Emergency care assistant

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

Entry requirements:

College

You could do a college course to give you some of the skills and knowledge you need to become an emergency care assistant.

You could do a level 2 certificate or level 3 diploma in health and social care. You could also do 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 do an advanced ambulance support worker apprenticeship to become an emergency care assistant.

Entry requirements:

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

Volunteering

You'll find it helpful to have some health or social care experience before applying for a job.

You could:

• get advice about volunteering in the NHS
• do first aid work with the British Red Cross or St John Ambulance
• find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT

DirectApplication

You can apply directly to become an emergency care assistant. You'll usually need to:

• know the highway code and have experience driving
• have experience working in patient care, ideally in the NHS
• have a first aid certificate

Some ambulance services may ask you for 3 or 4 GCSEs, including English, maths and a science subject 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:

Emergency care assistants support paramedics and drive ambulances under emergency conditions.

In this role you could:

• drive to medical emergencies
• assess the risk to yourself and others and ask for more support if needed
• support the paramedic to carry out essential emergency care
• transfer patients into the ambulance and monitor their health
• record patient information and complete a handover report
• check and maintain the ambulance

Location : You could work in an NHS or private hospital or on an ambulance.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
Uniform : You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.

Salary:

Starter : £23,000
Experienced : £28,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

37 - 42 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

Career Path:

With experience and further study, you could apply to train as a paramedic. You could start by applying to become a trainee emergency medical technician or a student paramedic. You could then take an approved paramedic science degree.

You could also become a team leader or supervisor and be responsible for a team of emergency care assistants.