Telephonist & Out of Hours Receptionist

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust provides child and adult mental health services, learning disability, wellbeing, older people's and eating disorder services across Norfolk and Suffolk.

At any one time, around 23,000 people in Norfolk and Suffolk are receiving care and attention from the Trust. We believe in whole life care - seeing people in the context of their whole lives, understanding the importance of good physical health, friends, family, spirituality, culture, home, work, education and a sense of purpose and achievement to experience good mental health.

Nearly 3,200 full and part-time practitioners care for our service users in hospitals, in the community and in their own homes, whilst an additional 900+ staff provide non-clinical support, including cleaning, delivering supplies, ward administration, information technology, human resources and financial services.

We are committed to delivering quality driven mental health services. Every individual makes a valuable contribution. We are proud of our staff who have been commended for the care they provide. Do you value working positively, respectfully and together? If so, we’d love you to join us

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JOB DESCRIPTION/PERSON SPECIFICATION

YOUR APPLICATION

**Job overview**:
**Telephonist & Out of Hours Receptionist**

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a skilled receptionist to join the growing and busy switchboard team in NSFT.

Duties to include: dealing with enquiries, directing visitors to wards and departments, issuing and signing of keys. Monitoring key record sheets, charging up mobile and communication equipment, issuing of communication equipment. Replacing batteries to pagers as required. Compiling the daily doctors and consultants “on call” documentation for the Trust and switchboard. The successful applicant will provide a quality and professional switchboard and reception service to the Trust and able to work out of hours, this will include Nights and weekends.

**Main duties of the job**:

- To provide telephone operator services for all networked premises throughout the Trust
- To operate emergency systems and pager systems
- Responding to and following all policies and procedures in the event of an emergency i.e. Fire
- Responding to all alarm systems and carrying out procedures as appropriate to the alarms
- Carry out reception duties to include: dealing with enquiries, directing visitors to wards and departments, issuing and signing of key. Monitoring key record sheets, charging up mobile and communication equipment, issuing of communication equipment.

Replacing batteries to pagers as required. Compiling the daily doctors and consultants ‘on call’ documentation for the Trust and switchboard.
- Receiving all incoming mail and sorting for wards, departments and other hospitals ready for distribution
- Frank outgoing mail to include weighing parcels ready for collection by Royal Mail

**Working for our organisation**:
Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

**Why work for us?** We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established nursing networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

**Why Norfolk and Suffolk?** The people here are warm and welcoming, you’ll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We’re an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

**Detailed job description and main responsibilities**:
Some of the benefits you can expect:

- NHS pension
- a comprehensive in house & external training programmes
- career progression
- starting annual leave of 27 days per annum increasing to 33 days pa based on length of service (plus paid bank holidays)
- staff physio service
- NHS discounts and many more

**Person specification**:
**Qualifications**:
**Essential criteria**:

- NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience

**Desirable criteria**:

- Switchboard trained

**Experience**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Office administration
- MS office

**Desirable criteria**:

- NHS Experience
- Switchboard/reception experience

**Skills**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Good communication and people skills

**Knowledge**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Good customer focused telephone manner

**Desirable criteria**:

- Patience and empathy to callers
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