Mental Health Ambulance Care Assistant

HTG-UK; Colchester; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

£14.00 per hour

Contractual Sick Pay after 12 months

Employee Assistance Programme

Increased holiday allowance

Refer a Friend up to £500

Pension Scheme

Fully funded training and uniform

Growth opportunities

Engaging workplace culture

Job summary

HTG-UK in Colchester (Earls Colne) is seeking Mental Health Ambulance Care Assistants to deliver urgent transport for patients with complex mental health needs. You will drive ambulances, support patients during transport, and follow care plans and safety protocols.

The role involves 12-hour shifts on a 4 on/4 off pattern, with emphasis on compassionate, dignity-driven patient care and teamwork within a trauma-informed environment.

Qualifications

• Full UK manual driving licence with 6 points max.
• Commitment to safeguarding and infection prevention.
• Experience in health or social care with vulnerable individuals preferred.

Responsibilities

• Safely transport patients, including those in crisis or detained under the Mental Health Act.
• Build trust with patients through active listening and compassionate communication.
• Follow care plans, risk assessments and safety protocols.
• Use de-escalation techniques to support distressed patients while maintaining dignity.
• Record patient information accurately using digital or paper systems.
• Drive and maintain company vehicles in line with policies and procedures.
• Maintain a clean, fully equipped vehicle at the start of each shift.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure high standards of patient care.

Skills

Full UK Manual Driving Licence

Calm under pressure

Active listening

Infection prevention and control

Teamwork

Job description

Exciting opportunities available for Mental Health Ambulance Care Assistants to join our team in Colchester (Earls Colne)

Who are we?

Therapeutic Response HTG-UK is a specialist mental health ambulance provider.

We are the first responders to patients who are experiencing mental health crisis. It is our responsibility to support patients to hospital in a safe, compassionate and trauma-informed way. This is your chance to make a meaningful impact every day as part of a specialist team pioneering a new psychology-led standard in mental health transport across the UK.

What Can You Expect?

You would be joining us in the role a Mental Health Ambulance Care Assistant, delivering a vital and urgent service to our patients with complex mental health needs. You will thrive in unpredictable environments, be skilled at managing distress and risk, calm in the face of aggression and violence and work well in teams.

You'll be someone who is empathetic and passionate about upholding human rights and understand that people with mental health difficulties are likely to have experienced some adversity in their lives and therefore they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. You' ll be responsible for both driving the ambulance and supporting patients during their transport.

This role typically averages 40.25 hours per week, working 12 hour shifts on a 4 on 4 off shift pattern.

Summary of Main Duties Include

• Safely transport patients with mental health challenges, including those in crisis or detained under the Mental Health Act.
• Build trust with patients using active listening and compassionate communication.
• Follow care plans, risk assessments, and safety protocols.
• Use de-escalation techniques to support patients in distress while maintaining their dignity.
• Record patient information accurately using digital or paper systems.
• Drive and maintain company vehicles in line with policies and procedures.
• Maintain a clean, fully equipped vehicle at the start of each shift.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure high standards of patient care.

What's in it for you?

• £14.00 per hour
• Contractual Sick Pay after 12 months service
• Employee Assistance Programme delivered by the UKs #1 EAP service- Health Assured
• Increased holiday allowance for long service
• Refer a Friend Earn up to £500 for each friend you bring on board
• Pension Scheme
• Fully Funded Training and Uniform Kick off your role with two weeks of training, enjoy ongoing mentorship, and receive a full uniform
• Opportunities to grow and develop
• Engaging Workplace Culture with regular company updates and Employee of the Month

We are Looking for Great People Who Are:

• Compassionate individuals who can support patients with complex mental health needs.
• Calm under pressure with the ability to manage challenging situations.
• Excellent communicators with active listening skills.
• Experience of managing high levels of stress or aggression and violence.
• Physically and mentally capable of meeting the roles demands.
• High standards in relation to infection prevention and control.
• Willingness to drive and assist with non-emergency transport when needed.
• Flexibility for shift work (7-day schedule across mids, afternoons, and evenings).
• Able to produce a Full UK Manual Driving Licence with no more than 6 licence points.
• Experienced within in a health or social care setting, specifically with individuals experiencing mental health challenges and within patient transport is desirable but not required.
• Experienced with providing compassionate, person-centred care and working with vulnerable individuals.
• Commitment to HTGUK values: care, respect, diversity, social value, environmental responsibility, and growth.

Our Commitment to Safer Recruitment

Patient safety is our priority. To work for HTG-UK you will need:

• Enhanced DBS Check (conducted during onboarding if successful)
• Right to Work in the UK
• Full UK Manual Driving Licence
• Satisfactory Employment and Character References
• A Satisfactory Medical Assessment
• Successful candidates will also need to successfully complete a paid two-week mandatory training course on commencement of employment.

Equal Opportunities

The Companys Equal Opportunities policy affirms our commitment to ensure that no patient, employee or job applicant faces discrimination - whether directly or indirectly based on gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, responsibility for dependants, disability, religion, belief, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, trade union activity, social background, health status, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown as justifiable.

Safeguarding

The organisation takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing domestic violence very seriously and therefore all employees at HTG-UK are expected to:

• Attend mandatory training on Safeguarding children and adults
• Ensure they are familiar with their and the organisations requirements under relevant legislation
• Adhere to all relevant national and local policies, procedures, and professional codes
• Report any concerns to the appropriate authority
• Maintaining professional boundaries as a Person in a Position of Trust (PiPoT)