Trainee Ambulance Technicians

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 a Trainee Ambulance Technician in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland? If so, we may have a post for you…

We are recruiting for Trainee Ambulance Technicians for several courses scheduled throughout 2022.

Within Caithness and Sutherland we are recruiting for new colleagues in the following locations:

• Lairg – This is a home-based on-call station with the requirement to reside within 5 miles maximum of Lairg
• Thurso​​​​​​​

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 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.

Lairg is a peaceful village that is beautifully nestled on the southern shores of Loch Shin, the largest loch in Sutherland. Four miles south of Lairg you will find the Falls of Shin, one of the best places in Scotland to see salmon leaping on their upstream migration. As well as Lairg offering its own lush green hills and snow capped mountains, if you travel north through Sutherland you will pass through what is often referred to as the last great wilderness of Europe. Alternatively you could head south to Inverness, Scotland’s ‘Highland Capital’. Lairg is a home-based on-call station with the requirement to reside within 5 miles of the village.

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. With the towns of Wick and Thurso, crofting and farming communities, fishing towns and villages, and remote landscapes, all with a strong sense of community, there are a number of locations you can reside in to meet your wants and needs.

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

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.

​​​​​​​To apply for this post, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button and follow the on-screen instructions. Applicants who submit an application will be contacted via email regarding the outcome of their application. It is very important that you check your ‘junk’ or spam email folders as well as your email inbox. 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 can.