Are you looking for your first patient facing job within the NHS in 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 providing 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 a station in Thames Valley (including Reading, Oxford & High Wycombe). You may then need to move station after 12 months when you start the second stage of your training, depending on available vacancies.
Driving is an essential skill for this role, so you will need a current provisional C1 Category manual driving licence, at the point of application with no more than 3 points. A full C1 category licence is desirable. 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 your provisional C1 Category driving licence before you apply. C1 Theory and Hazard Perception tests will need to be completed successfully before you can start with us.
If you don't have your provisional C1 yet, don't worry, we will be advertising again in January which should give you time to get it added to your licence.
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. For the final stage of the programme, 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.
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 courses will be undertaken via external provider and you will be eligible for 55 guided learning hours.
We will need to see your qualification certificates at the assessment stage.
As the ACA training forms one element of this apprenticeship programme, we are not able to accept applications from people who are currently ACAs.
If you clearly demonstrate that you meet the essential criteria then we will invite you to an assessment at Newbury, Bicester or at a station in Hampshire. This will include a lifting assessment, interview and a driving assessment in a large, manual, van-sized vehicle. We will need to see your driving licence before we can take you out for the driving assessment and you must have provisional C1 to undertake this assessment.
Start dates will be 2nd or 9th March 2020.
Please read the person specification, job description and FAQs carefully and make sure that all the minimum requirements are clearly noted on your application form in the correct place.
*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.
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