HART Paramedic
The closing date is 18 May 2026
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is currently recruiting candidates for our HART teams based in Bristol and Exeter. SWASFT believes in having a diverse and inclusive workforce that represents the community and supports patient safety.
As part of extensive training in technical rescue and safe systems of work, HART Paramedics become proficient in using a wide range of specialist PPE and incident‑management equipment. A comprehensive ongoing training programme will see you attend a week of training every six weeks, ensuring that every member of the team maintains the highest standards and safe operating practices. Candidates will be expected to undertake residential training pertinent to HART requirements.
Successful applicants will undergo the selection process which includes:
* A competency‑based people panel
* An assessment day where you can showcase your skills and knowledge
* An occupational health assessment
* A physical competency and confidence assessment
Successful internal candidates for the HART Paramedic role will maintain their current term and conditions.
Main duties of the job
As a HART Paramedic you will respond to a variety of adverse and protracted incidents. You will deliver paramedic interventions through a number of HART capability areas:
* Hazardous Materials (HazMat)
* Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and explosives (CBRNe) environment
* Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA)
* Safe Working at Height (SWaH)
* Confined spaces
* Unstable terrain
* Water operations
* Support to Security Operations (SSO)
* Off‑road operations
* High consequence infectious disease (HCID)
In addition to these core operational capabilities, HART Paramedics have enhanced clinical skills – endotracheal intubation, ketamine administration, surgical cricothyroidotomy and digital thoracostomy – to support Trust clinical strategies and patient care.
Successful candidates will be provided with the training, equipment, and support to deliver exceptional patient care in adverse environments to improve patient outcomes.
About us
We provide emergency and urgent care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England – 10,000 square miles – and respond to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.
We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five‑year strategy that continually improves patient care at its core.
Our beautiful and diverse region employs over 6,000 people and is supported by over 575 volunteers.
Job responsibilities
To apply you must be:
* Intubation trained (you do not need to be currently practicing this skill)
* Have a good level of physical fitness
* Be capable of swimming 100 metres
* Meet the physical requirements due to HART specific PPE
o Foot size between 3–14 (UK shoe size)
o Weight less than 124 kg (wearing Trust uniform including boots)
o Height restrictions may apply for tall staff members (this is done on an individual basis)
Right to work / Certificate of sponsorship
This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship under current Home Office regulations. You must have the existing right to work in the UK to be considered for this position.
For further information on visa sponsorship and eligibility, refer to the UK Government guidance on Skilled Worker visas: www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* HCPC qualified paramedic
* UK driving licence with C1 and Blue Light Driving
* BSc in Emergency and Urgent Care practice or equivalent experience
* Advanced clinical skills such as endotracheal intubation
* SORT trained or on the waiting list
* ALS, PHTLS, PHETC or other advanced clinical courses
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Address
East Devon Operations Centre (EDOC) and North Bristol Operations Centre (NBOC)
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