999 Call Handler (Emergency Medical Dispatcher)

Ambulance Service, is the patient breathing? Do you want to make a difference to our patients as part of a supportive and motivated team? Would you like NHS Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement and NHS Pension? Would you like to develop your career within the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)?

If you answered yes to these questions, then start your career with the South Western Ambulance Service EOC, where the patient journey begins.

When you ring 999 your call goes through to one of our two Control Rooms based in Exeter and Bristol. Our trained Call Handlers are the first point of contact to the ambulance service for people experiencing a medical emergency. Not every call you deal with will be a matter of life or death but the way you listen, interpret and deal with the calls will make a vital difference to the patients we serve every day. When you receive a call, you are responsible for recording accurate information, sometimes under difficult circumstances and offering advice or reassurance to the caller/patient. You will enter details onto a computer system about the patient and their condition which establishes the seriousness of the illness or injury, ensuring that the patient receives the right care at the right time.

Main duties of the job

• Part-time hours will be considered through a flexible working application which will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
• Please note that this role is 24/7 365 days a year (including bank holidays, weekends, days, nights etc.) and we work shifts to achieve this.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an assessment centre.

Benefits

• Competitive NHS salary.
• A standard working week of 37.5 hours.
• Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years.
• Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working.
• Generous Pension Scheme.
• Career and salary progression.
• Car leasing scheme.
• Free parking across Trust sites.
• Staff networks.
• Wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Experience of inputting data accurately and quickly using a keyboard.
• Basic computer literacy.

Desirable

• RSA Stage 1 keyboard skills.
• First Aid at Work Course.

Previous Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of dealing with members of the public in a customer service environment.

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.