Vehicle Preparation Operative (Exeter)

SWAST; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car leasing scheme

Free parking across Trust sites

Cycle-to-work

Job summary

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust in Exeter is recruiting a Vehicle Preparation Operative to support the Fleet and Equipment team. The role focuses on preparing ambulances and equipment to high standards, enabling frontline crews to respond effectively to emergencies.

The position offers full-time hours (approx. 37.5 per week) with shifts across a 24/7 rota, including days, nights and weekends.

Qualifications

• Full driving licence with maximum 6 penalty points.
• Must have category C1 on driving licence, or obtain (training can be provided in house)
• 3 GCSEs or equivalent

Responsibilities

• Process ambulances in a prescribed and controlled way to ensure readiness to treat patients.
• Carry out detailed cleaning and infection prevention & control activities.
• Check and inspect medical devices, restock consumables, refuel and drive vehicles.

Skills

Full driving licence

C1 category preferred

Infection control/ cleaning experience

Customer care experience

Numeracy and literacy basics

Education

3 GCSEs or equivalent

Job description

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Vehicle Preparation Operative (Exeter)

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 Vehicle Preparation Operative (VPO). 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.

The role of the VPO is also a gateway to the organisation with opportunities to develop you career with us either within the Fleet and Equipment team or the wider Trust in both patient-facing and a variety of support roles.

Main duties of the job

Vehicle Preparation Operatives 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.

We are seeking to further grow and develop our service and are looking for committed people to work at our Exeter Main Operating Base. We have a range of both full time (average 37.5 hours per week) and part time hours working a variety of shifts across a 24 hour, 7-day period including days, lates, nights, weekends and bank holidays. Unsocial hours payments will be applicable in addition to the basic salary for night and weekend working which are as follows:

£11.45 per hour base salary.

£16.14 per hour working nights and Saturdays.

£20.95 per hour working Sunday and bank holidays.

£17.83 per hour working any overtime.

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 your Organisation - Advert Text for Trac

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 of 10,000 square miles 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.

At the heart of our beautiful and diverse region we employ over 6000 people and are supported by over 575 volunteers.

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, resources and development you need to thrive in your role.

Benefitso Competitive NHS salaryo A standard working week of 37.5 hourso Holiday entitlements of 27 days per year, plus general and public holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 yearso Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime workingo Generous Pension Schemeo Career and salary progressiono Car leasing schemeo Free parking across Trust siteso Cycle-to-work and other salary sacrifice schemeso Staff networkso Access to a wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Job responsibilities

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

Person Specification

Qualifications

• General all round education including numeracy and literacy
• Full driving licence with maximum 6 penalty points;
• Must have category C1 on driving licence, or obtain (training can be provided in house)
• 3 GCSEs or equivalent

Experience

• Previous experience of driving various types of vehicles
• Working in a trustworthy position
• Experience in similar roles which may include stock checking and/or infection control/cleaning
• Experience in a customer care environment

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

Address

Exeter

Unit 13-15 Kestrel Business Park, Kestrel Way

Unit 13-15 Kestrel Business Park, Kestrel Way