Switchboard OperatorinGorlestoninGorlestonPUBLISHED TUE 14 JAN 2025
Contribution to Healthcare, As a switchboard operator, you play a vital role in ensuring effective communication within the hospital, directly impacting patient care and staff support.
Skill Development, The role offers extensive training opportunities, including IT systems and customer service skills, enhancing personal and professional growth.
Team Environment, Working alongside dedicated healthcare professionals fosters a supportive team atmosphere, where your efforts contribute to a collective mission.
Flexible Working Hours, The As & When basis allows for flexibility in scheduling, accommodating personal commitments while still contributing to essential services.
Crisis Management Experience, The job involves handling emergency calls and various alarms, providing valuable experience in crisis communication and problem-solving.
Interpersonal Skill Enhancement, Engaging with callers who may be distressed enhances your communication skills and emotional intelligence, valuable assets in any career.
Job Security, Being part of a 24/7 operating environment in a reputable foundation trust ensures stable employment opportunities and the chance to cover for absent staff.
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is looking for reliable switchboard operators to join their team on a flexible, on-demand basis. The role involves managing both external and internal calls, directing them to the appropriate departments, and responding to various alarms and emergency calls. Candidates must demonstrate excellent customer service skills, have a professional telephone manner, and be adaptable to work different shift patterns, sometimes with little notice, as the service operates 24/7. Training will be provided to ensure operators can confidently handle various situations, including calls from distressed individuals.
Successful applicants will possess strong interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate effectively, and a commitment to professionalism and compassion in their interactions. This position requires a dedication to supporting both patients and colleagues in a fast-paced environment, making reliability and flexibility essential qualities for potential candidates.
Successful applicants will possess strong interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate effectively, and a commitment to professionalism and compassion in their interactions. This position requires a dedication to supporting both patients and colleagues in a fast-paced environment, making reliability and flexibility essential qualities for potential candidates.
Contribution to Healthcare, As a switchboard operator, you play a vital role in ensuring effective communication within the hospital, directly impacting patient care and staff support.
Skill Development, The role offers extensive training opportunities, including IT systems and customer service skills, enhancing personal and professional growth.
Team Environment, Working alongside dedicated healthcare professionals fosters a supportive team atmosphere, where your efforts contribute to a collective mission.
Flexible Working Hours, The As & When basis allows for flexibility in scheduling, accommodating personal commitments while still contributing to essential services.
Crisis Management Experience, The job involves handling emergency calls and various alarms, providing valuable experience in crisis communication and problem-solving.
Interpersonal Skill Enhancement, Engaging with callers who may be distressed enhances your communication skills and emotional intelligence, valuable assets in any career.
Job Security, Being part of a 24/7 operating environment in a reputable foundation trust ensures stable employment opportunities and the chance to cover for absent staff.
We are seeking reliable switchboard operators to join our team on and As & When basis.
You will contribute by ensuring the provision of a high quality and responsive service to our staff, patients and customers. The post involves answering external and internal calls and redirecting to the relevant staff/department, using the paging system to contact staff, responding to alarms and dealing with emergency calls.
The candidate must have an appropriate telephone manner, be able to deliver excellent customer service, be very reliable and able to work, at times, under pressure. Flexibility in respect of working different shift patterns is essential, sometimes at short notice, as we operate a year round 24/7 service.
We operate an IT based system and full training is provided. The role involves covering for staff who are absent from duties.
If you enjoy working in a busy environment and want to contribute to supporting our patients and colleagues, then we look forward to receiving your application.
Trust mandatory training and switchboard training will be provided for you to be a success in this role.
- Provide telephone operator service for external and internal incoming calls via an IT based system whilst providing excellent customer service.
- First response to various departmental alarms, including fire, intruder, fridge failure (bloods), oxygen, etc.
- Good interpersonal skills with the ability to adjust communication styles and able to overcome barriers to understanding. Needing to act professionally, compassionately and with tact.
- Operators may have callers who are highly distressed and must be able to manage these calls handing over to the appropriate professional.
- To be flexible in working hours to meet the service, covering sickness and holidays, for shifts through a 24 hour cover period - this may be at short notice.
About us
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for a full and comprehensive overview for this position.
More information related to this job opportunity, from jobsincare:
Here are 5 questions you could be
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if you apply for this job:
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1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you are interested in this position?
2. What do you know about the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and its mission?
3. Describe a situation where you provided excellent customer service. What did you do, and what was the outcome?
4. How would you handle a call from a distressed patient or family member? Can you provide an example of a similar experience?
5. What communication techniques do you use to ensure clarity when speaking over the phone, especially in a busy environment?
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you are interested in this position?
2. What do you know about the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and its mission?
3. Describe a situation where you provided excellent customer service. What did you do, and what was the outcome?
4. How would you handle a call from a distressed patient or family member? Can you provide an example of a similar experience?
5. What communication techniques do you use to ensure clarity when speaking over the phone, especially in a busy environment?
More about the NHS
The National Health Service (NHS) is a cornerstone of healthcare in the United Kingdom, established in 1948 with the simple yet profound principle of providing healthcare to all citizens, free at the point of use. This revolutionary system aimed to ensure that access to medical services would not depend on an individual’s financial situation, a concept that has since become fundamental to British societal values.Learn more...
Useful skills for a Switchboard Operator:
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To work as a Switchboard Operator in the UK, several key skills and qualities are typically required:
1. Communication Skills: Strong verbal communication skills are essential, as switchboard operators interact with various individuals and must convey messages clearly and professionally.
2. Customer Service: A good switchboard operator should have a customer-focused attitude, providing helpful and polite service to callers.
3. Listening Skills: Being attentive and able to understand callers' needs is critical in routing calls efficiently.
4. Multitasking: The ability to handle multiple calls and tasks simultaneously is important in a fast-paced environment.
5. Technical Skills: Proficiency in using telephone systems, switchboard equipment, and possibly other office software or technology is necessary.
6. Organizational Skills: Keeping track of calls, messages, and various inquiries requires strong organizational and time management abilities.
7. Problem-Solving Skills: Operators must be able to quickly and effectively solve issues or answer queries as they arise.
8. Attention to Detail: Precision in taking messages and transferring calls ensures that important information is accurately communicated.
9. Teamwork: Working well with colleagues, especially in a larger organization, is often necessary to maintain efficient communication.
10. Discretion and Confidentiality: Handling sensitive information may require a commitment to confidentiality and professionalism.
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