West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

General Porter - Newmarket Hospital

The closing date is 31 October 2025

Job summary

Newmarket Hospital is looking to recruit two General Porters to work 20 hours per week.

At Newmarket Hospital, Porters are essential members of staff.

Moving patients and equipment is just part of our job.

We liaise with other teams, helping with whatever way possible with the aim to provide the best possible service to the patient.

The satisfaction of supporting someone visiting the hospital and the friendly working environment makes this an appealing opportunity.

Main duties of the job

General Porters are required to assist with day-to-day duties that are necessary for the smooth running of the Department. These duties include but are not limited to:

- Transportation of patients to and from wards and departments- Delivery and collection of essential items within the hospital grounds, which will require interpersonal skills and the ability to carry out manual handling tasks.- Working with a variety of people including staff at all levels, patients and visitors.

Applicants must have good customer service and communication skills coupled with a professional appearance which is appropriate to a front of house role.

Full training and a health assessment will be required before becoming a team member.

About us

#BeKnown at Newmarket Hospital. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Hospital providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

As part of the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some here at Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7550731-F

Job locations

Newmarket Hospital

Exning Road

Newmarket

CB8 7JG


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached full job description and person specification for more details on the job role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached full job description and person specification for more details on the job role.

Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

  • GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications to demonstrate a good standard of general education
  • Basic skills in literacy and numeracy.
  • NVQ Level 2 in Portering; or willing to work towards

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of providing high quality customer service.
  • Proven ability to work without supervision.

Desirable

  • Previous Portering experience.
  • Previous experience of working in a hospital environment.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Able to work using own initiative
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Able to drive tugs, move laundry bags and carry out all other manual handling tasks as required
  • Good attention to detail

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Flexible approach to working hours with the ability to work an alternating shift pattern.
  • Able to become part of the RPI team following training and mandatory health assessment.
  • Evidence of good attendance and timekeeping
Person Specification

Education & Qualification

Essential

  • GCSE (or equivalent) qualifications to demonstrate a good standard of general education
  • Basic skills in literacy and numeracy.
  • NVQ Level 2 in Portering; or willing to work towards

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

  • Experience of providing high quality customer service.
  • Proven ability to work without supervision.

Desirable

  • Previous Portering experience.
  • Previous experience of working in a hospital environment.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Able to work using own initiative
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Able to drive tugs, move laundry bags and carry out all other manual handling tasks as required
  • Good attention to detail

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Flexible approach to working hours with the ability to work an alternating shift pattern.
  • Able to become part of the RPI team following training and mandatory health assessment.
  • Evidence of good attendance and timekeeping

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

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Newmarket Hospital

Exning Road

Newmarket

CB8 7JG


Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Newmarket Hospital

Exning Road

Newmarket

CB8 7JG


Employer's website

https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Facilities Soft Services Manager - Community

Garry Sharp

Garry.sharp@wsh.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

179-7550731-F

Job locations

Newmarket Hospital

Exning Road

Newmarket

CB8 7JG


Supporting documents

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