Job Summary
At Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust we believe patient wellbeing and experience, alongside clinical quality, should be at the heart of everything we do. Patient experience starts with the patient, listening and designing the experience to meet the needs of our patients and their families. Are you passionate about ensuring our patients, their relatives and friends have outstanding experience of our care?
This position will not be supported for visa sponsorship. All applicants are expected to have a valid right to work document to work in the UK when applying for this position.
Please note, this post may close earlier than the given closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Main Duties
To provide a high level of customer service to patients, relatives and visitors who may need information or advice about Trust Services. To support and signpost people with concerns or queries to ensure timely resolution of issues. This will include the provision of in‑reach services to engage with patients and their carers or relatives within our wards and departments. The post holder will also work in partnership with staff from the Claims, Complaints, Risk and Audit Departments and work as a member of a team and develop professional relationships with all staff and others with whom you come into contact with during the course of your work.
The post holder will also provide support to the Patient Experience lead in the distribution, collection and collation of any patient experience based surveys (including Friends & Family) on a daily basis from all ward/departmental areas which are eligible, ensuring that these are timely and effective in their purpose. They will also have the ability to enter, collate and extract data to provide meaningful reports for both the PALS and Patient Experience departments.
About Us
We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.
We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.
If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID‑19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.
Job Details
Date posted: 24 December 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 4
Salary: £28,860 to £31,671 a year per annum pro rata inclusive of allowances
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part‑time
Reference number: 252-7693478
Job locations: Darent Valley Hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Dartford, DA2 8DA
Job Responsibilities
Patient Advice & Liaison Service
* Work within the Patient Advice and Liaison Service and Complaints service, ensuring an accessible, confidential, patient‑focussed service that deals with problems and concerns quickly as and in accordance with national requirements and local policy using the Datix reporting System.
* Adhere to key performance indicators (KPIs), whilst dealing with emotional and sensitive situations.
* Deal with enquiries/concerns raised in person, by telephone, email or letter, responding in a professional and empathetic manner.
* Agree a plan for managing an enquiry/concern with the enquirer/complainant independently.
* Understand when to seek guidance from the PALS Lead, Complaints & Claims Manager or other senior staff.
* Understand the importance of protecting patient confidentiality at all times and understand how to work within the limitations that this can pose.
* Provide information and advice to patients and carers on the NHS complaints procedure and, subject to their choice, assist and support service users in making a complaint or refer them to appropriate independent advocacy services.
* Provide verbal/written information to enquirers.
* Recognise when to refer enquiries to clinical staff (this is a non‑clinical post and the post holder is therefore not permitted to give clinical information, e.g. test results).
* Ensure that people are treated courteously and professionally and that queries are dealt with efficiently and effectively when members of the public seek information, help, advice and assistance with enquiries and concerns relating to Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust.
* Communicate sometimes sensitive and distressing information in an appropriate manner in person and by telephone/email.
* Process complex, sensitive or contentious information.
* Use own judgement based on information available and to seek advice when unsure of appropriate response, from the PALS Lead or an appropriate manager.
Person Specification - Education and Training
Essential
* Good all‑round general education to GCSE standard, including English Language and Mathematics.
* NVQ Level 3 or equivalent.
* Experience developing and maintaining administrative processes and procedures.
Desirable
* IT qualification (e.g. ECDL or equivalent).
Person Specification - Knowledge
Essential
* Awareness of The Local Authority Social Services and National Health Service Complaints (England) Regulations 2009.
* Knowledge of the Friends & Family test and its purpose.
* Understanding of the organisation and structure of the NHS.
* Ability to deal with distressing circumstances/challenging people.
* Good administration skills.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills.
* Knowledge of IT systems and software programmes such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access 2010.
* Understanding of Confidentiality and Data Protection Act.
* Good organisational skills.
* Keyboard skills.
* Able to cope with emotionally demanding and challenging people on a frequent basis.
* Ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines.
Person Specification - Experience
Essential
* Customer Service experience.
* Experience of data collection and data entry and data extraction to provide meaningful data.
* Analytical techniques/skills.
Desirable
* Experience of working within an acute NHS Trust.
* Experience of using Datix, Gather/SNAP and/or Patient Administration databases and Excel.
* Experience of working in NHS Complaints or PALS.
* Experience of undertaking customer experience surveys.
Person Specification - Personal Attributes
Essential
* Compassionate but assertive.
* Tactful.
* Diplomatic.
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.
Employer Details
Employer name: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
Address: Darent Valley Hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Dartford, DA2 8DA
Employer's website: https://www.dgt.nhs.uk/working-for-us
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