Apprentice Emergency Care Assistant - Bedfordshire

East of England Ambulance Service; Luton; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional ambulance service in Luton is offering an apprenticeship training for Emergency Care Assistants. This role involves delivering medical care in diverse environments while completing a 12-month training program. Successful candidates will progress to a qualified role, providing urgent and non-urgent care across various settings. Essential qualifications include a driving license and GCSEs in Maths and English. The job promises a supportive and varied working environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Qualifications

• Must have full UK manual driving licence with at least 1 year experience.
• C1 category licence required before start date.
• Experience in customer service or care environment appreciated.

Responsibilities

• Deliver urgent and non-urgent medical care.
• Complete training program over approximately 12 months.
• Proactively support patients and care teams in various settings.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Confidentiality understanding

Education

Two GCSE Grade C or Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English

C1 category licence

Tools

Provisional C1 driving licence

Job description

Job Overview

EEAST is a great place to work, great people, great career opportunities and a career that can take you anywhere. No two days are the same, if you are looking for a varied and supportive environment EEAST can offer you that and more!

Hear why our employees think it is such a great place to work :

• Great employee benefits :
• Our equality networks :
• Our vision & values :

Before you apply, please visit our how to apply page for full guidance :

#Careerforlife

Job overview

This advert is for roles in Kempston and Luton, Training courses will commence from April 2026 onwards

Main duties of the job

The duration of the training is approximately 12 months. During this training period, Agenda for Change Annex 21 Training salary will apply; starting salary £19255 per annum. Applicants who successfully complete their apprenticeships will then be eligible to continue in a Qualified Emergency Care Assistant role with the Trust.

Upon completion of the apprenticeship programme you will progress to the bottom of Band 3 £24071 per annum (2024 / 25 Agenda for Change pay scale).

At EEAST we expect our clinical workforce to deliver the very best care to our patients with the support of a dedicated team of clinical staff, volunteers, call handlers, dispatchers and support staff. In addition, paramedics will routinely work with other allied health professionals in partnership organisations in both hospital and community-based services to ensure timely referrals and discharge.

A shift on an ambulance is like no other workplace. You will operate in a wide range of environments, across both urban and rural areas managing everything from birth to end of life, chronic conditions to critical illness or injury.

Working for our organisation

You'll have the opportunity to work in one of the most diverse regions in the country, with the vibrant capital city just a stone's throw away and the invigorating North Sea coast to the east.

At EEAST we bring together all our skills to provide 24 hour, 365 days a year urgent care to those in need of emergency and non-emergency medical treatment and transport in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

We are always looking to innovate our approaches and work together to offer the best possible patient care across our counties.

We aim to represent and value the diversity of our local communities through our workforce and service provision. We therefore positively encourage applications from under-represented groups, such as Black, Asian, or other ethnic groups, individuals with a Disability, or LGBTQ+ individuals who meet the specific criteria.

We at EEAST want to support our employees achieve a balance between work and other priorities, such as caring responsibilities, family commitments, further learning, and other interests. We therefore welcome flexible working requests.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the role, including all its specific requirements and responsibilities, please consult the attached Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides an in-depth overview that will give you a clear and detailed picture of what the position entails.

Please note, should you be successful in your application, you will be required to undergo pre‑employment checks, prior to receiving an unconditional offer, if full employment checks cannot be achieved (this will include existing and unserved disciplinary sanctions), then your offer may be withdrawn.

How to apply

Step 1 -Read the advert and the Job Description and Person Specification (attached)

Step 2 -Complete the Supporting Statement - Your statement needs to indicate how you meet each of the criteria contained within the Person Specification.

Step 3 -Complete the online application and upload your statement. Please note, CVs are not accepted.

Please note that this job role requires you to obtain your Provisional C1 Licence and Theory before you can be offered a start date.

Please see the attached support document with information to support you to obtain your Provisional C1 Licence and Theory.

Person specification

Qualifications Route 1

• Essential criteria
  • Two GCSE Grade C (or above) or Functional Skills level 2 in Maths and English. Please note Function Skills must have been undertaken through an approved provider.
  • Full UK manual driving licence with 1 year driving experience *Maximum 3 Penalty Points for minor offences *Maximum 6 Penalty points for SP30 Driving Offences.
  • C1 category licence / or To have obtained provisional C1 driving licence, C1 medical and C1 Theory prior to start date.

Qualifications Route 2

• Essential criteria
  • One GCSE Grade C (or above) OR Functional Skills level 2 in Maths or English. Please note Function Skills must have been undertaken through an approved provider. You will be contractually required to achieve the qualification you are yet to obtain (Maths or English Functional Skills Level 2), within first 12 months of employment.
  • Full UK manual driving licence with 1 year driving experience • Maximum 3 Penalty Points for minor offences • Maximum 6 Penalty points for SP30 Driving Offences.
  • C1 category licence to be held / or To have obtained provisional C1 driving licence, C1 medical and C1 Theory prior to start date.

Skills and Knowledge

• Essential criteria
  • Be able to demonstrate an understanding for the need for confidentiality and how this can be maintained.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to people, listen well and apply questioning react in a tactful, appropriate, and professional manner.
  • Good communication skills with the ability to communicate appropriately and effectively face to face, over the phone / radio and in writing.
• Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of the role of current non‑registered healthcare workers, including emergency care assistants and how they contribute to excellent patient care.
  • Knowledge about East of England Ambulance Service, its organisational values, and the services it provides to patients and the community.

Experience

• Essential criteria
  • Experience of dealing with people in difficult and challenging circumstances and / or ‘customer care’ environment / customer service experience.
• Desirable criteria
  • Experience of involvement or caring for people in a health or social care environment.
  • Additional driving experience, for example driving larger vehicles within rural and urban areas.

Personal Attributes

• Essential criteria
  • Commitment to self-development.
• Desirable criteria
  • Treats everyone as an individual and strives to understand individual need.
  • Be organised and able to take responsibility for own learning to meet deadlines.
  • Be able to seek feedback, think about and respond proactively to feedback you are given.

You will be required to hold a full UK manual driving licence with a minimum of 1 years driving experience (maximum of 3 penalty points for minor motoring offences only).

Occupational Health

Applicants are advised that EEAST adheres to the recommendations of the Department of Health Medical Advisory Panel relating to health standards for frontline emergency response roles. Please refer to DVLA Assessing fitness to drive – a guide for medical professionals, for detailed information.

Disclosure and Barring Service check

This position involves regulated activity which will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at enhanced level with child and adult barred list check.

Candidates who require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the United Kingdom can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this position by assessing their circumstances against the criteria specified on the Check if you need a UK visa - website. We encourage all applicants to review these criteria carefully to understand their eligibility for sponsorship.

Reference and Employment History

All references from current and previous employers, will be sought via their Human Resources Department and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and email address of the Human Resources Department and indicate your current / previous line manager and their departmental details.

All appointments will be subject to currently having a clean disciplinary record.

Please be advised that a No Smoking Policy is in operation throughout the Trust.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

Under the Trust's commitment 'Positive about Disabled People', if you consider yourself as having a disability and you meet the minimum selection criteria for any post, you will get an automatic interview. By minimum selection criteria we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application form which demonstrates the essential requirements as set out in the person specification and advertisement for a post.

EEO statement

We aim to represent and value the diversity of our local communities through our workforce and service provision. We therefore positively encourage applications, regardless of age, race, religion & belief, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity or disability.