Ambulance Care Assistant

Typical Salary

£19,737 To £21,142

Typical Hours

43 to 45 a week

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How To Become a Ambulance Care Assistant

You can get into this job through:

an apprenticeship
applying directly

College / University

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job through an advanced apprenticeship as an ambulance support worker.

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

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

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

driving experience
the ability to read maps and knowledge of the local area
experience of working with the elderly or disabled 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.

If you passed your test after 1996, you may need an extra driving qualification for larger vehicles and for carrying passengers.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

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

Day To Day Tasks

You may:

help patients out of their home and into the ambulance (it may involve lifting)
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

Working Environment

You could work on an ambulance.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career Path & Progression

With experience, you could become a team leader or supervisor. You could also become an emergency care assistant or apply to be a student paramedic.

You could also move into personnel, training, health and safety, or operations management.

Volunteering Opportunities

You may have an advantage if you've worked or volunteered in a health or social care role. You could contact the voluntary services co-ordinator at your local NHS trust for advice about this.

First aid work would also be useful, for example with St John Ambulance or the British Red Cross.

Tips & Information

Further information

You can find out about becoming an ambulance care assistant from Health Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

have a full driving licence
pass enhanced background checks
have a good level of fitness