An opportunity has arisen for a qualified HART Paramedic to join the NEAS HART team. ( Please note we will not accept applications from non-HART trained staff)
The Role of the HART Team
Attend and respond to incidents including Major Incidents, incidents of a CBRN nature, structural collapse, confined space rescue, major transportation incidents, incidents requiring working at height, trench collapse and rescue, incidents involving complex entrapment and protracted incidents.
To provide specialist clinical support and knowledge within challenging environments.
Provide immediate health input to the initial assessment of the scene to meet the needs of Ambulance and other Emergency Services.
You will be a currently qualified HART Paramedic. You will be able to demonstrate competence in team working, self discipline, communication skills, adaptability, planning skills and decision making. You will have a good level of fitness, be comfortable working at height, in confined spaces and be capable of swimming 100 meters.
The HART Paramedic will be required to work within a number of hazardous environments to provide NHS standard Paramedic care to patients who are otherwise beyond the reach of NHS care.
Must be competent to work within the skill sets of the following core capabilities;
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCID)
CBRN(e)
Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA)
Safe Working at Height (SWAH)
Confined Space
Unstable Terrain
Water Operations
Support to Security Operations (SSO)
To work closely with other Emergency Service personnel at incidents working to the JESIP principles.
May be deployed to protracted incidents and where necessary on mutual aid to other Trusts where they could be away from home for a number of nights.
Work to the National Safe System of Work (SSoW). This includes Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Generic Rescue Plans (GRP), Generic Operational Risk Assessments (GORAs), Training Information Sheets (TISs), Generic Training Risk Assessments (GTRAs), Equipment Data Sheets (EDSs) and Generic Equipment Risk Assessments (GERAs).
Will be required to work autonomously but mostly as part of a team under the direction of the appointed HART Team Leader and/or the Operational Commander.
We employ 3,500 staff in 63 locations and serve a population of 2,600,000 in Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham, and Tees over 3230 square miles.
Many people think the job of the ambulance service is to collect patients and take them to hospital, but we do much more
Paramedic skills have developed hugely in recent years, meaning we carry out more treatment at the scene and en-route to hospital.
We have a dedicated clinical assessment service that allows us to provide patients with the most appropriate care from the beginning of the patient journey.
We have a specialised branch of the Trust called HART which deal with explosions or terrorist attacks.
Ultimately patients are the heart of everything that we do to support our mission of "safe, effective and responsive care for all".
We value and respect the diversity employees bring to our workplace. We recruit a workforce that reflects the community we serve, and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. To ensure we deliver on our aims in relation to diversity and inclusion we assess ourselves against a range of frameworks. We are ENEI Gold employer, Disability Confident Leader, Dementia Friendly, and part of Mind Blue Light programme and the Race at Work Charter from the Princes Responsible Business Network and are achieving across all objectives in NHS Equality Delivery System.
From 01/04/25 If your role needs a DBS you'll be subject to salary deduction totaling £49.50, spread over first and second pay.
Job responsibilities
Operational
Estimate resources required and undertake Situation Reporting (SitRep) as required.
Direct, coordinate and deliver lifesaving clinical care for patients within the inner cordon including triage (where appropriate, toxic triage), diagnosis, appropriate treatment, prior to and during, decontamination (if contamination present) and in situations of difficult access in USAR incidents, at times being the only clinician in situ and deliver casualties into mainstream healthcare.
Operate specialist equipment and make appropriate use, based on dynamic risk assessment, of levels of PPE provided.
Utilise equipment in accordance with safe systems of work (SOPs, GERAs, GORAs, GTRAs, TIS, EDS & GRPs)
Collaborate with partners operating alongside the HART and liaise with specialist agencies e.g. PHE, Fire Service HDIM & USAR to gather relevant information on scene.
Access relevant databases (e.g. TOXBASE, CHEMNET, etc.) to research and communicate to others regarding the symptoms, treatment, and decontamination procedures for an incident.
Provide clinical support and backup to multi-agency service personnel working in the inner cordon.
Undertake Hazard Identification and monitor local environmental safety e.g. weather & climate conditions, gas levels and wind direction, liaising with other available expertise to consolidate decision making.
Comply with Command & Control in the inner cordon (Hot/Warm zones) contributing to the deployment of resources, casualty management and evacuation.
Actively support and work with other members of the Team undertaking those tasks allocated by the HART Team Leader, or other officer designated to manage a CBRN or HART incident.
Working within the Team, maintain the readiness of PPE, clinical and operational equipment and vehicles, and carry out routine care and maintenance to ensure a high state of preparedness.
Be prepared to respond to national incidents, with the possibility of being away for unknown periods of time.
Perform a range of clinical skills in mentally and physically challenging environments. These must be performed wearing restrictive PPE so requiring high levels of dexterity.
As required, convey patients suspected or confirmed of having HCID to specialist Infections Disease Units.
Work as a sole practitioner when required, in accordance with your Trust policy.
Drive all relevant vehicle types in accordance with Trust policy and current road traffic legislation and utilising off-road capabilities.
Governance and Quality
Work within the policies and procedures of the Trust, NHS ECU and HART Unit to ensure that:
Patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
Any confidential/classified information which comes in to your possession or knowledge is managed in such a manner as not to compromise an operation or the safety of staff involved in the delivery of any such operation.
Be aware that the immediate working environment may be designated a scene of crime and as far as possible endeavour to preserve and/or leave undisturbed any potential evidence, without compromising ability to perform the clinical role.
professional visibility on social media is cognisant of all of the above sensitivities (including training and operational deployments)
Maintain required personal standards of service delivery and core HART skills and attend training events as required to deliver the expected level of service.
Actively support and work with other members of the team undertaking tasks allocated by persons designated to manage the incident.
Assist in the ongoing evaluation of HART capabilities and effectiveness.
Assist in the research and development of new equipment.
Analyse information from multiple sources to better understand the nature of an incident and plan scene management activities.
Ensure the accurate recording of information, including patient records and decision logs, relating to HART operations, in accordance with established procedures and share with Team Leaders and other authorised staff as appropriate.
Communication, Networking and Working Relationships
Comply with the required instructions, procedures and processes of the Team, and the Trust to maintain effective two-way communication.
If required, represent the Trust and emergency services in the public arena and promote its image as a professional and competent service.
Develop and maintain good working relationships with other emergency services, NHS Trusts and public sector agencies.
Promote HART awareness to other Ambulance staff and partner agencies.
Actively support and promote the aims and objectives of the Trusts HART capability.
Utilise a variety of communication methods to inform colleagues and other agencies.
Strategic
Actively support and promote the Trusts Mission, Vision and Values, and broad organisational goals.
Actively support and promote the aims and objectives of the Trusts Hazardous Area Response Team.
Be responsible for personal contribution to the development of the Hazardous Area Response Team and where necessary, the testing of new initiatives.
Personal Development and Responsibility
Maintain professional registration as a Paramedic through the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Adhere to Trust policies and best practice thereby maintaining and promoting the highest professional standards, including clinical practice, conduct, attendance and compliance with the dress code.
Demonstrate and maintain a positive attitude and commitment to Equal Opportunities and diversity.
Take responsibility for own Personal Development Review in accordance with the Trusts arrangements and, in agreement with Team Leader/Educator plan and engage in formal and informal learning events that underpin the demands of the role.
Attend identified courses to maintain and increase personal knowledge base.
Develop specialised knowledge of HART principles, capabilities and procedures.
To maintain competencies through continuation training, both practical and theoretical.
Attend and complete nationally agreed training programmes when required, this will include residential courses.
Be responsible for personal contribution to the development of HART and where necessary, the testing and evaluation of new initiatives.
Health and Safety
Follow safe systems of work and ensure that the safest possible working practices are followed at all times.
Maintain a good level of physical fitness and undergo and pass physical competence assessments when required.
Take personal responsibility for retention and maintenance of PPE.
Maintain personally issued PPE to required standards.
Take personal responsibility to remedy Health & Safety issues as quickly as possible within the limits if skills, training and personal authority level, or refer to and work close with HART Team Leaders/Educators and/or senior management and the safety and risk team to ensure that any risk or compromise to staff safety is brought to their attention.
Ensure personal safety and that of colleagues by complying with any instructions or procedures as laid down in the HART Standard Operating Procedures and other related documentation.
Maintain physical ability to carry out the full range of HART capabilities and duties.
The HART Paramedic should also be personally responsible for not undertaking any task or action which would knowingly cause risk to themselves, others, or to the Trust.
Key Result Areas and Performance Measures
Successful completion of HART nationally agreed competencies
Active contribution to maintaining a high performing team.
Delivery of immediate and high quality clinical care to patients in accordance with procedures.
Compliance with the operating procedures and directions and instructions given by authorised team and scene managers.
Compliance with the national provisions that make up the safe system of work (inc. SOPs/GRPs/EDSs/TISs/GORAs etc).
Successful completion of any Personal Development Plans.
Contribution to initiatives and programmes to raise awareness of HART capability related issues.
Compliance with Data Protection and Freedom of Information legislation.