Skip to main content
Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
PALS & Complaints
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (12 mts FTC from start date)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (5 days per week, Mon - Fri)
Job ref
390-COR-BR-0020-A
Employer
Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Broomfield
Town
Chelmsford
Salary
£27,485 Per Annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
10/04/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust logo

PALS & Complaints Officer

Band 4

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

 

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and innovative individual to join our team as a PALS & Complaints Officer!

We are looking for a motivated individual with excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills. You will join a team that aims to ensure concerns raised by patients and the public are logged accurately & passed to the relevant hospital services to be resolved quickly & efficiently. The feedback obtained is used to influence & improve the patient experience across the Trust. Dealing with highly sensitive situations on a daily basis, you will work with patients, relatives & staff to ensure that concerns are resolved and improvement is embedded. PALS & Complaints Officers play a key role in sharing patient insight to aid continuous improvement, supporting the delivery of safe care along with an excellent patient experience.

 We would expect this individual to be enthusiastic, motivated, showing sensitivity & tact and be able to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  

***Please not we are unable to sponsor this role***

Main duties of the job

The role serves as an accessible first point of contact for patients, relatives and members of the public who have questions, concerns or complaints about Trust services. It involves recording all concerns accurately, ensuring they are entered promptly onto the database and that all related files are updated with clear, timely information.

The position provides guidance to service users and staff on the correct processes for managing concerns and complaints, helping ensure matters are handled appropriately and sensitively. It also requires building strong working relationships with clinical and non‑clinical teams across all Divisions, as well as with external organisations, to support effective communication and maintain public and professional confidence. A key aspect of the role is responding with empathy and professionalism to individuals who may be distressed, offering reassurance and support while managing emotionally challenging situations.

Working for our organisation

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and well being of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

We aim to make the most of our skills and experiences so we can become the best we can be. As one organisation we will recruit the finest and retain more specialist staff due to more employment opportunities across our Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Are you looking for an exciting new role using your unique qualities, then we want to hear from you.

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description.

We look forward to your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Professional/vocational qualification to diploma level or equivalent Maths and English
  • Customer Care Training/experience
  • Level 3 qualification/apprenticeship
Desirable criteria
  • RSA 3 word processing or equivalent
  • ECDL (European Computer Driving License)

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of NHS Complaints procedure
  • Knowledge of Microsoft packages (word, excel, outlook)
  • Excellent and proven written communication skills (such as letter writing)
  • Experience of complying with tight deadlines in line with organisational policies or procedures
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of MSE Trust structures / Acute Trust experience
  • Shorthand skills

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of dealing with PALS/complaints, ideally in a health care environment
  • Substantial experience of working in a customer service environment
  • Significant experience working in an administrative role
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in an NHS PALS or complaints department
  • Experience in using NHS computer systems (MSE preferable)

Skills

Desirable criteria
  • Previous experience of writing concerns/complaints responses
  • Previous experience handling telephone calls and extracting/recording relevant details/information

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Trust IDNHS Employers Diversity and Inclusion PartnersApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerArmed Forces Covenant Gold Awardhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/kickstart-scheme-employer-resources/kickstart-scheme-brand-guidelinesStonewall Silver 2022Disability confident employerNHS Rainbow badgeNHS Pastoral CareNHS 75th Birthday

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Nadine Lipscombe
Job title
Head of PALS & Complaints
Email address
[email protected]
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies