Job summary
Are you looking for a career where you can make a real difference?
Would you like to work as a part of a dynamic and high performing critical care team? The UHS Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Dispatcher role forms an integral part of providing pre-hospital critical care to the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
This is fast paced and rewarding role, working in an ambulance emergency operations centre alongside a HEMS Paramedic to dispatch advanced care teams to patients in need across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You will identifying incoming jobs, dispatching both the Critical Care Team and Critical Care Paramedics as required, and working with the HEMS crew on scene with logistics including opening landing sites and liaising with other agencies.
The service operates from 07:00 - 02:00, 365 days of the year. Standard shift times for a HEMS Dispatchers are 07:00 - 16:30 and 16:30 - 02:00.
Main duties of the job
YOUR MAIN DUTIES
Emergency Dispatch Assistants work as part of a dispatch team using the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system to send our aircraft and critical care team vehicles to patients in need in emergency situations.
Though you will be employed by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS), the role is based at Southern House- an ambulance emergency operations centre in Otterbourne, a South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) location. The HEMS Care Group is commissioned by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Charity and you will work closely with the charity too.
This is an exciting, challenging and extremely rewarding role with no two shifts being the same!
UHS, HIOWAA live by their values and it is important that you can demonstrate the behaviours that meet these values:
The UHS Values: Patients First, Always Improving, Working Together
The HIOWAA Values: Openness, Dedication, Professionalism, Teamwork
You can read an overview of the main duties of the role in the section below: Job Description and Main Responsibilities.
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents attached.
About us
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.
At UHS we are committed to providing a flexible working environment. We believe that it benefits everyone if we achieve a positive work-life balance. Whether you are balancing family, study or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
We're proud to have been voted in the Top Five acute Trusts for our commitment to supporting our staff to achieve work-life balance.
UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme and life insurance.
Job description
Job responsibilities
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
WHAT YOULL DO
The Dispatch Assistant Role is multi-faceted but primarily responsible for:
- To support and assist the dispatch of all HEMS assets including aircraft and response cars in accordance with Trust procedures and the Command Control System.
- To promptly communicate with operational critical care team staff via radio, telephone and MDT, as applicable, to pre-position them in accordance with deployment plans and current workload.
- To assign and mobilise crews to incidents and response posts, maintaining the most appropriate and quickest level of response to any incident.
- To utilise Computer Aided Dispatch, radio, telephone systems and other communications equipment in accordance with Trust protocols and procedures.
WHAT WERE LOOKING FOR
Previous experience is advantageous but full training will be provided. Our ideal candidate is resilient, eager to learn, understands the importance of teamwork, and has good attention to detail. You must have access to your own transport and be willing to work late evenings, bank holidays & weekends, as our service operates 7 days a week 365 days a year from 07:00 02:00. Please see the accompanying job description and person specification for further details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Interviews will be held on Friday, 11 August 2023
Should you have any queries, please use the contact details below to get in touch.
HEMS@uhs.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
WHAT YOULL DO
The Dispatch Assistant Role is multi-faceted but primarily responsible for:
- To support and assist the dispatch of all HEMS assets including aircraft and response cars in accordance with Trust procedures and the Command Control System.
- To promptly communicate with operational critical care team staff via radio, telephone and MDT, as applicable, to pre-position them in accordance with deployment plans and current workload.
- To assign and mobilise crews to incidents and response posts, maintaining the most appropriate and quickest level of response to any incident.
- To utilise Computer Aided Dispatch, radio, telephone systems and other communications equipment in accordance with Trust protocols and procedures.
WHAT WERE LOOKING FOR
Previous experience is advantageous but full training will be provided. Our ideal candidate is resilient, eager to learn, understands the importance of teamwork, and has good attention to detail. You must have access to your own transport and be willing to work late evenings, bank holidays & weekends, as our service operates 7 days a week 365 days a year from 07:00 02:00. Please see the accompanying job description and person specification for further details.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Interviews will be held on Friday, 11 August 2023
Should you have any queries, please use the contact details below to get in touch.
HEMS@uhs.nhs.uk
Person Specification
Trust Values
Essential
- Patients First
- Always Improving
- Working Together
Qualifications/training required
Essential
- Educated to GCSE level, with 4 Grades level 4 or equivalent demonstrable ability.
- Customer care training or equivalent
- Willing to participate in competency based learning framework.
Previous or relevant experience necessary
Essential
- Experience within a customer orientated organisation
- Call handler or customer care experience
- Emergency Medical Dispatcher Qualified / Basic Life Support Trained / AED Operator / Community Responder
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS or Voluntary Sector (i.e. St. John's; Red Cross)
- Experience of using a telephone/radio system as a regular means of communication in a work environment
Aptitudes and skills required
Essential
- Proven organisational skills and situational awareness
- Good Keyboard skills for input of data and IT competent (Excel, Email, etc)
- Demonstrates commitment to, and enthusiasm for, personal development
- Able to work effectively as part of a team
Desirable
- Geographical knowledge of the HIOW area
Person Specification
Trust Values
Essential
- Patients First
- Always Improving
- Working Together
Qualifications/training required
Essential
- Educated to GCSE level, with 4 Grades level 4 or equivalent demonstrable ability.
- Customer care training or equivalent
- Willing to participate in competency based learning framework.
Previous or relevant experience necessary
Essential
- Experience within a customer orientated organisation
- Call handler or customer care experience
- Emergency Medical Dispatcher Qualified / Basic Life Support Trained / AED Operator / Community Responder
Desirable
- Experience of working in the NHS or Voluntary Sector (i.e. St. John's; Red Cross)
- Experience of using a telephone/radio system as a regular means of communication in a work environment
Aptitudes and skills required
Essential
- Proven organisational skills and situational awareness
- Good Keyboard skills for input of data and IT competent (Excel, Email, etc)
- Demonstrates commitment to, and enthusiasm for, personal development
- Able to work effectively as part of a team
Desirable
- Geographical knowledge of the HIOW area
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
