Emergency care assistant

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

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

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

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

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.

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.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming an emergency care assistant from:

• Health Careers
• College of Paramedics
• Local Ambulance Trusts

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

You'll need to:

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

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

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.