Ambulance care assistants, also known as patient care services in Northern Ireland, transport non-emergency patients to and from hospital for pre-arranged appointments.

Working in the Patient Transport Service, they help patients in and out of the ambulance and take them to their appointment. Afterwards the patient is driven back to their home, and the care assistant will ensure they are settled in before leaving.

Many of the people care assistants deal with are frail, elderly, physically disabled or have mental health problems. They are likely to be worried and nervous and need to be treated with kindness and patience.

Throughout the working day staff are in regular contact with the control room.

Hours and Environment

Ambulance personnel in the NHS work 39 hours a week. Unsocial hours may be required to meet the needs of the service. Part-time positions are available.

A great deal of time is spent out on the road. This work involves a lot of heavy lifting, carrying and bending. Ambulance care assistants are responsible for the routine maintenance of their vehicle and its equipment.

Skills and Interests

As an ambulance care assistant, you will need:

• a warm, outgoing, caring personality
• the ability to work with all types of people
• to enjoy helping people
• good driving skills and a full clean driving licence
• a strong sense of responsibility and a serious attitude to work
• good organisational skills
• to enjoy being part of a team
• physical and emotional stamina.

Entry

The ambulance service in the United Kingdom is organised on a local basis and run by district health authorities or NHS trusts. Entry criteria and training may vary between regions. Please check with your local service for details; the Ambulance Service Association (ASA) website links to all local ambulance services.

In general, to work as an ambulance care assistant you need:

• to be over 18 years of age (21 in some services) 
• to hold a full, usually clean, driving licence for at least one year, sometimes two - if you passed your test after 1996, you may need an extra driving qualification
• to satisfy the selection criteria set by the local ambulance service you are applying to - this may include testing your driving skills and knowledge of the Highway Code 
• to have a medical assessment to make sure you are physically fit and have good eyesight.

You also need a good general standard of education, and some ambulance services ask for a minimum of four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) in English, maths and a science-based subject. Equivalent qualifications may be accepted; check with your local ambulance service.

Training

Once accepted into a service, you take a two to four week training course which involves:

• improving your driving skills
• developing moving and handling techniques
• first aid
• basic emergency accident management
• (in some services) administering oxygen therapy.

You are tested by continuous assessment and also take written and practical examinations.

If you reach the required standards you are attached to an ambulance station and work under the guidance of a trained supervisor for a probationary period before working unsupervised.

Working as an ambulance care assistant is the established route to a career as an ambulance technician, and ultimately to paramedic.

Opportunities

Most ambulance personnel are trained by and work for the NHS, although there are some opportunities to train and work in the armed forces.

There are some openings for NHS trained staff with private ambulance services, run by private hospitals or large firms with their own on-site ambulance service.

Some care assistants progress to other roles within the ambulance service such as ambulance technician and paramedic; see relevant job profiles. Opportunities may also exist within departments such as training, personnel, health and safety, and operations management.

Employment in the ambulance service is generally stable. In order to find a post, applicants may need to relocate.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

An ambulance care assistant working in the NHS can earn between £12,200 to £16,800.

Further information

Tel: 08000 150 850
Email: learning@nhscareers.nhs.uk PO Box 376
Bristol
BS99 3EY
Tel: 0845 606 0655 Friars House
157-168 Blackfriars Road
London
SE1 8EZ
Tel: 020 7928 9620