Senior Vehicle Preparation Operative (Barnstaple)

SWAST; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37.5 hour week

27 days holiday + holidays

Car leasing

Free parking

Staff networks

Employee discounts

Job summary

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Vehicle Preparation Operative to lead a small team and ensure ambulances are ready daily. You will supervise cleaning, restocking, refuelling and driving, maintaining high safety and infection control standards.

The role requires a full driving licence (C1 preferred) and leadership experience. The AVP project supports Bristol operations and offers development opportunities within the Trust.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade C or above including English and Maths.
• Leadership or supervisory qualification or equivalent experience.
• Full driving licence with maximum 3 penalty points.
• Holds category C1 on driving licence, or obtain (training can be provided in house)

Responsibilities

• Cleaning, restocking and refuelling ambulances daily.
• Process ambulances in a prescribed and controlled way to ensure readiness.
• Drive vehicles across locations as required.
• Support infection prevention and control activities.
• Supervise a small team of Vehicle Preparation Operatives.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Public service / customer care

Vehicle driving experience

Stock checking / infection control

Education

GCSEs (English & Maths)

Leadership or supervisory qualification

Full driving licence

Category C1 licence eligibility/training

Job description

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Vehicle Preparation Operative (Barnstaple)

The closing date is 06 October 2026

There has never been a better time to join the Trust's Fleet and Equipment team as a Senior Vehicle Preparation Operative. Our Ambulance Vehicle Preparation (AVP) team play a vital role in ensuring our front line crews are ready and able to respond to emergency situations by preparing our vehicle fleet and equipment to high standards.

We are looking for committed people who can lead and motivate a small team of Vehicle Preparation Operatives to prepare ambulances to the highest standards for responding to emergency calls.

Main duties of the job

You will join our team during a period of transformation as we continue to implement the Ambulance Vehicle Preparation (AVP) service into Bristol. Historically, our teams performed a deep clean of an ambulance every 6 weeks. In contrast, AVP involves cleaning, restocking and refuelling ambulances every single day. We are implementing AVP because we need to adapt and change to respond to growing pressure from increasing patient demand levels and the expectation is that changing our ways of working will increase the availability of valuable resources for our patients.

The role also includes the cleaning and restocking of ambulances, working alongside our Vehicle Preparation Operatives. The team process ambulances in a prescribed and controlled way that ensures each ambulance is ready to treat patients. The role is a key operational support function which ensures patient safety whilst supporting Operations in meeting its targets. Main duties include detailed cleaning and infection prevention & control activities, checking and inspecting medical devices, restocking consumables, refuelling and driving vehicles across various locations. Further information about AVP is provided in this short video, https://vimeo.com/737833133/67b03c85c9.

The role requires post holders to hold a current full driving licence. C1 category is preferred.

Further information is available in a short video at www.workingwondersjoinus.co.uk/fleet-services.

About us

Working for us is an experience like no other. We provide emergency and urgent care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating across the largest ambulance region in England and responding to an average of 2,650 incidents every day.

We remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best possible care for all our patients, which is reflected in our new five-year strategy which has continually improving patient care at its very core.

The role is based in Bristol, one of the most vibrant, attractive and historically interesting cities in England, with excellent transport links and a great mix of independent shops, cafes and bars.

If you embody our values of one team, compassionate and innovative and are looking to make a real difference to peoples' lives, then we would love to hear from you.

In return we will equip you with the skills and resources you need to thrive in your role.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles across the Trust and enjoy continuous professional development.

• A standard working week of 37.5 hours
• Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years
• Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working
• Career and salary progression
• Car leasing scheme
• Free parking across Trust sites
• Staff networks
• Wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job description and Person Specification for more information about the role.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

• Minimum of 3 GCSE's (or equivalent) at grade C or above including English and Maths;
• Leadership or supervisory qualification or equivalent experience;
• Full driving licence with maximum 3 penalty points;
• Holds category C1 on driving licence, or obtain (training can be provided in house)

Previous experience (paid/ unpaid relevant to job)

• Previous supervisory experience
• Experience of working within a public service or customer care environment
• Previous experience of driving various types of vehicles
• Experience in similar roles which may include stock checking and/or infection control/cleaning
• Evidence of supervisory experience

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