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Ambulance care assistant
Patient transport service driver, ambulance staff
Ambulance care assistants take patients to and from hospital for appointments.
Average salary (a year)
£24000.0
Starter
£26000.0
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
40.0 to 45.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
evenings / weekends / bank holidays
on shifts
How to become
Explore the different ways to get into this role
You can get into this job through:a college course; an apprenticeship; applying directly
College
A college course might give you some of the knowledge and skills required to be an ambulance care assistant.
You could take a level 2 certificate in health and social care or a T Level in health.
Entry requirements
You may need:
  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
guide to T Levels|https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/
search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship
You could also become an ambulance care assistant by taking an ambulance support worker advanced apprenticeship.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Volunteering
You might find it useful to have some health or social care experience before applying for a job. For example, you could volunteer with:the NHS, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance
Direct Application
You can apply directly for jobs. You'll need to
have driving experience, use a sat nav, map or know the local area, have experience working with disabled or elderly people
Some ambulance services may ask you for 4 GCSEs, including English, maths and a science at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent.
You might need an extra driving qualification for larger vehicles and carrying passengers if you passed your test after 1996.
More Information
Further Information
What it takes
Find out what skills you’ll use in this role
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
    Sensitivity and understanding
    Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
    To be thorough and pay attention to detail
    Customer service skills
    The ability to work well with others
    The ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
    Excellent verbal communication skills
    Thinking and reasoning skills
Digital Skills Level
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Related Restrictions
have a full driving licence
have a good level of fitness
What you will do
Discover the day-to-day tasks you’ll do in this role
Day to day tasks
In this role you could
lift and help patients in and out of the ambulance, settle patients back at home after their appointments, use a radio to keep in touch with the ambulance control room, check and maintain the ambulance and its equipment, keep accurate records of journeys
Working environment
You could work on an ambulance.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
Career Path & Progression
Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities
With experience, you could:become a team leader or supervisor, become an emergency care assistant or apply to be a student paramedic, move into personnel, training, health and safety or operations management
Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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