Ambulance Care Assistant

The Ambulance Care Assistant will be responsible for the safe, caring and professional transport of patients to and from hospitals, clinics, care homes and private residences. The role involves supporting patients with varying mobility and medical needs, ensuring their dignity, comfort and safety throughout every journey. This is a patient-facing role requiring compassion, reliability, strong communication skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

Main duties of the job

• Safely assist patients in and out of vehicles, including the use of wheelchairs, stretchers and other mobility aids where required.
• Drive ambulance or patient transport vehicles safely and in accordance with road traffic laws, company policies and operational procedures.
• Complete journey records, patient transport documentation and incident reports accurately.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide reassurance, emotional support and clear communication to patients, relatives and carers.
• Maintain patient dignity, privacy and confidentiality at all times.
• Monitor patient wellbeing during transport and report any concerns to the appropriate healthcare professional or supervisor.
• Support vulnerable patients, including elderly people, disabled individuals and those with complex health or mobility needs.
• Plan and follow routes efficiently to ensure patients arrive on time for appointments or transfers.
• Ensure patients are safely seated, secured and comfortable before and during journeys.
• Operate vehicle equipment safely, including ramps, tail lifts, wheelchairs and stretcher systems.
• Complete patient journeys in a professional, punctual and courteous manner.

Vehicle and Equipment Duties

• Carry out daily vehicle checks, including fuel, tyres, lights, cleanliness and safety equipment.
• Ensure vehicles are kept clean, hygienic and stocked with the required equipment.
• Report vehicle defects, equipment faults or safety concerns promptly.
• Follow infection prevention and control procedures, including cleaning and decontamination after patient journeys where required.

Administration and Communication

• Communicate effectively with control room staff, healthcare professionals, patients and colleagues.
• Follow instructions from dispatch, supervisors and clinical staff.
• Maintain accurate records in line with company procedures and data protection requirements.

Health, Safety and Compliance

• Follow all health and safety, manual handling, safeguarding and infection control policies.
• Use personal protective equipment appropriately.
• Report accidents, incidents, safeguarding concerns or near misses in accordance with policy.
• Attend mandatory training and maintain required competencies.
• Work in line with equality, diversity and inclusion principles.

Person Specification

• First Response Emergency Care Level 3, or Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Non-Emergency Patient Transport Support, or Level 3 Award in Ambulance Patient Care: Non-Urgent Care Services, or Level 3 Certificate in Ambulance Patient Care: Non-Urgent Care Services.
• First Response Emergency Care Level 4.
• A caring, patient and respectful approach to supporting people.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to remain calm, professional and focused in challenging situations.
• Good timekeeping and reliability.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Physically able to assist patients and carry out manual handling tasks safely.
• Basic written and IT skills for completing records and reports.
• Full UK driving licence, subject to role and vehicle requirements.
• Willingness to work shifts, weekends or bank holidays where required.
• Previous experience in patient transport, ambulance services, healthcare, social care or customer-facing roles.
• First aid or basic life support training.
• Experience supporting elderly, disabled or vulnerable people.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, infection control and manual handling procedures.
• Category C1 driving entitlement, where required for the vehicle type.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.