Emergency Care Assistant

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust; Chesterton; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Holiday entitlement 27 days + bank

Continual professional development

Health and wellbeing support

Staff networking groups

Job summary

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust in England seeks Emergency Care Assistants (ECA) to support clinicians responding to 999 calls and provide patient care. Training starts after recruitment, with options at High Wycombe, Bracknell and Reading, and full C1 driving licence required.

The role involves working shifts including days, nights and weekends, with a comprehensive 10-week training programme followed by an operational assessment. Competitive NHS benefits apply.

Qualifications

• Right to work in the UK.
• Full C1 driving licence at time of application; provisional C1 not eligible.
• Willingness to complete a 10-week training programme.

Responsibilities

• Support clinicians responding to 999 calls and assist with patient care.
• Aid with emergency and non-emergency driving duties.
• Work from one of the listed locations and join a training-to-work progression.

Skills

Caring

Professionalism

Honesty

Flexibility to work shifts

Job description

Emergency Care Assistant (ECA)

We are recruiting for a small number of Emergency Care Assistant (ECA) vacancies and expect high demand. This advert will close once sufficient applications have been received, so early application is strongly recommended.

Applicants must hold a full C1 driving licence at the time of application. Candidates with only a provisional C1 entitlement are not eligible for this recruitment campaign.

Training will take place in Bicester or Newbury, with most successful candidates starting in November 2026.

About The Role

As an ECA, you will support clinicians responding to 999 calls, providing patient care and assisting with emergency and non-emergency driving duties.

Vacancies are currently available only at High Wycombe, Bracknell and Reading, and candidates must be able to work from one of these locations.

Selection Process

Selection Will Be Based On

• Application quality
• Interview performance
• Fitness assessment

Successful candidates will join an ECA waitlist while pre-employment checks are completed. Course places will be offered based on service need and recruitment outcomes. Deferrals are not available.

Eligibility

Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Emergency Care Assistants work in a challenging but rewarding role that provides essential support to our qualified clinical practitioners in responding to Accidents, Emergencies and Urgent Care requirements of the public.

No two shifts will be the same, you might be called out to a road accident victim with multiple severe injuries or to someone who has had a heart attack, you could even be transferring a very sick baby to a specialist centre or dealing with an elderly person who has fallen down the stairs.

We are looking for people who can demonstrate our values of Caring, Professionalism and Honesty in all they do. If you have experience of remaining calm under pressure, can demonstrate your caring and compassionate nature and do not mind working shifts (including days/lates/nights and weekend working), then we would like to hear from you now.

You must be able to commit to the full 10‑week training programme. The training course consists of a full corporate induction week, 5 weeks of clinical training which includes basic life support skills, moving and handling and assisting the Clinical Practitioners and a 4‑week driver training course including Blue Light conditions.

Once you have successfully completed your training, you will continue to a six month operationally monitored assessment‑training programme, which is monitored locally by your Team Leader and Clinical Team Educator.

Benefits We Offer

• Full training and a range of courses which you can book locally.
• Holiday entitlement of 27 days, rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years’ service, plus an additional 8 days bank holiday (pro rata for part time).
• Automatic enrolment into the NHS Pension Scheme.
• Access to continual professional development within SCAS and the wider NHS.
• Occupational Health support and direct access to our Employee Assistance Programme as well as our own Health and Wellbeing Team.
• NHS Discounts in over 200 + stores saving money on holidays, days out, car insurance, restaurants, clothing and much more.
• Ability to join our staff networking groups (as a member, ally or just for interest).

Corporate Induction

It’s really important for us to ensure you have the best onboarding experience which allows you to feel a sense of belonging from the start. To help with this, we will book your Corporate Induction as soon as we possibly can (depending on availability).

All new starters need to attend our *Corporate Induction in person, this is held over one and half days from our educational centres based in: Newbury (Berkshire) or Bicester (Oxfordshire). More specific details will be sent to you once your start date has been confirmed.

• Please note – depending on your role additional training may be required following on from your corporate induction.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: ECA Recruitment Job title: Recruitment Email address: [e-mail]