About this role
Job summary
We are looking for a calm, professional and customer-focused Telephonist to join our busy hospital switchboard team. You'll play a vital role as the first point of contact for patients, staff and external services, ensuring all calls are handled efficiently, courteously and with care.
This is a fast-paced position where you will respond to routine enquiries as well as urgent and emergency situations, helping to support the safe and effective running of the hospital 24/7.
We are currently looking for a Telephonist to work the below hours with an average of 28.00 hours on a 2 weekly rota
Week 1
Wednesday & Thursday 22:30 - 07:00
Week 2
Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 22:30 - 07:00
Main duties of the job
Answer incoming calls promptly and direct them to the correct departmentsRespond immediately to emergency calls and activate appropriate response teamsProvide out-of-hours reception support and assist with enquiriesMonitor and respond to alarms, including fire, security and major incident alertsOperate complex telecommunication and paging systems to support urgent hospital communicationsManage on-call rotas to ensure the correct personnel are contacted when requiredHandle payments for parking, accommodation and prescriptions where requiredCoordinate taxi bookings and support wider facilities servicesMaintain accurate records of calls, incidents and actions takenApply today and become a key part of our essential hospital operations team.
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 lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, 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.
Job description Job responsibilities Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information about the role.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Good general education (GCSEs) including English and mathematics or equivalent Relevant vocational qualification(equivalent to Microsoft Office MOST, ECDL or related qualification City & Guilds / NVQ 2 level or equivalent experience willing to completed vocational level 3 within agreed time scale NVQ Customer Services or equivalent experience.
Desirable
Vocational level 3 /BTEC) in IM&T or information systems related subject (or relevant experience in IM&T environment)
Experience Essential
Experience of providing customer focussed service Proficient IT skills including keyboard skills and experience of Microsoft packages Experience of effective communication including with distressed, anxious or angry individuals and able to escalate where appropriate Proven administration work
Desirable
Please see the attached JD
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
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)