Emergency Care Assistant

Bristol Ambulance (Part of EMED Group) have a fantastic opportunity for Emergency Care Assistants to join our team based in Bristol.

As an Emergency Care Assistant (ECA), you will work alongside paramedics &/or technicians on frontline ambulances, responding to emergencies and urgent calls, delivering high quality and effective pre-hospital care. This includes responding to 999 calls, inter-hospital transfers and working at events.

The duties also include the safe and efficient operation of frontline vehicles, ensuring vehicles and equipment are maintained, checked, and ready for deployment at all times. 

This is a permanent role, where you can work full time (4 on 4 off) or part time (2 on 6 off).

What benefits can you expect?

• Life Assurance – providing colleagues and their family financial peace of mind and protection to the value of £5,000.
• Company sick pay covering full salary for 20 days after 2 years’ service.
• 24/7 online/telephone GP Consultation and access to prescriptions.
• 2nd opinion medical support following diagnosis or where a colleague is on a treatment pathway.
• Hospital cash plan benefits with sickness protection scheme.
• Cash-plan benefits, providing colleagues the option of protecting themselves in case of illness and recuperation, including dental, optical, chiropody.
• Access to mental health consultations.
• Access to physiotherapy consultations.
• Access to legal advice on domestic issues e.g. motoring offences, wills and probate, and personal injury.
• Financial guidance re retirement planning, tax savings and state benefits.
• Long Service Recognition Scheme – recognising colleagues for their continued service after 5 years and at 5-year intervals with an increase in annual leave.
• Values-based Internal Recognition Scheme with financial reward, which will lead to an annual recognition event.
• Refer a Friend recruitment incentive scheme with financial rewards.
• The EMED foundation, to provide support to colleagues and our local communities.
• Pension Scheme.
• Blue Light Card.
• Uniform provided.
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) to support a range of health and wellbeing requirements.
• Flu vaccination (through an internal campaign in Autumn/Winter).
  

Main Duties:

Emergency Response & Retrieval Driving

• Undertake emergency and planned retrieval driving in line with legislation, organisational policies, and driving standards.
• Safely transport patients while maintaining professional driving standards and considering patients, clinical teams, road users, and the public.
• Support safe vehicle positioning and operation at hospitals and other locations.
• Complete all required driving and vehicle documentation accurately.

Clinical & Patient Support

• Support clinicians with patient assessment, management, access/egress, and vehicle/equipment preparation.
• Work collaboratively with clinical teams to ensure safe and efficient patient care.
• Provide compassionate support to critically ill patients and their families.
• Follow clinical instructions within the scope of training and role responsibilities.
• Perform basic life support and appropriate airway management within scope of practice.
• Assist with clinical interventions and undertake patient observations, including ECGs, blood pressure, oxygen saturations, respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood glucose.

Vehicle & Equipment Management

• Complete comprehensive pre- and post-shift vehicle and equipment checks.
• Ensure vehicles are clean, stocked, operationally ready, and maintained to required standards.
• Identify, document, and promptly report vehicle defects and equipment issues.
• Ensure equipment is secure, accessible, functional, and within expiry dates.

Operational Support

• Remain ready for immediate deployment throughout the shift.
• Work effectively with clinicians and operational teams to support efficient deployment.
• Maintain accurate records of vehicle checks, equipment, defects, mileage, and operational activity.
• Support the team during periods of increased operational demand.

Do you have what it takes?

Key Skills and Attributes

• Future Quals Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving or IHCD D1+D2 (essential)
• Future Quals Level 3 Diploma in Ambulance Emergency and Urgent Care Support or First Response Emergency Care Level 4 or First Person on Scene – Intermediate (essential)
• Strong commitment to safe and responsible emergency response driving and patient care
  
• Positive, flexible and proactive “can-do” attitude
  
• Highly conscientious approach to vehicle and equipment checks
  
• Excellent attention to detail 
  
• Ability to remain calm and professional in emergency and time-critical situations
  
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
  
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  
• Reliable and adaptable approach to changing operational requirements
  
• Commitment to patient safety, confidentiality and professional standards
  

About Us

EMED Group is an established healthcare logistics provider that enables access to health and social care through our four specialist divisions. We are one of the largest health and care partners to the NHS with 4,000 colleagues across over 60 bases UK-wide.

EMED Group is committed to pro-actively improving the wellbeing of our communities by providing access to vital health and social care services across the UK