Job summary
Working Part time: 28.5 hours per week (this could include 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.
Main duties of the job
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.
About us
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:
* The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds
* Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility
* Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.
The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.
Details Date posted
27 June 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 2
Salary
£24,169 a year pa pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
210-2025-311
Job locations
Countess of Chester Hospital
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
Job description Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
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 description Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
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.
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.
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information 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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Countess of Chester Hospital
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
Employer's website
https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details Employer name
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Countess of Chester Hospital
Liverpool Road
Chester
CH2 1UL
Employer's website
https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)
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