# Out of hours Despatcher > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/out-of-hours-despatcher/e68f9d66-f06b-4755-ab17-32446c595e9d - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/out-of-hours-despatcher/e68f9d66-f06b-4755-ab17-32446c595e9d.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - **Location:** Wokingham Hospital, 41 Barkham Road, Wokingham, RG41 2RE - **Workplace type:** onsite - **Grade:** Band 3 - **Salary:** £27,106 - £28,850 per annum, pro rata (Incl. of HCAS) - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Part time - 12 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-08-20T22:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-08-13T16:30:39.616Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/-v8229450 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8229450?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview Westcall, the GP out of hours service for Berkshire West is looking for motivated and driven individuals to join us in our Out of Hours Operations team on a part-time basis working during evenings, nights, weekends and Bank Holidays. If you are looking for a new and exciting challenge, look no further. We have a role available within our dynamic operational team who are the first point of contact via telephone, for both patients and healthcare professionals across Berkshire, supporting referrers to make referrals to the Westcall service and other community services. We are looking for an individual with a high attention to detail, who can work comfortably in a fast-paced environment, communicate confidently via the telephone and has experience in managing challenging conversations in a sensitive manner. Flexibility and the availability to work additional hours on an ad-hoc basis during out of hours is desirable. This is a hybrid role once training has been completed. We are recruiting for the following Saturday 12:00-24:00 Successful candidates will be expected to offer availability on bank holidays including those over festive periods including Christmas, New Year and Easter. ### Main duties of the job - Answer incoming calls in a courteous, helpful and professional manner representing the initial contact with the service. Ensure that patients’ contact details are entered accurately onto the system databases. - Receiving incoming referrals to the Berkshire Integrated Hub and collect supporting information from the referrer, patient and other agencies. To monitor the Berkshire Integrated hub mailbox for incoming referrals - To ensure incoming referrals are processed in a timely manner to meet service requirements and are referred onto the appropriate service, ensuring all supporting documentation is completed and referred on. - Efficient and accurate recording of data on the Adastra and RIO electronic patient management systems including details of clinical symptoms, relevant past medical history and medication where appropriate. - Assist other members of the operational team including nursing, reception and driving staff with complex and challenging situations including emergency calls, patient complaints and security issues. - Assisting operational shift leads with managing workflow, despatching and allocation of work to clinical colleagues. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities The “must haves” for you to be considered for this role: - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, experience of confidently communicating via the telephone and in managing challenging conversations in a sensitive manner. - The ability to work effectively individually and as part of a team - The ability to remain calm under pressure - A patient centered attitude For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification. We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted. We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed. We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Averil Spackman on 07815 485228 or email : Averil.Spackman@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help. Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible. ## Person Specification ### Previous Experience **Essential** - Experience of work within a health or social care setting - Experience of dealing with the public in a sensitive manner and an awareness of diversity in the community - Call handling experience using the Adastra V3 Clinical Database ### Additional Requirements **Essential** - Flexibility with working hours / days including evenings, weekends and bank holidays including Christmas and Easter - Travel between sites as required ### Knowledge, Skills & Abilities **Essential** - An ability to be able to deal with sensitive or difficult issues over the phone - Highly developed organisational skills with a good attention to detail and the ability to be able to prioritise - An ability to work under pressure and use own initiative - An ability to work independently but also refer appropriately for advice and assistance - To have accurate data input skills - Have a caring approach with a positive attitude - Flexible approach in order to meet the needs of the service - Ability to lead and co-ordinate a multi-disciplinary operational urgent care team **Desirable** - Advanced working knowledge of the Adastra V3 and RIO patient systems ### Education/Qualifications/Training **Essential** - GCSE English and Maths - A working knowledge of Microsoft products including Excel, Word and Outlook at intermediate level **Desirable** - ECDL or equivalent IT Qualification ### Continuous Professional Development **Essential** - Willingness to complete all Statutory and Mandatory training including all updates - Willingness to undertake further personal and professional development ## Documents - [working for us (pdf, 766.8kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10539083) - [help with your application guide (pdf, 256.2kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?ddoc=2285) - [job description & person specification (pdf, 327.9kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10539081) - [value based recruitment behaviour framework (pdf, 453.8kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10539082) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.