Emergency Care Assistant

Typical Salary

£19,737 To £24,157

Typical Hours

40 to 42 a week

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How To Become a Emergency 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 usually need:

3 or 4 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English, maths and a science subject
excellent driving skills and current knowledge of the highway code

Some ambulance services may also want you to have experience of working in a patient care setting, ideally in the NHS and with a current first aid certificate.

If you passed your driving 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:

use advanced driving skills to respond to medical emergencies
carry out basic scene safety checks by assessing the risk to yourself and others
contact the emergency control centre to request extra support
transfer patients to and from ambulances, using special equipment and manual handling skills
help ambulance paramedics deal with urgent hospital admissions
support the delivery of first aid and minor emergency treatments
monitor and treat patients until they are transferred to hospital
complete handover reports and record all patient information
make sure your vehicle is roadworthy, properly kitted out and cleaned after every call

Working Environment

You could work in an NHS or private hospital or on an ambulance.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.

Career Path & Progression

Career Path & Progression are not listed for this job.

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 further advice.

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 more about becoming an emergency care assistant from:

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

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