About this role
Job summary
Switchboard Operator
15 hours per week - Shift patterns below
Permanent
Salary: £25,760 - £27,476 per annum pro rata
Closing Date: Monday 29th June 2026
Interview Date: Monday 13th July 2026 (TBC)
**This post may close early due to high numbers of applications, so you are advised to apply promptly. **
All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.
A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community - get in touch to find out more
#JoinTeamEliot
**PLEASE NOTE: This role is not eligible for sponsorship**
Shift Pattern:
Week 1: Saturday & Sunday - 14:30 - 22:30 Week 2: Wednesday & Thursday - 14:30 - 22:30 Week 3: Monday & Wednesday - 08:00 - 16:00 To provide a comprehensive, high-quality service to patients, staff, and members of the public on behalf of the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust. To operate a telephone switchboard and associated communication systems as necessary. To observe and respond to monitors/alarms within an agreed scope of responsibility and carry out stringent procedures in the event of an emergency and to provide a courteous and professional reception service.
Main duties of the job
To maintain a helpful and confident manner when dealing with patients, visitors, and staff at the main hospital reception desk or via the Switchboard, to assist the public with directions and enquiries and to promote the caring and professional image of the trust. To support patients and relatives who may be experiencing distress, feeling unwell, worried, emotional, or upset. To ensure that all patients, visitors, and relatives receive assistance with general advice in response to queries, information, and taxis. Liaising with porters and security. To deal with Parking queries at the main reception desk and help visitors, patients, and staff. To issue Blue Badge Disabled forms and frequent outpatient appointment forms and pass on to the team leader, dealing with cash and issuing refunds when needed, also taking card payments when needed. To deal with ad hoc incidents and report jobs via the Estates team. To provide excellent customer service to visitors, patient and staff and act as the first point of contact when visiting the Hospital. To maintain a helpful and confident manner when dealing with patients, visitors and staff in order to promote the caring and professional image of the Trust. To assist the general public with directions and enquiries at the reception window, which may include but not exclusive to PPE, patient transfers via porters, etc.
About us
Here at George Eliot our vision to'excel at patient care' takes centre stage. An ever evolving clinically-led acute service provider we are on a journey to continually provide high quality, safe and responsive services delivered by inspiring, friendly and compassionate staff who share our corporate values which underpin everything we do. Our values are not just words on a piece of paper, they bond us together, reflect our ambition and shape who we are:
Effective Open Communication
excellence and safety in everything we do
Challenge but support
Expect respect and dignity
Local health that inspires confidence
Benefits: On-site nursery, 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, flexible working, in house training and development, buying and selling of annual leave, subsidised restaurant, tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on-site parking.
If you are applying for a Domestic Assistant or Health Care Assistant role you may be eligible for the refer a friend scheme - find out more here: https://www.geh.nhs.uk/about-us/people-and-workforce/vacancies/refer-friend-scheme
Job description Job responsibilities
To maintain a helpful and confident manner when dealing with patients, visitors, and staff at the main hospital reception desk or via the Switchboard, to assist the public with directions and enquiries and to promote the caring and professional image of the trust. To support patients and relatives who may be experiencing distress, feeling unwell, worried, emotional, or upset. To ensure that all patients, visitors, and relatives receive assistance with general advice in response to queries, information, and taxis. Liaising with porters and security. To deal with Parking queries at the main reception desk and help visitors, patients, and staff. To issue Blue Badge Disabled forms and frequent outpatient appointment forms and pass on to the team leader, dealing with cash and issuing refunds when needed, also taking card payments when needed. To deal with ad hoc incidents and report jobs via the Estates team. To provide excellent customer service to visitors, patient and staff and act as the first point of contact when visiting the Hospital. To maintain a helpful and confident manner when dealing with patients, visitors and staff in order to promote the caring and professional image of the Trust. To assist the general public with directions and enquiries at the reception window, which may include but not exclusive to PPE, patient transfers via porters, etc. To be responsible for the operation of a computerized busy 24-hour telephone switchboard in all its aspects (i.e., handling incoming and outgoing calls and the withdrawal of information as and when required). To operate the hospital pager system including daily testing, dealing with faults / transferring pagers, issuing batteries as required, dealing with doctors rotation and providing on-call lists and pager lists to relevant departments and wards. To use the Lorenzo system for locating patients in the hospital and A&E department. To maintain all appropriate records including on call Rotas, Safe care, Pager lists, Blue Badge Forms, Frequent Outpatient Forms. To pass on any changes or information to the team leader for updating the Switchboard phone book. Undertake clerical tasks within the department including emails, filing, typing, scanning, printing, photocopying and data input. To ensure that all important messages / information is communicated to the person(s) or area concerned as soon as received, to make sure the relevant documents get changed. For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.
Person Specification
Experience and Knowledge Essential
Ability to liaise and communicate clearly with staff, visitors and contractors. Good organisational skills Experience in a switchboard environment Worked within a customer focused environment Ability to deal calmly with emergency or difficult situations using tact and diplomacy. Eg answering emergency telephone and respond accordingly directing staff via bleep to cardiac arrests, fire calls etc Confidence in using two way radio to speak with security and porters if required
Qualification(s) and Professional Training Essential
Basic Numeracy & Literacy Skills to Level 1 or equivalent NVQ Level 3 or 5 years equivalent experience as a switchboard operator
Desirable
Keyboard Skills RSA Level 1
Skills and Abilities Essential
Ability to work within a busy and demanding department Ability and experience to work for a large proportion of time autonomously, in accordance with operational plans and national guidelines. Ability to organise and to prioritise effectively
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 George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
Address George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust
College Street
Nuneaton
CV10 7DJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.geh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)