Job Advert
Would you like to become a Trainee Ambulance Technician in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland? If so, we may have a post for you…
We are recruiting for new colleagues in Lochinver, this is a home-based on-call station with the requirement to reside within 5 miles maximum of Lochinver.
The Role
Ambulance Technicians provide immediate care right across Scotland, often to people in their most vulnerable state and in very difficult and challenging environments. As a result, you will be required to show compassion and empathy and be able to deal with the difficult situations that we have to respond to. Most importantly, you need to be able to keep calm under pressure, make good decisions and take control.
The starting salary for Technician Students is £23,040 per annum, rising to £26,104 per annum on successful completion of the Service’s training programme. This will increase in annual increments to £32,915 per annum.
Technician vacancies are offered on a 24-hour shift basis and are referred to as “relief”. Relief is the working pattern that new Technicians work and means that you will be given your shift pattern several weeks in advance, but it won’t always be a same shift pattern. It also means there are times when you will need to be flexible and work a changing shift pattern.
The Training
The successful applicant for this post will be an employee of the Service from their start date and will be enrolled on our bespoke clinical programme which will lead to a vocational diploma in Emergency Care Support. The whole programme takes approximately 16 months with the first 14 weeks carried out at one of our regional training centres. After this time, you will progress to your allocated Ambulance Station where you will be mentored by other qualified staff as well as receiving ongoing support and learning from the education team.
Why Lochinver?
The Scottish Highlands make up 33% of the land area of Scotland and 11.4% of Great Britain. With the lowest population density in Scotland it is not surprising that the Highlands offer amazing scenery along with welcoming people, a unique culture, dramatic landscapes, romantic castles and a fascinating history. From the lively capital city of Inverness to Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, there is something for everyone in this part of the country.
Lochinver, a fishing village in south-west Sutherland, is on the North Coast 500 route and offers white sandy beaches, incredible mountain views, unique wildlife, and a famous pie shop. It is a great place for those who enjoy spending time outdoors with a range of walks including through the Culag Woods where herons come to nest, up the mountain Suilven which, while only 731 metres high, provides superb views from the top, or take a short trek north of Loch Inver to view the Hermit’s Castle.
Lochinver is 36 miles from the picturesque fishing town of Ullapool which has a ferry that travels regularly to and from Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Or travel a further 58 miles and you will arrive in Inverness, the capital of the Scottish Highlands. Inverness is home to a University of Highlands and Islands campus, Eden Court Theatre, Raigmore Hospital, Eastgate Shopping Centre, and a number of different businesses. The city has many attractions in the surrounding area including Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield, and Chanonry Point, a popular place to see dolphins between Fortrose and Rosemarkie. Inverness has a train station with various links through the UK and an airport with domestic and international flights.
This is a home-based on-call station with the requirement to reside within 5 miles maximum of Lochinver.
The Person
This is a hugely varied role, each day and each patient is different. As a result, you will need to have excellent interpersonal skills as well as an ability to communicate effectively with a range of different and often difficult circumstances. You will need to demonstrate flexibility and the ability to make effective and safe decisions.
We welcome applications form a range of backgrounds, however, previous experience in a healthcare role or a healthcare related qualification would be an advantage. Volunteer work or working with your community would also be beneficial.
The Scottish Ambulance Service encourages applications from ethnic minorities and those with disabilities. If you would like to know more, please see the “guide to Job Interview Guarantee Scheme” attached.
All candidates will be required to satisfy the following minimum entry requirements:
- Evidence of successful study at SCQF Level 4 or above in Maths and English – Please refer to Trainee Technician Qualification Guidance. Original certificates must be produced at the fitness test stage
- Full UK driving licence with no more than 4 penalty points.
- Candidates will be required to obtain a C1 Driving category on their current driving licence at least 6 weeks before any start date offered.
Candidates will be required to successfully complete the following selection process;
- Application Review and Shortlisting
- Occupational Fitness Test
- Competency and Values Based Interview
- Occupational Health Screening
- Satisfactory application to the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (Disclosure Scotland)
- Reference process
The progression route to Paramedic has changed. If you wish to pursue a career as a Paramedic, please visit the following link: http://www.scottishambulance.com/WorkingForUs/paramedic.aspx
Please note that once we have received a sufficient number of applications the closing date will be brought forward, therefore we would recommend you submit your application early.