Job Advert
Newly Qualified Paramedics (including GCU summer 2021 graduates)
Ever thought about a starting your career as a Newly Qualified Paramedic in Scotland?
If so, we may have the role for you!
Are you graduating from an undergraduate Paramedic programme in the summer of 2021? Will you be registering with the HCPC as a Paramedic by September 2021? Are you already an NQP and looking for a move to Scotland? The Scottish Ambulance Service is recruiting Newly Qualified Paramedics (NQPs) to join us in September 2021. As a Service we are developing at pace... in the last five years we have introduced Advanced Paramedics in Urgent and Emergency Care, developed a new clinical response model, rolled out Critical Care Paramedics, developed a new education programme and improved survival from Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests (OHCA) to world leading levels. We are now embarking on our next 10-year strategy which will see the Service sustain these changes and further develop the clinical care we deliver.
Our NQPs are mentored and monitored over an 18 month period, commencing on Agenda for Change Band 5; rising to Band 6 at the end of the probationary term, having completed our NQP development programme.
Why come to Scotland?
The decision to come to work for us is not all about the job; Scotland has more to offer than that!
Scotland can offer the hustle and bustle of city life as well as the tranquil environment of our rural communities, all in one day. You can have city living with the mountains on your doorstep or if you prefer living by the sea then you could consider one of our coastline locations. If rural life suits you more, how about the Highlands with its beautiful scenery. And for that total lifestyle change we even have vacancies on some of the Scottish Islands. In Scotland 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 it all. With a population of just over 5 million across the mainland and island communities, there is space for everyone’s preference here! Scotland also has some of these highest attainment levels of education in the UK, so if you have a family of school age this is the ideal place for their education and an enhanced family lifestyle.
And if that wasn’t enough, the cost of living is significantly lower in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK. For example, the average house price in January 2020 was £152,121 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-house-price-index-scotland-january-2020/uk-house-price-index-scotland-january-2020) compared to £246,341 in England (GOV.UK, 2020; https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-house-price-index-for-february-2020).
Quality of life is rated as higher in Scotland than other parts of the UK (Metro Online, 2016; https://metro.co.uk/2016/10/11/scotland-is-way-better-than-england-report-officially-concludes-6184746/). Scotland is renowned across the world for its friendly and welcoming hospitality, and has embraced visitors and residents into our communities. Scottish people are classed as some of the friendliest in the world. Scotland is also renowned for its history, its heritage and its architecture. There is very much to like and love in Scotland.
You will also benefit from initiatives such as free prescriptions, free Higher Education and unmetered water supplies. Weekly household costs have been shown to be 20% lower in Scotland than in London and 10% lower than the rest of the UK (Talent Scotland, 2020; www.talentscotland.com/live/living). So your disposable income is greater. Relocation expenses can be considered and will be discussed as part of the interview process.
What do we need from you?
We need you to apply if you are in your first year of registration, or you are eligible to register with the HCPC as a Paramedic to start with us in September 2021. We would need you to have C1 on your driving license prior to starting with us but if this is a barrier we can help you with a loan to undertake your training prior to your start date. You can apply without C1 but any offer of employment we make would be pending you having C1 by your start date. 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.
If you want to talk to someone from the Service about the role, please contact:
- North region covering the Highlands, Grampian, the Western and Northern Isles – Euan Esslemont euan.esslemont@nhs.scot 01224 812208
- West region covering Lanarkshire, Greater Glasgow and Dunbartonshire, Ayrshire & Arran, Argyll & Clyde and Dumfries and Galloway – Matt Cooper matthew.cooper3@nhs.scot 07920 271740
- East region covering Tayside, Forth Valley and Fife, Lothian and Borders – Kenny Freeburn KennethHarold.Freeburn@nhs.scot 07786 703222
You don’t need to hold an emergency driving qualification as we can help you achieve this. We are looking for NQPs who want to help us in the delivery of high quality of care to the people of Scotland. Our frontline workforce are exceptional and have a real passion for what they do and we invite you to join them. The Scottish Ambulance Service consider it is a privilege to care for the people of Scotland and if you feel the same way too, apply now.
We have posts available all across Scotland so we are likely to have a location to suit you. There are lots of opportunities across the central belt of Scotland (especially in the Glasgow/Lanarkshire and Edinburgh area) as well as a small number of vacancies at some of our more rural locations.
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 and we will be in touch with you with the outcome of your application once we have concluded the shortlisting process.