Public sector ambulance services offer exciting and challenging workplaces where staff are able to make important contributions to their local communities.
Our member services employ close to 38,000 staff. These include the paramedics, technicians, care assistants and other 'front-line' staff who provide patient care in emergency and other out-of-hospital settings.
In addition, member services also rely on the expertise of a wide range of other professionals who undertake roles as varied as finance and administration through to fleet management and operational matters.
The NHS Careers booklet, "Becoming a member of the Ambulance Service", provides more information about the full range of career opportunities available in today's ambulance service.
Ambulance careers
The distinctive blue lights and sirens of an ambulance as it speeds on its way to an emergency is perhaps the most familiar image of the ambulance service for many people. Yet the role of ambulance services and their staff extends well beyond responding to 999 emergency calls.
Every day, ambulance staff provide a range of patient transport and other services for a wide variety of patients who rely on the expertise and care of their local ambulance service. These activities account for up to 90 per cent of members' workloads.
The future of ambulance services and their staff is becoming increasingly central to modern healthcare delivery. The recognition of the need to treat patients as quickly as possible following serious injury or medical emergency means that today, more than ever before, front-line staff are highly-trained and respected professionals.
The role of Paramedic, for example, is now a recognised, state-registered profession in the same way as nurses, radiographers and other healthcare professionals.
A range of emergency practitioner academic qualifications are now on offer and continue to be developed in recognition of the increasingly important role of Paramedics in settings as diverse as GPs surgeries and in health education.
To find out more visit NHS Careers.
Education and training
All recruitment to member ambulance services is managed locally by individual services. Entry requirements may vary slightly. For career and recruitment information, contact the Human Resources Department of your local ambulance trust.
You may also find it useful to visit the website of the British Paramedic Association
CPD
From 1st July 2006, the Health Professions Council (HPC) required all health professionals on the Register to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
The standards mean that health professionals will have to provide evidence of CPD relating to their previous two years of practice from summer 2008.
The evidence will have to show that the CPD an individual has undertaken has contributed to the quality of their practice and demonstrates that it benefited the service user.
The standards apply not only to those in clinical practice, but also to those working in research, management or education.
The British Paramedic Association has developed an online CPD scheme which is a member-only benefit and meets all the requirements set by the HPC. Membership is open to Paramedics, EMT's, ACA's, EMD's and ECP's. You can download a PowerPoint demonstration.
