University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Senior Switchboard & Reception Supervisor

The closing date is 21 April 2026

Job summary

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Switchboard & Reception Supervisor to oversee Switchboard and Reception services across Worthing, Southlands, and St Richard's Hospitals.

In this role, you will provide day-to-day operational supervision, ensuring these essential front-line services run smoothly and efficiently across all sites.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide day-to-day operational supervision of Switchboard and Reception services across the designated hospital sites.

You will help ensure the safe, responsive and effective delivery of 24/7 telecommunications and front-of-house reception services, supporting smooth daily operations, good staff performance and compliance with Trust policies.

You will also act as the first point of escalation for operational issues, staffing matters and service incidents, escalating any significant risks or concerns to the Switchboard & Reception Manager when required.

About us

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer abuddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate Pack

Details

Date posted

07 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

279-7855830-APRIL26

Job locations

St Richard's, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

If you do not meet the sponsorship requirements, and you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

Main duties and responsibilities

Communication

Provide day-to-day operational leadership to the Switchboard and Reception teams. Act as the first point of escalation for service issues, incidentsand complaints, ensuring clear communication with clinical and corporate teams during service disruptions. Maintain confidentiality and support incident reporting and investigation in line with Trust policy.

Service delivery and improvement

Oversee the daily delivery of switchboard, alarm,pagingand reception services to ensure safe and effective operations. Monitor call handling performance and service standards, ensure emergency communication systems are operational, and escalate faults promptly. Support service improvements and the implementation of new systems or processes.

People management and development

Provide line management to designated staff, including recruitment, induction, appraisaland performance management. Manage staff rotas using e-rostering to ensure adequate service cover. Monitor sickness absence and annual leave, conduct return-to-work meetings, and ensure staff complete mandatory training whilemaintaininghigh standardsof customer service.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

If you do not meet the sponsorship requirements, and you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

Main duties and responsibilities

Communication

Provide day-to-day operational leadership to the Switchboard and Reception teams. Act as the first point of escalation for service issues, incidentsand complaints, ensuring clear communication with clinical and corporate teams during service disruptions. Maintain confidentiality and support incident reporting and investigation in line with Trust policy.

Service delivery and improvement

Oversee the daily delivery of switchboard, alarm,pagingand reception services to ensure safe and effective operations. Monitor call handling performance and service standards, ensure emergency communication systems are operational, and escalate faults promptly. Support service improvements and the implementation of new systems or processes.

People management and development

Provide line management to designated staff, including recruitment, induction, appraisaland performance management. Manage staff rotas using e-rostering to ensure adequate service cover. Monitor sickness absence and annual leave, conduct return-to-work meetings, and ensure staff complete mandatory training whilemaintaininghigh standardsof customer service.

Person Specification

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

  • Experience of supervising staff within a customerfacing or telecommunications environment.
  • Experience of managing rotas and service delivery.
  • Experience of handling complaints and incidents.

Desirable

  • Experience of working at management level within a customer service environment
  • Knowledge of switchboard systems and associated functions (fire alarms, panic alarms etc.).

People Management and Develpment

Essential

  • Experience of recruitment, appraisal and performance management
  • Knowledge of sickness absence and workforce management processes
  • Ability to motivate teams and support change

Skills

Essential

  • Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
  • Ability to analyse and interpret operational performance information.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Confident decisionmaking and problemsolving ability
  • Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and relevant systems.

EDI

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Person Specification

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

  • Experience of supervising staff within a customerfacing or telecommunications environment.
  • Experience of managing rotas and service delivery.
  • Experience of handling complaints and incidents.

Desirable

  • Experience of working at management level within a customer service environment
  • Knowledge of switchboard systems and associated functions (fire alarms, panic alarms etc.).

People Management and Develpment

Essential

  • Experience of recruitment, appraisal and performance management
  • Knowledge of sickness absence and workforce management processes
  • Ability to motivate teams and support change

Skills

Essential

  • Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
  • Ability to analyse and interpret operational performance information.
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Confident decisionmaking and problemsolving ability
  • Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and relevant systems.

EDI

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

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

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

St Richard's, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

St Richard's, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Interim - Facilities Operations Manager

Brandon Vanner

brandon.vanner@nhs.net

07979701622

Details

Date posted

07 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

279-7855830-APRIL26

Job locations

St Richard's, Worthing and Southlands Hospitals

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Supporting documents

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