The role of the ambulance support practitioner involves assisting the paramedic on a range of emergency calls with tasks that include recording patient’s vital signs, providing support in CPR and resuscitation, assisting the paramedic, moving and lifting patients, and driving ambulances on blue lights.
You must have either full C1 entitlement on your licence at the point of your application, or as a minimum have C1 provisional, with theory complete; this is a category to drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes and is an essential requirement of the role that you will need to have when you apply
The ambulance support practitioner apprentice program is 13 months long, during which time you will be fully supported and is assessed against the Level 3 ambulance support worker (emergency, urgent and non-urgent) Standard. This includes achieving the following qualifications:
- Level 3 Diploma in Ambulance Emergency and Urgent Care Support
- Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving (L3 CERAD)
- The Care Certificate
After you complete your apprenticeship, you will then become a fully qualified ambulance support practitioner.
Training
- Initial training on commencement consists of a 10-week course (including driving and classroom-based learning); failure to pass the course may result in dismissal
- Those who do not hold the relevant level of Maths and English will be supported to achieve level 2 functional skills in Maths and English.
Progression
Often our ambulance support practitioners will apply for other roles in the Trust such as internal paramedic apprenticeship as this role has given them a good understanding of our organisation.