Community First Responder - South & West Devon

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; West Alvington; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional ambulance service seeks Community First Responders in South and West Devon to provide emergency care. You'll attend emergency calls, offering vital patient support until an ambulance arrives. Applicants should have a valid driving license, access to a vehicle, and commitment to volunteer at least 12 hours per week. Training will be provided along with necessary qualifications. This role offers a rewarding opportunity to serve the community and learn lifesaving skills.

Qualifications

• Good all round education is preferred.
• Access to a vehicle with current tax, MOT, and insurance is required.
• Knowledge of the role and the organization is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient care, including basic life support, until emergency ambulance arrival.
• Attend emergency calls in the community.
• Complete the Level 3 Award for First Responders on Scene during training.

Skills

Commitment to volunteering for a minimum of 12 hours a week

Education

Full driving licence held for at least one year

Current advanced driving qualification

Job description

Community First Responder - South & West Devon

The closing date is 14 January 2026

"Exciting volunteering opportunities have arisen within South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust for Community First Responders to join Community First Responder schemes across South and West Devon."

We welcome applicants from throughout South and West Devon; however we are particularly interested in people from the following areas:

Ivybridge, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Brixham, Totnes, South Brent, Buckfastleigh, Ashburton, Yelverton, Noss Mayo, Plymstock, Princetown, Chudleigh, Bovey Tracey, City Centre Plymouth, Tavistock, & Scheme Car based at Derriford Ambulance Station.

A Community First Responder (CFR) scheme is made up of a group of trained volunteers who within the community in which they live or work attend emergency calls on behalf of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to provide patient care, including basic life support, until the arrival of an emergency ambulance.

Applicants will have a good all round education; a full driving licence held for at least one year, with no more than 6 current penalty points and have access to a vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for your use. Following shortlisting, applicants will be invited to attend a formal interview whereby they will be expected to have some knowledge of the role and South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust. Candidates will be required to attain the Level 3 Award for First Responders on Scene during training in order to complete the recruitment process.

Main duties of the job

As a volunteer and a member of a Community First Responder Scheme you would provide this community based service willingly and without pay. This role is highly rewarding and offers opportunities to meet new people and learn valuable lifesaving skills through the training provided by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

It is vital you include what would make you a exceptional Community First Responder and how you meet the person specification for the role. Please be aware, if there is not currently a Community First Responder scheme running within a 3 mile radius of your home postcode you may not be short listed. Should you wish to respond from your work place as well as or instead of your home address, please detail this in the additional information section.

If you are currently in the Emergency Care Assistant pool please do not apply

When applying for this position, please be aware that you must be able to attend the following interview dates and all of the training course.

Interviews are scheduled to be held during the week commencing 9th February 2026 in Exeter.

(The training course will take place in Exeter)

• Saturday 11th April 2026
• Sunday 12TH April 2026
• Saturday 18th April 2026
• Sunday 19th April 2026
li>Saturday 25th April 2026
• Sunday 26th April 2026

YOU MUST BE ABLE TO MAKE ALL OF THE TRAINING SESSIONS.

About us

At South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) we have a culture where everyone is valued for being themselves. Our aim is to work together to promote the most inclusive environment possible, which attracts people from the widest range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work that we do together, for the benefit of all of our employees, our patients and the communities we serve. We offer flexible working opportunities, inclusive policies and a range of feedback mechanisms to support individuals and to enable a positive, welcoming environment where our people and their careers can thrive in.

We employ over 5,000 employees mainly clinical, operational and emergency response staff as well as supporting roles. We also employ Doctors and volunteers which include community first responders and fire co-responders.

We take all the steps needed to provide the most compassionate patient care possible whilst also providing an enjoyable and safe place to work. We actively promote a positive set of behaviours as being key to our performance both individually and collectively. Our recruitment, selection and screening processes are designed to uphold these standards and we invite all our candidates to actively share with us through these processes how they will bring these behaviours to life.

To view the Trust's Mission, Vision, Values and Goals click here

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see attached the job description and person specification attached.

Please do however re register your interest to be notified of future recruitment campaigns: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=1Jr8HAsL0ECdxOdKjT0WUjryOBEWEoFGoolRy68IBA1UNU5ZRU9YUDBDUEFWQkdaRkhNUUtDQkg2UCQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

To make your application stand out it is vital you include what would make you a exceptional Community First Responder and how you meet the person specification for the role.

Please be aware, if there is not currently a Community First Responder scheme running within a close proximity to home postcode you may not be short listed.

More information including a video is available on our website: https://www.swast.nhs.uk/volunteer-recruitment

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

• Full driving licence held for at least one year, with no more than 6 current penalty points.
• Have a vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for your use.
• Current advanced driving qualification.

Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)

• Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)

Skills, knowledge, ability

• Commitment to volunteering for a minimum of 12 hours a week.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust