Career Information Switchboard: 0191 430 2000 Bernicia House Goldcrest Way Newburn Riverside NEWCASTLE 1 UPON TYNE NE15 8NY
Mission Statement The North East Ambulance Service aims to achieve excellent Out of Hospital care Thank you for the interest you have shown in the North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust. 2 If you would like any further information please email us at recruitment@neas.nhs.uk or phone a member of the HR Team on 0191 430 2000. Further information on the North East Ambulance Service can be found at www.neambulance.nhs.uk 19
Ambulance Hygiene Assistant Agenda for Change Band 2 12,922 15,950 Full time 37.5 hours per week Ambulance Hygiene Assistants are responsible for providing the direct provision of ambulance vehicle cleaning and equipment hygiene services. They are responsible for maintaining the cleaning equipment and stock supplies. They are also responsible for maintaining and recording accurate records of cleaning works and stores supplies on central spreadsheet and maintaining Quality System Procedures. You should have: Experience of working in a similar cleaning position i.e. hospital or clinical environment. Appropriate knowledge of cleaning machines and chemicals, this includes COSHH regulations. A full UK driving licence including a C1 and D1 category. The ability to work as part of a team. The ability to absorb knowledge of all relevant regulations and procedures in relation to ambulance vehicle cleaning and equipment hygiene methods. Content Page Page 4 - About Us Page 5 - About Us Page 6 - Equality and Diversity Page 7 - The Recruitment Process Page 8 - NHS Pre Employment Checks Page 9 - NHS Pre Employment Checks Page 10 - NHS Jobs Website Page 11 - Student Paramedic Page 12 - Emergency Care Support Worker Page 13-999 Call Operators Page 14 - PTS Ambulance Care Assistant Page 15 - Planning and Control Co-ordinator Page 16 - Ambulance Liaison Assistant Page 17 - Ambulance Resource Assistant Page 18 - Ambulance Hygiene Assistant 18 3
The North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust The North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust was formed on the 1st July 2006 following the merger of the previous North East Ambulance Service and part of the Teesside, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Trust. The new service now covers the counties of Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham and Teesside, an area of approximately 3,230 square miles. The trust employs approx 1800 people and serves a population of 2.6 million. The main Trust headquarters are based on Newburn Riverside, Newcastle upon Tyne, where the control complex and other administrative offices are situated; but throughout the region, there are 63 Trust locations including 51 ambulance stations, most of which are staffed 24 hours per day. Support Services Fleet Workshops Ambulance Resource Assistant Agenda for Change Band 3 14,834 17,732 Full time 37.5 hours per week Ambulance Resource Assistants work with the Assistant Operations Support Manager (Equipment) and other members of the team to ensure that a core pool of fully functional divisional A&E and Event Cover vehicles are strategically located and available for duty at any given time. Ambulance Resource Assistants are required to record, report and where possible resolve any medical hard item faults or vehicle defects, ensuring all vehicle movements both to and from the workshops are carried out in a timely manner and to provide assistance with all planned preventative maintenance and repairs to ensure they are carried out to the highest standard. You should have: A full, preferably clean, UK driving license with category D1. The ability to think on your feet and ability to work as part of a team. Good communication and numerical skills. The ability to diagnose minor faults and carry out effective timely repairs within a pressurised environment, under constant changes to work priorities with minimal supervision. A professional user-orientated service approach and the ability to demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement in systems and working practices to propose viable alternatives. 4 17
Ambulance Liaison Assistant Agenda for Change Band 2 12,922-15,950 Full time 37.5 hours per week Ambulance Liaison Assistants are directly accountable to a Planning & Control Coordinator. They are responsible for determining the eligibility and booking of ambulance transport direct from patient contact. Liaising closely with all clinical departments and treatment centres, Ambulance Liaison Assistants co-ordinate and communicate changes to patients and appointments where ambulance transport is required. Ambulance Liaison Assistants are also responsible for advising patients and/or carers on alternative transport arrangements, treatment centre locations, parking facilities and other general information utilising web sites and databases. Ambulance Liaison Assistants are also responsible for confirming booking information to ensure support for the effective running of the PTS Planning & Control. A minimum of 4 GCSEs to include Maths & English at grade C or above or equivalent. Appropriate Call Centre environment experience. Candidates should be able to demonstrate tact and diplomacy at all times. Good verbal and written communication skills. Preferably a good geographical knowledge of the areas covered by the NEAS Trust. Computer literate with good keyboard board skills, which will be evaluated as part of the assessment process. The ability to work to quality systems and relevant procedures. 16 Core Functions The North East Ambulance Service has 2 main core functions. Firstly, to respond to emergency calls by providing the most appropriate response to patients either by sending an emergency response vehicle, providing telephone advice or referring to another appropriate service. Secondly, to provide non-urgent patient transport services transporting patients to and from a number of treatment locations across the region. The Accident and Emergency Services The Accident and Emergency Service is provided for patients who need emergency or urgent medical help. The service is normally accessed by members of the public who dial 999 or in response to urgent requests from doctors on behalf of their patients. The Patient Transport Service Patient Transport Services (PTS) are an extremely important part of the Trust's activities. Each day Patient Transport services undertake over 4,000 patient journeys to outpatient clinics, day surgery units and other health related appointments. Further information on the roles within the Accident and Emergency Service and Patient Transport Service can be found in this leaflet. Support Services The North East Ambulance Service headquarters are situated at Newburn Riverside, Newcastle upon Tyne and house our support services including Human Resources, Finance, Public Relations, Contracts and Procurement and other administrative functions. All vacancies within these functions are also advertised on the NHS jobs website. 5
Equality and Diversity within the North East Ambulance Service The Trust is working towards equal opportunities and having a workforce which represents the diversity of the people it serves. We welcome applications from people with a disability and people from minority ethnic groups. The Trust has policies and procedures which ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including a guaranteed interview and consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability. The value we place on our employees is reflected in our commitment to improving their working environment. We believe this will enable our employees to successfully combine work with other commitments and the equality of life they wish to achieve. Planning and Control Co-Coordinator Agenda for Change Band 3 14,834-17,732 Full time 37.5 hours per week Planning and Control Coordinators are directly accountable to the Planning & Control Managers. Planning and Control Coordinators co-ordinate and provide an efficient and effective response to patients requiring the Patient Transport Service. Excellent communication skills are essential for the post, as Planning and Control Coordinators provide advice and supervision of Patient Transport Service staff and resources. Planning and Control Co-coordinators liaise closely with all hospital clinical departments, GP surgeries and their managers and staff as well as dealing with patient bookings and enquiries, to ensure effective correlation between appointment times and Ambulance Transport. Ideally a minimum of 4 GCSEs to include Maths & English at grade C or above or equivalent. Appropriate Call Centre/Control or Planning and Scheduling experience. A good geographical knowledge of the North East. An ability to plan work and make speedy decisions correctly, within all areas to meet demand and time constraints. Effective verbal and written communication skills Effective negotiating skills. 6 15
Patient Transport Service Ambulance Care Assistant Agenda for Change Band 3 14,834-17,732 Pro rata Part time 30 hours per week The position of Ambulance Care Assistant (ACA) can offer an excellent opportunity to embark on a challenging and rewarding career within the Ambulance Service. ACA s are required to care for the needs of various non-emergency walking, wheelchair and stretcher patients, whilst providing ambulance transportation to and from NHS treatment centres. A full (preferably clean) manual UK driving license with full Category D1 driving entitlement. A caring and polite manner and be able to demonstrate a genuine caring disposition. Excellent communication skills Experience of working with patients and/or customers within a customer care environment. Ideally you will have 3 GCSE s at grade C or above (or equivalent) or have attained an equivalent further education qualification such as NVQ in Care or National Certificate in Care, or have gained relevant vocational experience within the community. The recruitment process All vacancies within the North East Ambulance Service are advertised on the NHS Recruitment website www.jobs.nhs.uk and most also appear in local Job Centres. Applicants are required to complete an online application form and short listed applicants will then be invited to take part in our selection process. The process for our operational positions including Student Paramedic, Emergency Care Support Worker, Ambulance Care Assistant as well as 999 Call Operator currently consists of Ability tests, Formal Interview, Criminal Records Disclosure, Medical Clearance, Reference checks and Identity and Qualification checks. Candidates applying for positions including Student Paramedic, Emergency Care Support Worker and Ambulance Care Assistant will also be required to undergo a Driving Assessment. Candidates applying for administrative positions including 999 Call Operator, Planning & Control Co-ordinator and Ambulance Liaison Assistant may also be required to undergo a typing test. As part of the selection process, candidates will be required to undergo pre-employment checks as required by the Department of Health. A guide to what is involved can be found overleaf. 14 7
A Quick Guide to NHS Pre-Employment Checks In order to protect patients, staff and members of the public, all NHS organisations are required to carry out a number of additional mandatory checks on all applicants for NHS posts. Failure to provide appropriate information to support your application could result in your application being delayed or even rejected. Applicants who are invited to attend an interview will be requested to bring original copies of some or all of the following information with them; As part of the recruitment process all relevant documentation will be copied. The Trust will then retain copies of the successful candidate s documentation for the duration of their employment. Copies of documents submitted by unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed and safely disposed of. Proof of Identification and Address Prospective employees will need to provide one of the following combinations of proof of identity; Two forms of photographic personal ID and one document confirming their permanent address. One form of photographic personal ID and two documents confirming their permanent address. (Documents confirming an individual s address should not be more than six months old.) 8 999 Call Operators Emergency Medical Systems Operator Agenda for Change Band 3 14,834-17,732 (plus appropriate shift enhancements on completion of initial training) Full time 37.5 hours per week 24/7 rota EMSO s respond to a high volume of calls, including 999 emergency requests for ambulance assistance and requests from healthcare staff. It is a busy and pressured environment, working on a shift rota basis, where it is necessary to operate in a timely and effective manner. EMSO s need to have an ability to make decisions, respond quickly to requests and multitask. A team player, you will have a good aptitude for computer based systems and the ability to deal with and work with people in a stressful environment. Advanced negotiation skills are an advantage as some callers will not require an emergency ambulance. You will be expected (following training) to evaluate the request and direct patients to the most appropriate healthcare provider, which may include asking them to make their own way to hospital or refer them to another healthcare professional. An in depth training course lasting 6 weeks will cover all areas from call handling techniques to life saving instructions to callers over the telephone. Ideally at least 5 GCSE Grade C or above (or equivalent) including Maths and English Proven experience of call answering in an extremely busy call centre environment. An ability to make decisions, respond quickly to requests and multitask. The ability to deal with and work with people in a stressful environment. A good aptitude for computer based systems. A geographical knowledge of the area covered by the Trust would be an advantage. Advanced negotiation skills are also an advantage. 13
Emergency Care Support Worker Agenda for Change Band 3 14,834-17,732 (plus appropriate shift enhancements) Full time 37.5 hours per week 24/7 rota Emergency Care Support Workers support qualified ambulance practitioners in the provision of high quality, effective clinical and personal care. This role is part of a Clinical Career Progression Ladder and offers the opportunity to progress to stimulating and rewarding career within the ambulance service. Applicants will have an interest in emergency healthcare, good standard of education (NVQ level 2 or equivalent), excellent driving skills, a good understanding of road safety plus good interpersonal skills. A full (preferably clean) manual UK driving licence with full category C1 5 GCSE passed at Grade C or above (or equivalent) including English or Maths Experience of dealing with a range of age and social groups. Excellent interpersonal skills and enthusiasm An ability to handle sensitive situations assertively and tactfully The ability to work effectively in difficult circumstances An understanding of patient needs. A flexible approach to working hours and job demands Physical fitness 12 Proof of Right to Work in the UK Will include; A UK or EU passport A UK Birth Certificate A non-uk or non-eu passport with a Home Office Immigration Status Document attached which will be accompanied by an official document showing the individual s NI number A certificate of registration and naturalisation as a British citizen, accompanied by official proof that the individual holds an NI number Qualification Checks Acceptable proof of qualifications will either be an original qualification certificate, or confirmation of the results from the relevant examining board or awarding institution. Letters from schools, colleges etc must be presented on letter headed paper and carry the signature of the person providing the information. 9
NHS Jobs website The NHS Jobs website www.jobs.nhs.uk is a national online recruitment site for all NHS trusts in England and Wales. The North East Ambulance Service as well as all other NHS trusts advertises their vacancies on this website and many request online applications. In order to keep up to date with our current recruitment, the website allows candidates to receive email notification of specific vacancies. 1. Please log on to the website at www.jobs.nhs.uk. 2. Click on the link Register for an account 3. Follow the on screen instructions to register 4. Once you have created an account, you can then select to receive emails by clicking the link My jobs by email. 5. You can then select search criteria that best fits your requirements. 6. Once you have specified which vacancies you are interested in, you will then start to receive email notification of advertised vacancies directly to your personal email address. Further information on the positions we most regularly recruit to can be found overleaf. If you have any further questions please email us at recruitment@neas.nhs.uk or contact a member of the HR team on 0191 430 2000. 10 Accident & Emergency Services Student Paramedic - 2 Year Training Programme Full time 37.5 hours per week 24/7 Rota Year 1, 70% of maximum of Agenda for Change Band 5 Year 2, 75% of maximum of Agenda for Change Band 5 (plus appropriate shift enhancements on completion of initial training) and upon completion assimilation to bottom of Agenda for Change Band 5 As a Student Paramedic, you will have to care for the needs of seriously injured or ill people, ensuring that they receive immediate lifesaving treatment. These trainee posts will offer you an excellent opportunity to pursue a challenging and rewarding career within the prehospital care environment, including future career development opportunities to qualify as a State Registered Paramedic and beyond. The course is a two year Foundation Degree Program (HPC approved) in partnership with the University of Teeside. A full (preferably clean) manual UK driving licence with full category C1 driving entitlement. 5 GCSE s at grade C or above (or equivalent) including Maths, English or Science 1 A Level or have attained an equivalent further education qualification Programme specific APL/AP(E)L or have gained relevant vocational experience within the community A positive approach to your own continuing personal and professional development and be able to provide evidence of this. Experience of working within either a patient or customer care environment. 11