Vehicle Crew Staff
Within the Scottish Ambulance Service, there are a range of frontline opportunities for people to provide a high quality of care for patients across Scotland
All posts in this area require the completion and satisfactory clearance of an Enhanced Disclosure Scotland check.
Ambulance Care Assistant (ACA) - Patient Transport Service
The role of the Ambulance Care Assistant is to provide high quality care and safe transportation for non-urgent patients. This entails transporting patients from their homes to hospitals, care centres or outpatient clinics and then returning them to home. Ambulance Care Assistant may also undertake some inter-hospital transfers and discharges and may provide support and resources to other colleagues during major incidents and large public events.
Our Patient Transport Service has focused on improving punctuality performance and service quality for priority patients – cancer, cardiology, mental health and renal patients. Ambulance Care Assistants working with these priority patient groups will receive additional training in these areas to ensure they have the skills to be able to provide the additional specialist care needed.
All Ambulance Care Assistants are trained to use “shock boxes” (an automated defibrillator) which are used in the event of a cardiac arrest.
A full training package is provided on appointment to the role.
How to apply: Details of vacancies for Ambulance Care Assistants, along with an application pack, are advertised in the current vacancies page on this site. To apply, you will need to fill in the application form in the pack, which also contains other documents providing more information about the role.
Desirable Qualifications: Three Standard Grades or equivalent (English, a numerical subject and a science subject).
Service Selection Process: Recall & retention test, driving assessment and fitness test (driver only candidates are not required to take the fitness test). There will also be a face-to face interview.
When filling out your application, you must ensure you clearly evidence how you meet the requirements for the role. If you are shortlisted for a vacancy you will be invited to attend an interview. A letter confirming these details will be sent out prior to the interview advising you of all the relevant details.
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Ambulance Care Assistant (ACA) – Urgent Tier
Ambulance Care Assistants who work on the urgent tier will work with a qualified Ambulance Technician or Paramedic as part of a double crew. They deal with the transportation of accident and emergency urgent calls, and category C and 5 patients. They will also deal with inter-hospital transfers, discharges and admissions.
In addition to completing their Ambulance Care Assistant training, they are required to undertake an additional three weeks driving training to accident and emergency standard.
How to apply: Details of vacancies for Ambulance Care Assistants - Urgent Tier, along with an application pack, are advertised in the current vacancies page on this site. To apply, you will need to fill in the application form in the pack, which also contains other documents providing more information about the role.
When filling out your application, you must ensure you clearly evidence how you meet the requirements for the role. If you are shortlisted for a vacancy you will be invited to attend an interview. A letter confirming these details will be sent out prior to the interview advising you of all the relevant details.
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Ambulance Technician (AT)
Ambulance Technicians deliver high quality pre-hospital care via the treatment and transportation of all categories of patient.
Ambulance Technicians deal with frontline accident and emergency duties, including responding to 999 calls and Doctors’ urgent calls. These occur when a doctor decides that the patient would be best treated in hospital.
Ambulance Technicians work as part of a team, with a Paramedic, another Technician or and Ambulance Care Assistant - Urgent Tier to assess and treat a wide range of patients.
The public place a great deal of trust in the clinical skills provided by Ambulance Technicians. As a valued health care professional they make key decisions on the most appropriate treatment for patients, whether they should be treated at home, taken to hospital or to another appropriate medical facility.
A full training package is provided on appointment to the role.
How to apply: Details of vacancies for Ambulance Technicians, along with an application pack, will be advertised in the current vacancies page on this site. To apply, you will need to fill in the application form in the pack, which also contains other documents providing more information about the role.
Direct Entry Desirable Qualifications: Two Higher Grades or equivalent.
Service Selection Process: Arithmetic test, retention & recall test, fitness test, driving assessment and face-to-face interview.
Ambulance Care Assistants will also have to pass the arithmetic test and undergo a further fitness test to be eligible for interview. If selected they will also undergo further occupational health screening.
When filling out your application, you must ensure you clearly evidence how you meet the requirements for the role. If you are shortlisted for a vacancy you will be invited to attend an interview. A letter confirming these details will be sent out prior to the interview advising you of all the relevant details.
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Ambulance Paramedic (AP)
Ambulance Paramedics are responsible for the high quality treatment and care of patients, associated duty of care to other members of the public including the provision of health advice (see and treat) and transportation to appropriate medical facilities, generally in emergency situations, using a range of paramedic skills.
The public place a great deal of trust in the clinical skills Paramedics provide. As a valued health care professional Paramedics make key decisions on the most appropriate treatment for patients, whether they should be treated at home, taken to hospital or to another appropriate medical facility.
Ambulance Paramedics are trained in additional skills including intubation and cannulation and are also licensed to administer additional drugs.
A full training package is provided on appointment to the role.
How to apply: Details of vacancies for Paramedics, along with an application pack, will be advertised in the current vacancies page on this site. To apply, you will need to fill in the application form in the pack, which also contains other documents providing more information about the role.
After one year’s experience as a qualified Ambulance Technician, employees can apply to undertake Paramedic pre-entry tests. These consist of oral, written and practical examinations.
It is possible for qualified Paramedics from other UK Ambulance Services to apply to join the Service. Applications should be made in the usual way for a particular vacancy. Qualified Paramedics will not be required to sit the Service entry test but will have to pass the Fitness test.
When filling out your application, you must ensure you clearly evidence how you meet the requirements for the role. If you are shortlisted for a vacancy you will be invited to attend an interview. A letter confirming these details will be sent out prior to the interview advising you of all the relevant details.
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Community Paramedics
The role of the Community Paramedic is the delivery of high quality treatment and care to patients, associated duty of care to other members of the public including the provision of health advice (see and treat) and transportation to appropriate medical facilities, generally in emergency situations, using a range of paramedic skills.
In addition to this they may also diagnose, discharge or refer suitable minor injury and/or acute illness patients whilst working on behalf of the ambulance service, GP out of hour’s service or within a minor injury clinic setting.
Some of our patients have life threatening conditions but others may be suffering from a chronic condition, such as diabetes. Other patients may have a minor injury or illness. A number of patients may need to go to hospital but for others going to hospital may not be in their best interests. In some cases remaining at home or being treated in their local community is the most appropriate treatment.
As a community paramedic you will be trained in enhanced skills to assess these types of patient to ensure the best treatment is given in the most appropriate setting. If you are already an Health Professions Council (HPC) registered Paramedic this role offers an exciting career opportunity.
Details of vacancies for Community Paramedics, along with an application pack, will be advertised in the current vacancies page on this site. To apply, you will need to fill in the application form in the pack, which also contains other documents providing more information about the role.
When filling out your application, you must ensure you clearly evidence how you meet the requirements for the role. If you are shortlisted for a vacancy you will be invited to attend an interview. A letter confirming these details will be sent out prior to the interview advising of all the relevant details.
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