# Switchboard Operator > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/switchboard-operator/bd15a392-17fa-4c1a-b6c0-171cb131e48b - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/switchboard-operator/bd15a392-17fa-4c1a-b6c0-171cb131e48b.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Chester - **Region:** North West - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Administrative and IT - **Grade:** Band 2 - **Salary:** £25,272 pa pro rata - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Part time - 20 hours per week (Working on a shift pattern that includes weekdays, nights and weekends) - **Closing date:** 2026-06-18T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-06-10T08:21:44.576Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Cheshire/Chester/Countess_Chester_Hospital_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Diagnostics/Diagnostics-v8070431 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8070431?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.coch.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview Working Part time : 20 - 30 hours per week (this include shifts during nights and weekends). We are looking for highly motivated individuals to provide comprehensive switchboard service to The Countess of Chester Hospital, as directed by the Team Leaders. The successful candidate must be able to work using their own initiative, and also as part of a busy team. You will be required to cover a shift pattern over 7 days a week with evenings, weekends and nights as part of a 24-hour service. Candidates must be flexible to help us achieve a safe, kind and effective service. Previous unsuccessful applicants need not apply ### Main duties of the job - Cardiac Arrest and Medical Emergency calls Missing child or abducted babyFire and medical gas alarms Panic alarms or Security requestsMajor IncidentsEvacuation of Switchboard or moving to back up systemsBomb threats - Making and receiving a large number of telephone calls from Staff, Patients, Relatives and other members of the public and connecting them quickly in the most appropriate manner to the person or department they require, using personal knowledge and an electronic telephone directory (equivalent to searching a database). 2. Act calmly, quickly and accurately to any emergency call (on average 20 per week) to alert the correct team and take immediate and precise action according to written procedures and knowledge gained over time. This involves being conversant with all emergency procedures for Switchboard, including: This also involves fast and accurate use of the operator console and hospital bleep system  (including using voice over messages) and calls to the emergency services ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities See Job Description for further details. Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’ Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes. The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.​ New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above. Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa. The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application.​ ## Job Details Working Part time : 20 - 30 hours per week (this include shifts during nights and weekends). We are looking for highly motivated individuals to provide comprehensive switchboard service to The Countess of Chester Hospital, as directed by the Team Leaders. The successful candidate must be able to work using their own initiative, and also as part of a busy team. You will be required to cover a shift pattern over 7 days a week with evenings, weekends and nights as part of a 24-hour service. Candidates must be flexible to help us achieve a safe, kind and effective service. Previous unsuccessful applicants need not apply ## Job Description Cardiac Arrest and Medical Emergency calls Missing child or abducted babyFire and medical gas alarms Panic alarms or Security requestsMajor IncidentsEvacuation of Switchboard or moving to back up systemsBomb threats Making and receiving a large number of telephone calls from Staff, Patients, Relatives and other members of the public and connecting them quickly in the most appropriate manner to the person or department they require, using personal knowledge and an electronic telephone directory (equivalent to searching a database). 2. Act calmly, quickly and accurately to any emergency call (on average 20 per week) to alert the correct team and take immediate and precise action according to written procedures and knowledge gained over time. This involves being conversant with all emergency procedures for Switchboard, including: This also involves fast and accurate use of the operator console and hospital bleep system (including using voice over messages) and calls to the emergency services ## Responsibilities See Job Description for further details. Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’ Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes. The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.​ New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above. Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa. The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application.​ ## Person Specification ### Qualification **Essential** - A Minimum of 3 GCSE’s or equivalent - Computer Literate **Desirable** - ECDL - Basic Level CTC (IHRIM) ### Knowledge and Experience **Essential** - Previous Clerical Experience - Previous Customer Service Experience - Experience of taking high volumes of calls from the general public - A period of up to six weeks training is expected, dependent on previous experience before an operator is conversant with the job role. Further knowledge is gained in the role over time. **Desirable** - Previous NHS Clerical Experience - Knowledge of hospital terminology and departments - Experience of operating a computerised Switchboard console. ## Documents - [risk id form (pdf, 352.6kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10361734) - [how to travel to work (pdf, 186.2kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2810) - [guidance notes for applicants (pdf, 278.7kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2608) - [job description and person specification (pdf, 266.2kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10361733) ## 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.