Mental Health Ambulance Care Assistant

NHS; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A secure mental health transport service is seeking compassionate Mental Health Ambulance Care Assistants to provide calm and dignified transport for vulnerable individuals. This full-time role involves transporting service users across the UK while offering support during mental health crises. The position offers a guaranteed minimum salary with structured training and development. Candidates will work as part of a team and must have strong interpersonal skills. Occasional on-call duties are included, primarily Monday to Friday.

Benefits

Structured training

Guaranteed income

Uniform provided

Ongoing development

Qualifications

• Ability to build rapport with service users in distress.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Competence in handling dynamic situations calmly.

Responsibilities

• Transport service users safely across the UK.
• Support individuals experiencing mental health crises.
• Alternate between driving and providing support during journeys.
• Conduct dynamic risk assessments throughout transport.
• Maintain digital documentation for each transport.

Skills

Communication skills

Compassion

Teamwork

Calm decision-making

Job description

SSGL Medical is recruiting Mental Health Ambulance Care Assistants to support our expanding secure mental health transport service.

Please see the full Job Description PDF here:https://bit.ly/Job-Description-V11

This is a full-time, permanent role offering guaranteed income, structured training, and the opportunity to work in a specialist environment supporting vulnerable individuals during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. You will work as part of a close-knit, professional team delivering calm, compassionate, and dignified transport for service users, many of whom are detained under the Mental Health Act. This role is also known internally as Secure Ambulance Care Assistant.

The role involves transporting service users safely across the UK, building rapport, providing reassurance, and supporting individuals experiencing mental health crisis. Work is varied, with most journeys being non-confrontational, calm, and conversational, supported by strong training and mentorship.

You will receive a guaranteed minimum retainer of £24,380 per annum, paid for being available on-call, with overtime paid for additional hours, alongside extensive training, uniform, NHS partner ID, and ongoing development within a CQC-regulated independent ambulance service working closely with NHS partners.

Main duties of the job

What the role involves

• Secure transport of service users across the UK
• Supporting individuals experiencing mental health crises
• Building rapport and providing reassurance throughout journeys
• Working in a team, alternating between driving and supporting the service user
• Short local and longer national journeys to safely collect and deliver service users
• Dynamic risk assessment and calm decision-making throughout transport

Most journeys are non-confrontational, calm, and conversational, supported by strong training and on-road mentorship.

About SSGL Medical

Secure Solutions Group Limited (SSGL Medical) is a CQC-regulated independent ambulance service based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

We work with NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, and private healthcare providers across the UK, specialising in secure mental health transport. SSGL has received multiple industry awards, including Most Innovative Independent Ambulance Service Yorkshire.

We prioritise staff well-being, strong governance, and compassionate care.

Job responsibilities

• Collecting and transporting service users with mental health needs across the UK
• Responding from home to base promptly when activated
• Alternating between driving and in-vehicle support as part of a two-person crew
• Building rapport and providing reassurance to service users throughout journeys
• Supporting individuals during periods of distress, anxiety, or crisis
• Receiving and providing professional handovers with clinicians and partner services
• Carrying out dynamic risk assessments before and during each journey
• Completing vehicle checks and ensuring equipment readiness before journeys
• Assisting service users with limited mobility, including use of wheelchairs, stretchers, carry chairs, and manual handling equipment
• Maintaining accurate digital documentation for each transport
• Upholding high standards of cleanliness and infection prevention
• Reporting vehicle or equipment defects promptly
• Maintaining strict confidentiality of patient and company information
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to promote service user safety and wellbeing
• Ensuring dignity, privacy, and individual needs are always respected

Working Pattern

• On-call Monday to Friday, 24 hours per day
• Weekends off (occasional early Saturday finishes after Friday overnight work)
• On-call from home