Apprentice Emergency Care Assistant (AECA)

Here at South Central Ambulance Service we are proud to offer a great opportunity to join us as an Apprentice Emergency Care Assistant.

This is a level 3 Apprenticeship exclusive to SCAS with a duration of approximately 16 months. On completion of this programme you will have achieved a Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving (CERAD) and a Level 3 Diploma in Emergency Care.

This Apprenticeship is specially designed for those with no healthcare experience. The first part of the programme which lasts approximately 9 months, will be spent working within our non-emergency Patient Transport Service (PTS) as an Ambulance Care Assistant. Whilst working within the PTS team you will convey patients to/from outpatient clinics, renal dialysis and other appointments. As well as transporting patients to and from appointments, you will be responsible for moving patients in and out of vehicles using our specialist equipment which you will be trained to use. During your time in PTS, you will learn the key fundamentals of patient care, teamwork and communication which are essential skills you will use throughout your career and create the perfect grounding for starting your career with us..

Following successful completion of your first stage of this Apprenticeship, you will go on to join our frontline crews working as an Emergency Care Assistant (ECA). As an ECA you will work alongside clinicians responding to 999 and 111 calls. As well as driving under emergency conditions, you will work under direct supervision of our clinicians, carrying out essential emergency care such as: controlling bleeding, treating wounds or supporting those suffering from a mental health crisis, no two shifts will ever be the same. As an ECA you will continue working on your Apprenticeship until your portfolio and final assessment have been completed and you are a fully qualified ECA.

As well as meeting all essential criteria detailed within the Person Specification, a full UK manual driving licence with no more than 3 point plus a C1 provisional on your licence, is essential for all candidates at point of application. With a full C1 licence required 4 weeks before your start date.

To illustrate how you can progress from an Apprentice ECA to a Qualified Paramedic we have created a progression map and this can be found by clicking on the link to the right, alongside the Job Description and Person Specification.

Apprentice Associate Ambulance Practitioner (AAAP)

South Central Ambulance Service are delighted to build on our existing portfolio of Apprenticeship programmes and offer the opportunity to join us as an Apprentice Associate Ambulance Practitioner.

Our Apprentice Associate Ambulance Practitioner (AAAP) role is a level 4 Apprenticeship. It offers a progression through from a non-clinical position during the apprenticeship period, moving onto a qualified clinical position on successful completion of the course

This Apprenticeship is approximately 17-months in duration (subject to completion of all elements of the programme). It is suitable for those with no background in ambulance work.

The programme is divided into sections of both classroom based learning and operational placements to allow you to consolidate your learning and receive support and development as you progress. You will be supported throughout the programme by a mentor..

On completion of this programme you will have achieved a Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving (CERAD) and a Level 4 Diploma Associate Ambulance Practitioner.

As well as meeting all essential criteria detailed within the Person Specification, a full UK manual driving licence with no more than 3 point plus a C1 provisional on your licence is essential for all candidates at point of application. With a full C1 licence required 4 weeks before your start date.

Student Paramedic – Apprentice 

Our Student Paramedic Apprenticeship programme is currently only available internally within our Trust and is open to existing team members serving in patient-facing roles such as Emergency Care Assistants and Associate Ambulance Practitioners. The aim of this Apprenticeship is to encourage our people to develop their careers and become fully-qualified Paramedics.

This increases accessibility to a highly respected profession, allowing our people to continue to work on the front line while gaining a full BSc (Hons) in Paramedic Practice, allowing our Ambulance Service to develop our own staff and grow and strengthen our workforce.

To illustrate how you can progress internally to a Qualified Paramedic we have created a progression map and this can be found by clicking on the link to the right, alongside the Job Description and Person Specification.

Introducing one of our Apprentice Emergency Care Assistants Peri…

Read Peri’s story about how she went from Drama School Teacher to an Apprentice Emergency Care Assistant!

• What did you do before joining SCAS?

Originally, I worked in a secondary school as a Drama Teacher and I absolutely loved working with students.

Within the school I also worked in Pastoral Care, as a Youth Mental Health First Aider.  Whilst I was working there we teamed up with Mental Health England and helped teach the 6th formers to be a supportive person with new students.

I left education after we started to expand our family.  During lockdown, I decided I didn’t want to go back into teaching and joined a vaccination hub as a vaccinator for 8 months.

• What made you decide to apply for the AECA role?

 A close friend is a Paramedic and she encouraged me to consider a role with SCAS, I honestly didn’t think I had the confidence to do it.  However, as a vaccinator I worked alongside Paramedics and others from all walks of the NHS at the vaccination centre. Part of my role was to talk to patients, build rapport and help if they had a panic attack.  I also supported in giving vaccinations to the public and soon realised a new set of skills.  I looked at SCAS roles online where I saw the AECA Virtual Live Chat, I thought I would give this a go.

I was that I had the qualifications to apply for the Emergency Care Assistant position directly, but I wanted to learn via the Apprenticeship route and learn from the ground up. It was also a great way to ease in with a young family.

• How did you find/are you finding your apprenticeship? – Talk to us a little about the training you received?

Really enjoying it! I think the time spent with the Patient Transport Service (PTS) is invaluable for the development of a frontline team member.  Personally, I think anyone who works frontline should do some time with PTS.  You get to build relationships with patients because you may take the same person to their appointments 3-4 times a week.  You develop skills that are fundamental such as manual handling and communication skills – learning how to talk to people with disabilities and from different backgrounds.

The education centre is a great facility with great educators.

• What is the best thing about your role?

The reaction from friends and family, they are proud and supportive, especially my children.

Also another aspect has to be without a doubt the people I have been working with so far.

• Do you have plans to progress further in SCAS

Yes in the future I hope to expand my skillset, perhaps this could see me fall back on my education experience?

If this is of interest to you, click ‘Apply Now’ to view our current vacancies.

For further information or questions about these our Apprenticeships, you can call 01869 365000 or email Recruitment@scas.nhs.uk