Job summary
Your NHS needs YOU!

Why apply for this role?
Our 999 Emergency Call Handlers (Emergency Medical Advisors) are people just like you: people who have come to us from all walks of life, from different backgrounds and age groups, people who all have the same things in common.

You are the first person our patients speak to when they call 999 in an emergency.

What makes a great 999 Emergency Call Handler (Emergency Medical Advisor)?

• Our 999 Emergency Call Handlers are all caring and empathetic
• They all have great communication skills
• They're all happy and able to work flexibly

Main duties of the job
We will provide full training in a warm, friendly environment in our Emergency Call Centres.

Our comprehensive training programme:

• 9 weeks full time training
• Is full time, even for part time applicants
• Has a 'must' attend policy due to you obtaining your Pathways licence
• Comprises of 3 weeks of Monday to Friday classroom training, then observing and mentoring periods within the working environment for a further 6 weeks before you go "live".

This is a fully office-based role at our NHS 111/999 contact centres in Medway, Kent or Crawley, West Sussex. Due to 24/7 shift patterns, including nights, applicants must live within approximately 45-60 minutes' commuting distance. Applications outside this distance will not be progressed.

If you are planning to relocate, please include details and timescales in your supporting statement.

About us
As we are a 24/7 service, this role will involve working a varied shift pattern including earlies, lates, nights and weekends on a rota pattern. These rotas are fixed to ensure a safe provision to our patients. If you have a requirement to work nights ONLY, this can also be catered for.

What we can offer you:

• Competitive salary of £25.760- £27,476 (13.17 per hour) with the extra earning potential with unsocial hours allowance
• Unsocial hours enhancements - For all hours that you work between 8pm and 6am Monday - Friday and all-day Saturday you will earn a shift bonus which means you will earn approximately £17.78 per hour. For Sundays and Public Holidays, you will earn approximately £22.26 per hour.
• 35 days' annual leave inclusive of Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Flexible working hours on a rota pattern
• Free parking
• Blue Light discount card Blue Light Card
• Generous NHS Pension Scheme
• Award winning Wellbeing hub
• Staff networks
• Training and development
• Salary Sacrifice schemes for cars or push bikes
• Access to occupational health
• Enhanced DBS check
• Bonus scheme

Other than in exceptional circumstances, the starting salary for staff new to the NHS will be the bottom point of the band to which they have been appointed.

Job responsibilities
The role of an Emergency 999 Call Handler (Emergency Medical Advisor)
When you dial 999, your call goes through to a call handler based in one of our 2 Emergency Operation Call Centres. These staff are trained to use the NHS Pathways system to provide assistance in a variety of situations, from minor illness to life threatening situations. The assistance you will provide will range from offering lifesaving advice whilst an ambulance is on route, to directing callers to other more suitable services.

This role can be demanding, challenging, and ultimately very rewarding however, it's not for everyone. Applicants will need to have a range of skills to be able to deal with often stressful and emotional situations, whilst also demonstrating compassion and empathy to all callers, no matter what the situation.

• Successful applicants demonstrate high levels of personal commitment to facilitate the delivery of a patient-focused service
• We need individuals who have the drive and passion to make a difference to peoples lives, but also the personal resilience to work in a high-pressured environment
• You will need to be able to work well within a team and independently, have fast/accurate typing skills and a good standard of education or equivalent experience
• This role is suited to people who remain calm under pressure, good at problem solving and have excellent interpersonal skills, with an empathetic nature

Further Information
The interview process will consist of 6 Multi Mini Interview's (MMI's) and a tour of the Emergency Operations Centre.

All successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check for adults and children.

Qualifications
Essential

• Educated to GCSE or Functional Skills in Maths, English and ICT skills OR evidence within previous employment that they have used Maths and English to GCSE level or higher

Desirable

• Level 2 in Customer Service or Health and Social Care
• NHSP Pathways trained or other medical triage system background

Experience
Essential

• Previous experience working and communicating with the public
• Ability to communicate with a variety of different people and build rapport
• Experience of working in a computer based role - strong IT skills

Desirable

• Previous experience working in a team or with stakeholders across a range of settings

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.