Ambulance care assistant

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

Entry requirements:

College

A college course might give you some of the knowledge and skills required to be an ambulance care assistant.

You could take a level 2 certificate in health and social care or a T Level in health.

Entry requirements:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level

Apprenticeship

You could also become an ambulance care assistant by taking an ambulance support worker advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Volunteering

You might find it useful to have some health or social care experience before applying for a job. For example, you could volunteer with:

• the NHS
• British Red Cross
• St John Ambulance

DirectApplication

You can apply directly for jobs. You'll need to:

• have driving experience
• use a sat nav, map or know the local area
• have experience working with disabled or elderly people

Some ambulance services may ask you for 4 GCSEs, including English, maths and a science at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent.

You might need an extra driving qualification for larger vehicles and carrying passengers if you passed your test after 1996.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• sensitivity and understanding
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• excellent verbal communication skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• knowledge of English language
• knowledge of public safety and security
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• a desire to help people
• business management skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• concentration skills
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• the ability to read English
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• the ability to work well with your hands

What you'll do:

Ambulance care assistants take patients to and from hospital for appointments.

In this role you could:

• lift and help patients in and out of the ambulance
• settle patients back at home after their appointments
• use a radio to keep in touch with the ambulance control room
• check and maintain the ambulance and its equipment
• keep accurate records of journeys

Location : You could work on an ambulance.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
Uniform : You may need to wear a uniform.

Salary:

Starter : £22,000
Experienced : £24,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

43 - 45 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

Career Path:

With experience, you could:

• become a team leader or supervisor
• become an emergency care assistant or apply to be a student paramedic
• move into personnel, training, health and safety or operations management