IT Network and Telecoms Specialist

The IT Network Specialist role supports the IT Network Manager in delivering a robust, available, secure and resilient corporate network, Wi-Fi solution and telephone system. This is a highly technical role that includes design, commissioning and support of the Trust's network infrastructure. The role also supports other sections of IT Support providing third line support and an escalation route., * Develop and maintain the Trust's data and voice networks including the wireless network and remote access requirements.

• Develop and maintain the Trust's telephony and ACD systems.
• Take the lead in specifying and procuring network and telephony equipment.
• Test and evaluate new IT infrastructure products and services including software and hardware, or changes to current systems that are proposed for use in the Trust.
• Be involved with specific IM&T roll-outs of projects as required.
• Provide high levels of customer care and satisfaction.
• Respond to and resolve network and telephony related incidents in an efficient and professional manner, being sympathetic to the needs of our service users and using appropriate tools and resources.
• Diagnose faults within hardware and software and provide fixes for issues that arise in the use of the Trusts network and telephony systems and assets.
• Provide support to the department's front line, customer facing services by giving technical assistance, advice and guidance in complicated or very detailed technical areas.
• Take the lead with the resolution of IT Service Desk generated incidents within any predetermined timescales, including escalation where required.
• Provide verbal and written reports through immediate line manager, identifying progress in relation to complex IT incidents, issues or implications.
• Liaise with other local support and /or development teams obtaining advice and/or providing solutions on IM&T technical issues.
• Liaise with other Trusts support teams when technical issues expand outside the Trusts perimeters.
• Day to day supervision of junior staff within the team including allocating and monitoring the workload.
• Readily share IM&T knowledge, provide assistance, and deliver core/specialist IM&T related training involving colleagues at all levels
• Be responsible for own personal education, keeping up to date with emerging IM&T technologies and infrastructures, changes to IM&T best practices, to ensure highest possible standards of work.
• Contribute to, update and take responsibility for IT Support's information systems.
• Participate in Departmental reviews, ensuring highest possible standards of work.
• Use and maintain resources efficiently and effectively.
• Participate in the Department's out-of-hours on-call rotas.

We are seeking a suitably qualified, enthusiastic, motivated Network Specialist to join our team within ICT Services at Royal Blackburn Hospital. You will be joining a friendly team and, as such, you will be an accomplished and flexible team player.

The postholder will respond to support requests relating the network and telephony issues as well as running exciting projects to improve the infrastructure. CCNA qualification is essential and knowledge of Cisco technologies would be beneficial., * Degree in IT relating subject or equivalent level of experience

• CompTIA A+, Network+, CCNA or equivalent experience, * Extensive practical experience in a technical IT support environment within a medium to large organisation, * Expert technical knowledge of IT Infrastructure hardware and technologies such as network switches, telephone systems and wifi environments

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge and skills in the use of Cisco technologies, * Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey complex technical concepts in plain language

It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.

Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS)

If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained.

The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed.

The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38., Please note: a young person must be in part-time education or training until they're 18. If you are under 18 we are unable to employ you on a full time basis, unless it is in an apprenticeship role.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

If the role you've applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one-off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40, Standard DBS check £26.40, Enhanced DBS check £54.40 and Enhanced DBS check with Barred List(s) £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.

In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working.

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work. One LSC is a new collaborative partnership shared service formed by the five NHS Trusts serving the Lancashire and South Cumbria population of 1.8 million people. We are a shared service run by the NHS, for the NHS and are hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust on behalf of the partner Trusts of the Lancashire and South Cumbria system. One LSC stands for 'One Lancashire and South Cumbria' and reflects the Lancashire and South Cumbria System ambition to have one team serving Lancashire and South Cumbria in a joined-up way. It is jointly run by the five Trusts as a collaborative partnership. The Trusts that make up One LSC are: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust · Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust · Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust One LSC brings together the Digital, Data and Technology, Estates and Facilities, Finance, People Services and Procurement and Logistics services from each of the provider Trusts to create one central community of professionals. Under one leadership team, they will provide services for and on behalf of all Trusts. The aim is to bring services more closely together so that we can deliver the best service possible to each of our partner organisations. At the core of One LSC delivery is eliminating duplication, removing unwarranted variation, realisation of the benefits of sharing common systems and processes and ensuring we deliver value for money for our partners, our system and, ultimately, for the communities we serve., At One LSC East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 8,000 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work., The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit., The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, is committed to improving the working lives of its colleagues and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy on aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. As a recruitment service, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service in recruiting people into positions of trust. It is important to us that we employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone - irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that as an employer we are under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit. We recognise that the recruitment process may present barriers for some and you may need personal adjustments to enable you to participate in our recruitment process. Please make contact with the recruitment team at the earliest opportunity to ensure that measures can be put in place to enable you to apply for this post.