Apprentice Emergency Care Assistant

Are you looking for your first patient facing job within the NHS? Are you looking for a role where you will genuinely make a difference every time you go to work? If so, then South Central Ambulance Service’s (SCAS’s) Emergency Care Assistant (ECA) Apprenticeship is for you.

ECAs work in a challenging but rewarding role that provides essential support to our qualified clinicians in responding to Emergency and Routine calls. The role is ideal for individuals with no healthcare experience who may not have the required entry criteria for standard ECA trainee roles and for those wishing to move into the emergency environment at a gradual pace.

We are looking for people who can demonstrate our values of Caring – Team Work – Professionalism and Innovation in all they do. So, if you have experience of remaining calm under pressure, can demonstrate your caring and compassionate nature, don’t mind working shifts but have no formal experience of working in healthcare then we want to hear from you.

We are looking for people who can start their apprenticeship in Reading, Newbury, High Wycombe or Oxford. You then may need to move station when you start the ECA training depending on available vacancies. Please state where you want to work in the additional information section of the application form.

Driving is an essential skill for this role, so you will need a full, current, B Category manual driving licence, with no more than 3 points at the point of application. A full C1 category licence is desirable however, if you do not have this category, SCAS will be offering a salary sacrifice scheme in order to support you in obtaining this licence during the first half of the 18-month apprenticeship. (Please see FAQ document for further details). You MUST have applied for your provisional C1 Category driving licence before assessment and bring proof of your application to the assessment day. The provisional C1 category must be confirmed on your licence before you are able to start. We will need to see your driving licence for the driving assessment.

The apprenticeship is 18-months in duration. Following initial training and driver training at our centre in Newbury, apprentices will be deployed within our Patient Transport Services, learning the fundamentals of care, compassion and communication whilst starting to complete their apprenticeship portfolio. At the end of the initial 12-months, apprentices will undertake an accredited Level 3 Diploma in Emergency Care Support as well as an Emergency Driving Course. Following successful completion of these elements, apprentices will be deployed within our Frontline 999 Operational Team where they will work alongside qualified clinicians responding to urgent and emergency calls. On completion of the programme, apprentices will undertake an End Point Assessment.

The initial 3 weeks’ training course takes place in Newbury and the ECA training takes place at one of our Education Centres in Bicester, Nursling or Newbury with the Emergency Driver Training takes place at our Centre in Newbury. Training is not residential and we do not provide mileage or accommodation during the training period.

You are only required to have either GCSE English or Maths (Grade C (4) or above) at the commencement of the course. If you do not have one of these qualifications (or equivalent), you will be supported in achieving Functional Skills Level 2 in one of these subjects within the first 12-months. The English and Maths programmes will be undertaken via external provider and you will be eligible for 55 guided learning hours.

Due to the specifications of the operational vehicles, you will ultimately need a C1 driving licence. However, SCAS are able to offer support in achieving this via a salary sacrifice scheme within the first 12-months of the programme (see FAQs for more details). You will need provide evidence of your application for provisional C1 at the assessment day.

As the ACA training forms one element of this apprenticeship programme, we are not able to accept applications from people who are currently ACAs.

This apprenticeship offers;

• The ability to undertake functional skills (Maths or English) and C1 driving licence whilst employed;
• A fully supported training programme leading to an accredited qualification*;

• Opportunity to develop a good grounding in patient care within Patient Transport Services before moving on to a frontline post;
• Opportunity for career progression;
• Access to apply for other continual professional development;
• Access to apply for other educational qualifications;
• Occupational Health support along with an Employee Assistance Programme;
• Access to NHS negotiated discounts.

Helpful tips and useful information

If you clearly demonstrate that you meet the essential criteria then we will invite you to an assessment at Newbury. This will include a lifting assessment, interview and a driving assessment in a larger, manual, van-sized vehicle. If you have not driven a larger vehicle before or for a while, we recommend that you practice this prior to attending to give you a better chance of showing your driving competency on the day. We will need to see your driving licence before we can take you out for the driving assessment.

Interviews will be held in Newbury.

Please read the person specification and job description carefully and make sure that all the minimum requirements are clearly noted on your application form in the correct place.

We will close the advert as soon as we reach the required number of applications – so don’t delay apply now!

*Please note that this qualification is subject to the course being accredited. If the course is not accredited, you will receive an in-house certificate confirming successful completion of the ECA training element which enables you to work as an ECA within SCAS.