Job summary
- Main area
- Switchboard
- Grade
- NHS AfC: AFC 2
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 193-7520196COR
- Employer
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £24,465 pro-rata per annum (with weekend enhancements)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/10/2025 08:00
Employer heading

Switchboard Operator (Part Time 10 hrs p/w)
NHS AfC: AFC 2
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”
Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.
We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions
We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate
We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live
We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.
Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.
Job overview
Band 2 Switchboard Operator
This is a part-time post for 30 hours per week.
Hours of work are between 07.30-22.30 including weekends (weekend enhancements applicable).
The post holder will be expected to provide a vital supporting role to all areas of the trust to assist in providing an efficient and effective 24 hour telephonist service.
The hospital switchboard handles a high volume of calls approximately 10,000 per day and operators will have contact with all types of external incoming calls and incoming calls at all levels.
It is a requirement to be professional at all times in order to deliver a quality service whilst under stress caused by dealing with high volume and often emotional calls.
Main duties of the job
Answering internal and external telephone calls to the trust switchboard in a polite ,sensitive and respectful manner using greetings and protocols that follow Trust Operational procedures.
To operate the IT based telephone switchboard consoles which control distribution of operator connected telephone calls to the Trust.
Programming bleeps correctly to ensure all group calls are entered as required to ensure the safety of the patients.
Flexibility will be required in relation to working patterns to ensure the aims of the role are met and provide sufficient operator service at all times.
Working for our organisation
Reading sits on the River Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford, and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work, and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.
The CQC recently rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.
Our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Resourceful, Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Of extreme importance in the role is the ability to remain calm when dealing with various types of Trust wide emergency calls.
Answering queries and directing members of the public and staff.
Understanding and assisting confused and emotional visitors to the trust in a sympathetic and calm manner.
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the post.
Person specification
Education/ Qualifications Training
Essential criteria
- Good general education
- Good command of English language
Desirable criteria
- Previous NHS experience
- Previous Switchboard Experience
Experience
Essential criteria
- Dealing with people on a daily basis
Desirable criteria
- Proven ability to maintain confidentiality
- Switchboard/Receptionist skills
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jan Appleby
- Job title
- Switchboard Operations Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0118 322709
- Additional information
Applicant must be willing to work evenings until 22.30 and weekends between 7.30am and 22.30pm . Occasional daytime Mon-Fri Shifts as extra time
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