accommodation and keys via the Trust's Accommodation Booking system. Inform relevant staff of medical gas shortages, fire alarms and other alarms which are linked to switchboard. To take payment for parking, accommodation and prescription charges either with cash or using the Chip and Pin terminal for card payments. Record payments on the relevant form including refunds. Attend to the car parking assistance call system, dealing with calls using own initiative and call relevant personnel regarding car park system failure when necessary. To issue keys to relevant personnel, checking ID, and record their distribution on the key database. To be fully aware of the fire alarm procedure. To be fully aware of the major incident procedure. The position involves lone working out of hours. Answer calls for the EFM helpdesk on ext 4444 and report the faults on FM first. Provide support to the EFM admin team as required. Book contract taxis when requested and keep a central record. The post holder will be expected to support the training and development of new colleagues. Ensuring all alarms and faults are reported, communicated clearly and actioned 24/7 in a timely manner and ensuring the correct staff are contacted for the alarm and the time of day. Keep a record of all actions taken in a major incident. Comply with all SSL Policies and Procedures including (but not exclusively), Quality, Environmental Equality, Diversity, Safety, Human Resources and Financial. Be fully conversant with the Switchboards emergency procedures, including those for a Major Incident and fire security, cardiac arrests etc developed through training Undertakes surveys or audits when necessary for own work. Provides non-clinical advice and information to patients, visitors, relatives, carers, and other services within the hospital when working in Switchboard via the telephone service; Through effective service delivery contribution to positive patient experiences; Completing the complex 24 day rotas at night by transferring individual rota information for each speciality onto a 24 hour day sheet for switchboard. To ensure the correct on call people are contacted. Managing updates and changes to these complex rotas as and when they happen. Responsible for the effective and safe use of highly complex telecommunication systems; Multitone paging system, Arc consoles. Competently operate the PC based ARC consoles and operator workstation equipment to provide a standard and consistent level of service in an efficient and cost effective manner. Competently operate the current paging systems, I-message consoles. Ensuring this service is delivered fast and effectively to support critical emergency calls that are time sensitive. Assists and trains other staff in the use and development of office machinery and equipment specific telecommunication systems. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Good general education (GCSEs) including English and mathematics or equivalent (E) Experience Essential Proficient IT skills including keyboard skills and experience of Microsoft packages (EExperience of providing customer focussed service (E)Experience of effective communication including with distressed, anxious or angry individuals and able to escalate where appropriate (E)Proven administration work (E) Desirable NHS Switchboard / Call centre experience (D)Experience of variable shift working (D) Additional Criteria Essential High level of digital literacy(E)Good level of digital design(E)Able to respond quickly to provide emergency cover in times of colleague absence(E)Good organisational skills. (E)Willingness to learn(E)Concentration is required when dealing with customers(E)Able to deal with sensitive callers (E)Frequent VDU use(E)Long periods of sitting(E)Flexible approach to working hours & practices(E)Professional appearance, behaviour, and attitude(E)Ability to remain calm and work effectively in stressful(E)A calm, caring and empathic attitude towards patients, visitors, relatives & colleagues which is aligned with the NHS Values(E)Awareness and respect for colleagues, patients and relatives cultural, religious and emotional needs and beliefs(E)Good working knowledge and understanding of PC hardware, operating systems and Microsoft IT packages. (E)Demonstrable comfort with IT systems and a willingness to learn new IT skills (E) Desirable Previous experience of healthcare or large complex organisation (D) Person Specification Qualifications Essential Good general education (GCSEs) including English and mathematics or equivalent (E) Experience Essential Proficient IT skills including keyboard skills and experience of Microsoft packages (EExperience of providing customer focussed service (E)Experience of effective communication including with distressed, anxious or angry individuals and able to escalate where appropriate (E)Proven administration work (E) Desirable NHS Switchboard / Call centre experience (D)Experience of variable shift working (D) Additional Criteria Essential High level of digital literacy(E)Good level of digital design(E)Able to respond quickly to provide emergency cover in times of colleague absence(E)Good organisational skills. (E)Willingness to learn(E)Concentration is required when dealing with customers(E)Able to deal with sensitive callers (E)Frequent VDU use(E)Long periods of sitting(E)Flexible approach to working hours & practices(E)Professional appearance, behaviour, and attitude(E)Ability to remain calm and work effectively in stressful(E)A calm, caring and empathic attitude towards patients, visitors, relatives & colleagues which is aligned with the NHS Values(E)Awareness and respect for colleagues, patients and relatives cultural, religious and emotional needs and beliefs(E)Good working knowledge and understanding of PC hardware, operating systems and Microsoft IT packages. (E)Demonstrable comfort with IT systems and a willingness to learn new IT skills (E) Desirable Previous experience of healthcare or large complex organisation (D) 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. Employer details Employer name Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Address Yeovil District Hospital Higher Kingston Yeovil Somerset BA21 4AT Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)