Job Advert
Kirkwall, Orkney – Qualified Ambulance Paramedic – Full-time Relief – 37.5hrs average per week
Ever thought about a Paramedic career on the beautiful island of Orkney, Scotland? If so, we may have a post for you…
Maybe it is time for a change? Or maybe you have always fancied working in some of the UK’s most stunning scenery? Well, the time is right to come and join us here in Scotland!
The Scottish Ambulance Service is currently recruiting for new colleagues in Kirkwall.
We are proud to provide an emergency ambulance service to the people of North Scotland and although we are working in the backdrop of the pandemic, we are continuing to develop the Service at pace with the provision, and improvement, of patient care at the forefront of everything we do. We are now embarking on our next 10-year strategy which will see the Service further develop the clinical care we deliver. It’s an exciting time to join the Service as we increase our workforce across the North of Scotland
What do we need from you?
You need to be an HCPC registered Paramedic who has a C1 on their driving licence. You’ll need your C1 licence as our fleet of A&E vehicles are all Mercedes with a box body conversion, the majority of which are under five years old. Ideally you would have your emergency driving qualification, however if you don’t currently have this, we can help you achieve it.
But more than that, we are looking for Paramedics who want to help us in the delivery of high-quality care to the people of Scotland. Our Paramedics are exceptional and have a real passion for what they do. The Scottish Ambulance Service consider it a privilege to care for the people of Scotland and if you feel the same way too, apply now.
Why work for the Scottish Ambulance Service?
We are proud to provide an emergency ambulance service to the population of Scotland. We have 6,800 staff working in 150 locations serving all mainland and island communities. Each year, we take around 1 million patients to and from hospital and transfer 90,000 patients between hospital. Our Air Ambulance undertakes around 3,500 missions a year and our SCOTSTAR service transfers 2,500 of Scotland’s most seriously ill patients.
Although we are working in the backdrop of the pandemic, we are continuing to develop the Service at pace with the provision, and improvement, of patient care at the forefront of everything we do.
In addition to your salary, you can also expect a great pension scheme, generous leave entitlement and family friendly polices to help support a healthy work / life balance. To find out more, please visit: https://www.scottishambulance.com/join-our-team/why-work-with-us/
Why Kirkwall?
Contained in Orkney which is regularly voted one of the best places in the UK to live and consistently scores highly in national lifestyle and happiness surveys, is Kirkwall. With its name derived from the Norse ‘Kirkjuvagr’, meaning ‘Church on the bay’, Kirkwall is Orkney’s largest town and was founded by Viking settlers over 1000 years ago. With its top-class education and health care systems, great internal and external transport links, superb sports and leisure facilities and a thriving arts and culture scene it is a great place to live and work.
Standing in Kirkwall is the St Magnus cathedral, having taken 300 years to build it is one of the grandest structures in northern Scotland. In the surrounding streets there are a number of independent arts and craft shops as well as a variety of cafes, restaurants, two museums, and other shops. Further afield you’ll find Stromness, the second-most populous town in Orkney, or a variety of parishes and villages, each with their own offerings.
If you enjoy history then scattered across Orkney you’ll find a number of world-class archaeological sites including a Neolithic chamber cairn raised by the Vikings and a number spectacular standing stone circles. Eight miles south of Kirkwall there is the famous ‘Italian Chapel’, a WWII Nissen hut converted into a chapel by Italian prisoners of war.
Orkney is the perfect place if you want to be outdoors and surrounded by nature, with hundreds of miles of coastline to explore and the possibility of seeing hen-harriers, puffins, otters, orcas, sea-eagles, seals, and short-eared owls to name a few. From Kirkwall you can also catch a ferry to the smaller Orkney islands for further exploration.
With ferry links to Aberdeen and Shetland, and an airport close to Kirkwall with destinations including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness, there are plenty of ways to travel to the mainland of Scotland and further afield. If you’re looking to move to somewhere with a more relaxed way of life and beautiful surroundings, while still working in a varied and busy paramedic role, Kirkwall Station could be the place for you.
Why come to Scotland?
The decision to come and work for us is not all about the job; Scotland has more to offer than that! From the hustle and bustle of city life to the tranquil environment of our rural communities, Scotland has it all. You can really make the most of your free time, whether you are looking for the cafe culture of our big cities, or you enjoy outdoor pursuits like cycling, climbing, walking and water sports.
Scotland has on average lower costs of living than the rest of the UK and benefits from some of the highest attainment levels of education, free prescriptions, and a higher quality of life. To discover more about living and working in the country we are lucky to call home, please visit: The Official Gateway to Scotland | Scotland.org
Paramedic, Ben Jackson, speaks on why he relocated to Scotland to join the Scottish Ambulance Service: https://youtu.be/7Y3cKp4SXbQ
How do you apply?
Please click on the ‘Apply for job’ button at the bottom of this page and follow the on-screen instructions. You will receive an automated response as soon as you have submitted your application. Due to pressures within the Service, there may be delays in us being able to progress with your application, we will be in touch with you as soon as we have concluded the shortlisting process.