An Exciting Opportunity To Commence Paramedic Development

It’s not the buzz of driving fast with blue lights flashing that will excite you; it’s the knowledge that your presence as a Paramedic has made all the difference to someone. That someone is your patient.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) has embarked on an ambitious programme to recruit a significant number of student paramedics; last year we recruited over 400 new staff, and we are looking to recruit another 400 in this financial year. The chance to join our Student Paramedic Programme is the start of a new career. This opportunity will mean you receive a salary and training throughout the duration of the 30 month Student Paramedic programme, with those who pass able to make an application to register with the Paramedic professional body – The Health and Care Professions Council.

No medical training is required for this role, as full training is given. Working for the NHS also allows staff to apply for keyworker housing with local housing associations.

THE RIGHT PEOPLE
We recognise the skills and aptitude that forces staff have, especially when faced with pressurised situations. Doing this job is not all about having medical knowledge; it’s often about applying a commonsense approach to dealing with patients in their hour of need, or demonstrating personal resilience when a patient’s life is at risk. Of course, the training will provide you with the skills and knowledge to assess and treat a range of patients in need of your help. EEAST is also a supportive employer of forces reservists, having been recognised with the Silver award by the Defence Employer Recognition Service for 2014. We are also in the process of signing up to the ‘Corporate Covenant’ which commits the trust to supporting ex-forces employees and their families.

THE APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
The recruitment and selection process consists of the following:
• Shortlisting against essential criteria in Person Specification
• Assessment Centre Stage 1 – Literacy and Numeracy Assessment and Highway Code questionnaire
• Assessment Centre Stage 2 – An Interview, Driving and Fitness Assessment
• Pre-employment checks in line with the NHS Employment Check Standards
• Work Health Assessment clearance

Candidates will be expected to undertake ALL elements of the selection process and can’t be offered a start date until such time that all of the elements are complete.

All recruitment is conducted through the NHS portal www.jobs.nhs.uk. Use the job search ‘student paramedic’ and select ‘East of England’ as a location. This will take you to the advert where you can apply. Alternatively, the HR Recruitment team will be happy to answer any queries; please call and speak to one of the team on 01234 243045.

THE TRAINING PROGRAMME
Initial training begins with an eight week residential course to prepare you with the clinical aspects of the role, followed by a 3 week intensive driving course to enable you safely drive under emergency conditions. Successful completion of these elements will then see you spend the next 12 months working with qualified staff on ambulances and dealing with patients under supervision. The second year will be a blend of university based study and operational learning. The programme will have the requirement to complete theory and practical examinations. These are typically spread across the programme in modules. In addition to the time provided by the Trust for study the undertake further study in your own time. It is recommended that you have access to a computer to support your studies.

APPLICANTS MUST:
• Be highly motivated with excellent communication and numeracy skills with a minimum of 5 GCSEs of grade C or above of which two must be Maths, English or Science (alternative equivalent qualifications may be accepted).
• Be able to demonstrate a high degree of physical fitness by successfully meeting our fitness assessment standards and work health assessment check.
• Have their own transport, and a full UK manual driving licence (manual vehicle) with two years driving experience, (please note that the person specification states that ‘a maximum of 3 points will be considered for a minor motoring offence only’). If you have more than three penalty points on your driving licence, there will be no exceptions to this rule and you will not progress through the recruitment and selection process.
• Category C1 (manual vehicle) on your driving licence is essential in order to start on our Student Paramedic programme. Applicants without Provisional or Full C1 who are successful in the  recruitment and selection process will be required to obtain Provisional C1 before being allocated to a training course, and achieve the FULL C1 before you begin a training course.
• Demonstrate real drive, motivation and enthusiasm to pursue this challenging and demanding career throughout the recruitment and selection process and beyond.

The recruitment and selection process will consist of the following:
• Shortlisting against essential criteria in Person Specification
• Assessment Centre Stage 1 – Literacy and Numeracy Assessment and Highway Code questionnaire
• Assessment Centre Stage 2 – An Interview, Driving and Fitness Assessment
• Pre-employment checks in line with the NHS Employment Check Standards
• Work Health Assessment clearance

Candidates are expected to undertake and pass all elements of the selection process.

The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) provides emergency, urgent and primary care services throughout Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk since 1st July, 2006. Our dedicated and skilled staff work 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to make sure patients receive the best possible care.

We have more than 4,000 staff operating from 140 sites and a fleet of 1,000 vehicles. We are supported by more than 1,500 volunteers who provide community first responder and volunteer ambulance car services.

The eastern region is made up of both urban and rural areas with a population of nearly six million, as well as several thousand more tourists who enjoy visiting the area in peak seasons. It includes major airports and docks which increase the number of people in our region on a daily basis. Whilst we are looking to recruit across all areas of the trust, we are particularly looking for staff to work in the following areas;
• Most of Essex (but not currently North Essex)
• Hertfordshire
• Suffolk
• South Cambridgeshire
• Waveney
• West Norfolk