Job summary
- Main area
- Ambulance Emergency Call Taker
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 195-26-ECTN-CSM-AB
- Employer
- South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Northern House
- Town
- Bicester
- Salary
- £25,760 - £27,476 pro rata per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/08/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Emergency Call Taker Bicester
Band 3
Job overview
Emergency Call Taker – Make a Difference When It Matters Most
A child is trapped beneath a fallen tree.
Someone suddenly collapses and stops breathing.
There’s been a serious road traffic collision.
A caller is standing on a bridge, overwhelmed and in crisis.
In moments like these, people dial 999.
As an Emergency Call Taker, you will often be the very first person a caller speaks to in some of the most difficult moments of their life. Your calmness, compassion, and ability to think clearly under pressure can make a real difference.
Can you stay focused when others are distressed?
Can you ask the right questions, provide reassurance, and support callers through critical situations?
If so, this could be the role for you.
No two calls are ever the same. One moment you may be helping coordinate a life-saving emergency response, and the next you could be supporting a new parent through the safe arrival of their baby.
This is a fast-paced, challenging, and highly rewarding role where you will be part of a team dedicated to helping people when they need it most.
Main duties of the job
This role is based on-site and does not support remote working. You will need to work from our Emergency Operations Centre in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
- Based is Northern House HQ - Bicester
- Must be 18+
- Right to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship available)
- Training courses available from September 2026 onwards
If you’re ready for a role that challenges you, energises you, and calls on your resilience throughout the day, we’d love to hear from you!
You don’t need medical experience — just:
- Compassion
- Confidence
- Clear communication
- Resilience (requires resilience and emotional awareness throughout the shift)
- A genuine desire to help others
Please do review the job description and person specification for full details and requirements for the role.
Working for our organisation
Why You’ll Love Working with Us
Starting at £13.17 per hour, plus generous NHS pay enhancements:
- +35% uplift (up to £17.78/hr):
Saturdays & weekday nights - +69% uplift (up to £22.26/hr):
Sundays & bank holidays
And of course — the full package of NHS benefits, including:
- 27–33 days annual leave (pro rata)
- NHS pension
- Huge national discounts (retail, travel, leisure, tech & more)
- Free parking
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Full-time & part-time shifts available
This is your chance to build an NHS career with real progression and stability.
Flexible working requests will be considered in line with business requirements.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
· We provide a comprehensive training programme designed to support you every step of the way.
Your Training Journey
- First 4 weeks: Classroom training, Mon–Fri, 08:30–16:30
- Next steps:
- 10 one-to-one coaching shifts.
- 8 shifts, 5 calls from your final 2 shifts will be selected randomly for audit.
- Final sign-off observation with Education Team.
These will be full-time hours, and attendance is mandatory throughout the programme.
Ready to make a difference?
Join a team that saves lives, supports communities, and values every single person who walks through the door.
The Application Journey
- Online Application — tell us why you’re a great fit
- Online Assessments — listening, problem-solving & critical thinking
- Interview — your chance to shine
Apply now — your future with NHS Emergency Call Taker starts here.
If you have any queries relating to disability and the role or recruitment process, get in touch at: [email protected]
Please note – original qualification certificates to meet the person specification for this role will be required, if you don’t have copies of these, you will need to request replacement certificates by visiting: gov.uk/replacement-exam-certificate.
Person specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential criteria
- Good standard of education (i.e 2 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including English) or equivalent demonstrable experience
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working in a customer focused environment
- Experience of using a computerised system
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a call centre
- Experience of working rotating shifts
- Previous NHS experience
- Previous experience of patient care
Skills & Aptitudes
Essential criteria
- Attention to detail and accurate data entry skills
- Ability to use communication and computerised systems.
Desirable criteria
- Map reading.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- EOC Recruitment
- Job title
- Recruitment
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01869 365000
List jobs with South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust in Emergency Services or all sectors