Job overview
Working within and in support of the Estates & Facilities Directorate, the postholder will be responsible for maintaining effective relationships with contractors and internal stakeholders, overseeing performance against contractual standards, identifying areas for improvement, and ensuring that all facilities management activities contribute to a safe, efficient, and sustainable estate. You will be responsible for the efficient running of the Switchboard team providing management and support to a friendly team of switchboard operators as well as ensuring the team provide a high-quality service to our patients, visitors and staff.
Main duties of the job
You should be a highly motivated team player with an operational knowledge of switchboard services within an acute hospital setting along with experience of managing teams. Troubleshooting issues and implementing changes with suppliers will be something you are keen to be a part of and working with all levels of staff to ensure telecoms systems are developed appropriately to support the activity of the services will be paramount in your thinking.
The Switchboard Manager will manage the 24/7 switchboard function with line management of associated staff.
The Switchboard Manager will provide support, advice and liaise with internal and external telephone user groups on day-to-day matters to ensure the smooth operation of telephone services.
This position is essential for providing operational support across the organization. The role ensures that daily processes run smoothly, assists in resolving operational issues, and contributes to maintaining efficient workflows.
The post holder will be required to develop relationships with but not limited too:
1. Internal relationships with colleagues with Estates & Facilities Directorate
2. Clinical Colleagues and other stakeholders
3. External organisations
This job profile is intended to provide an outline of the duties and responsibilities of this post and may change from time to time by agreement of the Manager and the post holder.
Working for our organisation
We have an excellent reputation for being innovative, responsive and flexible to the changing clinical needs of the local population. We are treating more patients than ever before and are dedicated to improving services to deliver the best for our patients.
Our mission
Helping local people live longer, healthier lives.
Our vision
Provide safe, personal, co-ordinated care for the community we serve.
Our goals
We have developed six key strategic goals to make sure we continue to support people to live longer, healthier lives.
4. To secure the best possible health and wellbeing for all our community
5. To integrate and coordinate care in person-centred teams
6. To deliver consistent, high quality, safe services
7. To support our patients and users in being active partners in their care
8. To be recognised as a leader in the fields of medical and multi-professional education, and population-based clinical research
9. To innovate and continuously improve the quality of our services to deliver the best outcomes for our local population
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Professional Duties
1. To proficiently operate the computer based switchboard covering the full range of operator duties.
2. Monitor the efficient operation of the switchboard service. Collating monthly performance data for quality and auditing purposes.
3. The post holder must deal with any problems that arise, considering the options and consequences, then deciding on the appropriate course of act to take and implementing it.
4. To provide suggestions and changes for the department on the above protocols and procedures that are used within the switchboard department.
5. Assist the Facilities Support Manager in managing the switchboard service to deliver a high quality and cost-effective service that is responsive to the needs of the Trust in line with agreed Trust Policies and Procedures.
6. Liaise with departmental staff (including contracted staff) on-site e.g.; on a regular basis reporting and supporting information around the switchboard services.
7. Attending meetings to discuss switchboard services with key stakeholders.
8. To review and manage all complaints received within the department, take responsibility for analysing to identify trends and ensuring effective processes are in place to implement any resulting change as required.
9. To assist the Facilities Support Manager in the implementation of business continuity plans to ensure safe and effective service delivery.
10. To work as part of a team including taking some share of covering at short notice/bank holidays/weekends/nights.
11. To be prepared and willing to be called in at very short notice, in the event of major incident Participate in switchboard on-call rota, providing support / cover as required Undertake such duties as may be identified or delegated by the Facilities Support Manager (operational) or the Facilities Support Manager (Contracts) for Non Clinical Support Services from time to time following consultation with the post holder.
12. To assist the Facilities Support Manager and communicate on matters concerning all aspects of the switchboard service.
STAFF MANAGEMENT DUTIES
13. To manage all day-to-day aspects of the Switchboard, using initiative and discretion to forward plan and improve the quality and efficiency of the service. To manage staff providing the services. This includes carrying out:
· Recruitment and Retention
· Induction
· Appraisals and developing staff PDP’s supported by senior H.R. advisors
· Disciplinary and Grievance Hearings
· Staff training
· Performance and Conduct reviews
· Sickness Absence reviews
· Attendance monitoring and addressing identified problems, in line with Trust procedures.
14. To produce and manage a complex staff rota for the switchboard team ensuring there is cover 24/7 throughout the whole year. Ensure annual leave is co-ordinated in the interests of the service and cover provided.
15. To create and motivate a team of Switchboard Team Leaders and Operators ensuring staff have the necessary skills and technical abilities required to provide and excellent customer focused service.
16. To ensure effective communication systems exist within the team, including ensuring there are regular team meetings and one to ones.
17. To assess the impact of changes, both to the type of work and activity levels, on staffing and review staff skills and numbers accordingly
Administration
18. Support the Facilities Management team with all departmental administrative workstreams as required.
19. Maintain, manage and arrange where required the Facilities Management Team diaries to ensure sensible planning of commitments and assist in prioritising workload in relation to the current and anticipated workload.
20. Co-ordinate, attend and minute internal and external both sub-group and committee meetings as required. Create, format, prepare and distribute any correspondence, reports, committee papers, Board papers and presentations for and on behalf of the Directorate.
21. Assist with raising purchase orders and processing invoices, in line with the procurement processes and procedures in place.
22. Supporting with tasks associated with the recruitment and selection of new staff: advertisement, inviting candidates for interview, liaising with recruitment, and assisting with induction.
Stakeholder Engagement
23. Play an active role in driving customer service with an emphasis on service improvement and process.
24. Manage and liaise with all key senior stakeholders within the operational delivery process, including but not limited to bed meetings, discharge planners, CSM, Lead nurses, senior nurses and Chief Nurses.
25. Regular liaison with a broad spectrum of multi-disciplined and senior internal and external stakeholders on behalf of Facilities
26. Liaise with external contractors, as required.
Projects
27. Undertake any ad-hoc projects under the supervision of the Facilities Contracts Manager and Head of Facilities, obtaining and analysing information from both internal and external sources.
28. To participate and lead ad-hoc projects as required for the Directorate.
29. Assist Facilities Management with compiling and submitting of ERIC & PAM reports
30. Supporting management with actively seeking to demonstrate quality by developing systems and standards across the Dept.
Finance
31. Monitor contract and SLA financial positions as requested by the Senior Facilities Management team.
32. To assist in the identification and delivery of cost improvement schemes.
33. Responsible for a departmental/designated budget
34. Support with financial duties such as procuring quotes, raising purchase orders/requisition, processing waivers and invoices and liaising, when necessary, with both internal finance and accounts payable departments.
35. To undertake any other duties which is deemed appropriate to the band when requested.
Line Management
36. Line management for the contract monitoring team
37. Lead all aspects of staff management, including recruitment, induction, appraisals/PDPs, training, performance reviews, absence management, and disciplinary/grievance processes
38. Produce and manage a rota to ensure service coverage, balancing leave and operational needs
39. Motivate and support team, ensuring skills, technical ability, and customer service standards are maintained
40. Facilitate effective communication through team meetings, one-to-ones, and feedback
41. To facilitate the personal and professional development of staff. This involves identifying training and development needs, providing suitable development opportunities and evaluating development actions in accordance with the Trust’s appraisal and training procedures.
42. To monitor the level and standard of work undertaken by your staff and to guide, coach and advise them as appropriate. Provide briefing prior to and debriefing after all training and development activities.
The above indicated the main duties of the post which may be reviewed considering experience and developments within the service. Any review will be undertaken in conjunction with the post-holder.
The above is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of duties required of the post-holders and will be subject to regular review.
Decisions and judgements
43. The post holder will, in the course of normal duty, be required to make recommendations on areas of non-compliance with the Trust’s Health and Safety policies and procedures or compliance with Health and Safety legislation and guidance. These judgements will involve the analysis of situations set against set criteria of Trust Policy or Regulations and may be discussed with a senior member of the Health and Safety Team before progressing with managers and their staff.
44. The post holder will work under regular supervision and within set boundaries, whilst having the freedom to balance and prioritise their workload.
Person specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential criteria
10. Degree or equivalent experience in switchboard or Significant on-the-job experience and onthe-job training to post-graduate level or equivalent experience
11. Minimum 2 years’ experience
12. Telecoms service and staff management experience
13. Experience in leadership and management
Desirable criteria
14. Customer Services qualification
15. Project management qualification
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
16. Customer focused and proactive – able to put the customer at the heart of everything you do
17. Excellent communication skills and able to liaise effectively with staff at all levels.
18. Able to record complex technical details accurately and able to document technical procedures
19. Good interpersonal skills and able to interact with a range of people including non-technical users, managers, suppliers, contractors, facilities management and medical staff
20. Able to plan and organise a number of activities and continually reprioritise to meet changing deadlines and in response to unforeseen problems or events.
21. Able to remain calm, polite, tactful and persuasive when problems occur.
22. Excellent standards of administration and record keeping.
23. Ability to plan and complete small scale projects.
24. Proven ability to analyse, assimilate, investigate and resolve complex queries where the outcome is not otherwise obvious or specified
25. Ability to plan tasks and activities, tracking progress and monitoring for change requirements
26. Able to react quickly to emergencies.
Desirable criteria
27. Experience in developing service opportunities through business planning, monitoring, and leading the implementation of successful change
28. Proven ability to manage technical changes within a controlled environment
29. Ability to plan training programmes and to teach/ demonstrate to a wide audience
30. Good problem solving and negotiating skills
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
31. Microsoft server and desktop applications
Desirable criteria
32. Experience working in a complex, large and high-pressured IT support environment
33. Working within multidisciplinary teams
34. Working with communication systems and information networks
35. IT Systems management
36. Knowledge of data quality and how it impacts on back-end reporting
37. Demonstrative technical experience in software applications
38. Knowledge of revenue expenditure, budgets, and capital, including forecasting trends
39. Experience or Knowledge in setting budgets such as to meet the requirements of the role with any reasonable adjustments
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
40. Effective communicator
41. Ability to work as part of a team
42. Customer focused
43. Effective Leader
44. Driver of quality standards
45. Preparedness to change and lead change.
46. Desire to succeed.
47. Ability to function well under pressure.
48. Strong level of ambition and enthusiasm.
49. Effective team leader and player
50. Willing to learn and develop new skills
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS
To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:
51. Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
52. Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
53. Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
54. Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
55. Participate in required training and supervision.
56. Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct
Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.