Trainee Ambulance Technician

Please do not apply if you already have a current application in process OR have had an unsuccessful application in the last 6 months.

Would you like to become an Ambulance Technician in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland? If so, we may have a post for you…

We are recruiting for a Qualified or Trainee Ambulance Technician for Bettyhill on the stunning North Coast of Scotland.

Please note this is a home-based on call location and you will require to live within 5 miles of Bettyhill. This is an ideal post for those already living in or near Bettyhill and looking to start a career with the Scottish Ambulance Service, or those looking to move to the area.

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 £26,364 per annum, rising to £30,229 per annum on successful completion of the Service’s training programme. This will increase in annual increments to £37,664 per annum.

As a Qualified Ambulance Technician your pay scale would be selected based on any previous NHS Experience rising to a maximum of £37,664 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 the same shift pattern. It also means there are times when you will need to be flexible and work a changing shift pattern and work at other stations.

The Training

For Trainee Ambulance Technicians, 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 fourteen 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.

Joining us as a Qualified Ambulance Technician would mean that your training could be a condensed into a course of as little as 1 week.

Why Caithness and Sutherland?

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.

Caithness and Sutherland are two counties that cover the Northeast coast to the Northwest coast of the Scottish Highlands. Caithness is an ancient land that was lived in by the Picts and invaded by the Vikings, and Sutherland derives from the Norse word “Sudrland”; the land to the south of the Norse earldom of Orkney and Caithness.

The two counties are part of the famous North Coast 500 and contain the most northerly point of mainland Scotland, John O’Groats, as well as The A’Mhoine Peninsula which will become the UK’s first space port. The counties also feature the world famous Royal Dornoch golf course, an internationally recognised surf spot around the Thurso east reef, a number of stunning sandy beaches, remote mountain ranges, and a variety of historical buildings.

Bettyhill, a remote village on in the north of Sutherland is on the North Coast 500 route and offers white sandy beaches, incredible views and unique wildlife. John o’Groats, the UK Mainland’s most northerly point is only a short drive away giving stunning views over the water towards Orkney.

With the Caithness General Hospital, Lawson Memorial Hospital, and Dunbar Hospital all located within the counties, as well as a number of global companies investing in employment, an offshore project being a leading example of development in the green energy sector, and the numerous tourist attractions, there are a range of employment opportunities in the area. Wick Airport has also recently re-introduced scheduled flights to Aberdeen with links to further destinations.

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.

Please note, candidates are not required to hold a C1 category driving licence to apply, however this is required no later than 6 weeks before any programme start date. This can be a lengthy process and we always advise candidates to seek their provisional licence as soon as possible. Please refer to the DVLA website for more information on C1 category driving licences. Please note we will initially prioritise candidates who already have a C1 licence.

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

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.