AE Call Handler (East)

East ACC Advert Relief Emergency Call Handler SAS

We are now recruiting for full and part time permanent relief Emergency Call Handlers to work within our East of Scotland Ambulance Control Centre in South Queensferry, Edinburgh.

If youve been in an emergency, youll know that the 999 call is answered promptly and professionally. But have you ever thought about what actually happens at the other end of the emergency line?

Our Emergency Call Handlers are critical in allowing us to provide life-saving advice and assistance to callers. Theyre the first point of contact for the public, and they work to prioritise each call, provide effective life support, first aid and medical advice where necessary and liaise with ambulance crews on route to the emergency, also dealing with Police and other emergency services.

The Person

Applicants that do not currently work in the ACCs will be required to take a typing assessment and must be able to type at a minimum of 30 wpm with a 90% accuracy. They must also demonstrate the ability to work effectively under pressure and with minimal supervision.

You will also need excellent communication skills, the ability to prioritise and make decisions quickly, often under great pressure.

Ideally you will have experience in working with the public either already in the ACC, a healthcare setting, a contact centre environment or on a face-to-face basis.

Training and Working Pattern

If you have what it takes to make a difference, then well give you all the training you need to succeed. 

You will attend our in-house training programme, which may require travel for 2 weeks training, after which you will need to be available full time for up to 10 weeks to enable you to become a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher.  During the first 2 weeks of training there will be no facility for leave due to the nature of the training.  This will also be the case approximately 6 weeks later when there is another week of training.

The working hours for these posts will be full time and part time relief including bank holidays, weekends and unsocial hours

Full / Part Time Relief Posts

• Emergency Call Handling Post (NHS Pay Band 3)
• Must be able to travel to the EAST ACC
• Relief Emergency Call Handlers required
• Relief Hours / unsocial hours expected
• Permanent Contracts

Core shifts of 0630-1830 Day shift and nightshift 1830-0630 split over a continuous rotating pattern of days/nights:  3 nights with 3 days off, 4 days with 7 days off, 4 nights with 3 days off, then 3 days with 1 day off. You can start on 10 hour shift patterns and move to 12 hour shifts at a later date.

Some samples of part time rotas could look like, but not fixed to the following;

Other shift patterns could be Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 20:00 06:00,

Relief working where shift patterns are given up to 4 weeks in advance but are flexible covering high demand times.

The Scottish Ambulance Service reserve the right to close this advertisement early if a sufficient number of suitable applications are received                                                                                                                                         

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.