Ambulance Care Assistant (Relief) - Bedford or Dunstable
NHS AFC: Band 3
We operate a 24‑hour, 7‑day a week service. Hours and shifts vary by location, and as an ACA you will cover out of hours shifts on a relief rota basis. Please contact us for further information on the possible shift patterns for the area you are applying to.
Job Overview
We are looking for enthusiastic and passionate Ambulance Care Assistants to transport frail or specialist‑needs patients to and from appointments at hospitals, treatment centres and other facilities.
If you have experience caring for people with proven customer‑care and communication skills, we would like to hear from you.
You will need to be flexible, adaptable, and at times discreet. A good sense of humour and local knowledge of the area will also be an advantage.
Please ensure that your application relates to the essential criteria in the person specification.
Every day is different as an ACA and you could really make a difference to our patients.
We have positions available working from our Bedford and Dunstable sites. Applicants must live within a 25‑mile / 60‑minute journey from their preferred base.
Main Duties of the Job
The role involves the transportation of non‑urgent patients to and from health/social care premises and private residences, requiring a professional and caring attitude and teamwork.
You will work in a team of two, or on your own, undertaking duties in a variety of vehicle types.
You need a full UK manual car driving licence with at least one year of driving experience. (A maximum of 3 penalty points will be considered for a minor motoring offence.)
Your role with EEAST PTS starts with a 3‑week paid training course (Monday – Friday). The training covers clinical training to be a ‘First Person on Scene’, patient‑transport driver training, and a full uniform is provided.
You must be able to commit to completing the training course as outlined above.
Learners are entitled to mileage to and from the allocated learning centre; claimable mileage is any distance above the mileage to and from your allocated base station (e.g. Home to Dunstable station).
Working for Our Organisation
You'll work in one of the most diverse regions in the country, with a vibrant capital city just a stone's throw away and the North Sea coast to the east. EEAST provides 24‑hour, 365‑day urgent care to those in need of emergency and non‑emergency medical treatment and transport in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
We value diversity and encourage applications from under‑represented groups, including Black, Asian, other ethnic groups, individuals with a disability, or LGBTQ+ individuals who meet the specific criteria. We also welcome flexible working requests.
Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities
For a comprehensive understanding of the role, including all specific requirements and responsibilities, please consult the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Successful candidates will undergo pre‑employment checks prior to receiving an unconditional offer. If full employment checks cannot be achieved (e.g., existing disciplinary sanctions), the offer may be withdrawn.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Full UK manual driving licence (maximum of 3 penalty points on licence)
Knowledge & Experience
* Experience of dealing with people, demonstrating sound customer‑care skills.
* Previous work in a caring profession. Experience working with the public.
You are required to hold a full UK manual driving licence with at least one year of driving experience (a maximum of 3 penalty points for minor motoring offences will be considered).
Please note: During the 3‑week training course it is your responsibility to attend in full on each day. Accommodation and travel expenses will not be provided; you will need to consider the costs of attending the venue. Training is held at either Welwyn Garden City (Hertfordshire), Barton Mills (Suffolk), or another designated venue.
As a healthcare worker you will be subject to immunisations, which will be checked through Occupational Health, and boosters will be provided as required.
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Visa and Sponsorship
Candidates who require a Skilled Worker visa can assess their eligibility by reviewing the criteria on the Check if you need a UK visa – GOV.UK website. We encourage all applicants to review these criteria carefully.
References and Employment History: All references from current and previous employers will be sought via their Human Resources Department and must cover a minimum of 3 years of employment. Provide the address, telephone number, and email address of the HR Department and indicate your current/previous line manager and departmental details.
All appointments will be subject to currently having a clean disciplinary record.
Please be advised that a No Smoking Policy is in operation throughout the Trust.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme – Under the Trust’s commitment “Positive about Disabled People”, if you consider yourself as having a disability and you meet the minimum selection criteria for any post, you will receive an automatic interview. Minimum selection criteria mean you must provide evidence in your application that demonstrates the essential requirements as set out in the person specification and advertisement.
We aim to represent and value the diversity of our local communities through our workforce and service provision. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, religion & belief, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity or disability.
If you have a disability and wish to send in an alternative format of the application form, please contact the Recruitment Team on 01234 243200.
PLEASE NOTE – If you use a Hotmail, MSN, or Yahoo e‑mail account, check your “junk” mail regularly as these providers may divert any communications straight into your junk inbox.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if a large number of applications are received. If you would like to apply for this position, please keep this information in mind when preparing your submission.
Please note that if you have not received a response from us after one month of submitting your application, you have not been shortlisted for an interview.
Employer Certification / Accreditation Badges
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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