Vehicle Preparation Operative

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare service is seeking a Vehicle Preparation Operative based in Stoke-on-Trent. This role involves preparing emergency vehicles for operational readiness, ensuring they are clean, stocked, and meet safety standards. Applicants must have experience in stock taking and driving various vehicles, with a full UK driving license. The role requires flexibility as shifts vary including nights and weekends. Competitive salary range is £24,465 to £26,598, plus relevant unsocial hours. Apply if you have the right to work in the UK.

Qualifications

• Must possess a full UK driving licence including full category C1 entitlement.
• Must be able to work in the UK without the need for sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Prepare emergency vehicles, ensuring they are correctly stocked and cleaned.
• Assist Fleet Services in maintaining the operational serviceability of the vehicle fleet.
• Contribute to the daily provision of staff to undertake the Make Ready function.

Skills

Experience of stock taking

Experience of driving a variety of vehicles

Good standard of general education

Education

Minimum 3 GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade C or above to include English and Maths

Job description

Vehicle Preparation Operative - Stoke Hub

The closing date is 26 January 2026

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust is looking to build a reserve pool of Vehicle Preparation Operatives to join our well established team for any vacancies that may arise over the coming 12 months.

We are looking for motivated individuals who will work as part of the team and are responsible for the Make Ready preparation of emergency vehicles, ambulances and cars.

You will be responsible for the make‑ready preparation of vehicles and equipment, ensuring they are correctly stocked, cleaned and ready to meet the daily operational requirement.

Successful applicants will be expected to work various shifts covering 24 hours a day, 7 days a week & 52 weeks a year including days, nights, weekends and bank holidays. Please note applicants must be fully flexible as this post may initially work nights only.

This post now has a linked banding agreement and therefore, once you have completed 4 years in post as a Vehicle Preparation Operative you will move from Band 2 to Band 3, giving salary progression.

Please note that due to the banding of this post the Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to work for this role; to be eligible to apply you must have current right to work in the UK status.

Main duties of the job

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and accessible workplace for everyone where our colleagues feel empowered to succeed.

Each person plays a vital part ensuring our organisation meets the differing needs of our communities ultimately enabling us to save lives. We acknowledge that a workforce that reflects the communities that it serves provides better patient care, and we are therefore looking for self‑motivated, enthusiastic people from all backgrounds that care about making a difference to our patients.

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity at all levels. We are proud to maintain Disability Confident Leader status and guarantee to invite all applicants who meet the essential criteria for a role to attend assessment or interview. If you have a disability or learning difficulty and prefer to disclose it, please feel free to do so in your application. You can also contact the Recruitment Team via email at [e-mail] if you wish to have a confidential discussion. We use this information, with your permission, to ensure you are fully supported during the recruitment process.

The Trust is proud to support our Armed Forces community and has signed up to the Step Into Health initiative. We welcome applications from Armed Forces Veterans and Service leavers.

About us

If this position involves a regulated activity it will require an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check. The disclosure will, where appropriate to the role, include information against the Independent Safeguarding Authority barred lists for working with children, adults or both.

Where a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is required for the post, applicants are required to cover the cost of the check. The cost of £27.76 for a basic check is payable to our online provider at the time that the DBS application is submitted. Upon receipt of your DBS you will then be required to sign up to the DBS online update service.

We do endeavour to respond to all candidates on an individual basis. Therefore we ask for your cooperation and patience whilst the short‑listing process takes place. After the closing date please ensure you check your emails (including junk mail) regularly as contact is usually made via this method.

We are proud to offer flexible working options to support our colleagues to have a greater choice in when, where and how they work. During your interview we will explore this with you and discuss your individual needs and how this could be facilitated for this role to benefit patient experience, service delivery and the work‑life balance of colleagues.

Job responsibilities

Operational & Support Services

• Vehicles and equipment are clean and ready to meet the daily operational requirement with emphasis on the mechanical condition of the vehicle and its roadworthiness.
• The correct scale of stocking of clinical equipment and consumables.
• All Make Ready quality standards set by the Trust are met.
• The deep‑cleaning programme for vehicles is coordinated with the vehicle servicing schedule.
• Any requests for the operational movement of vehicles and equipment are undertaken.
• The buffer store is adequately stocked and refurbished.

Vehicle Maintenance

• Assist Fleet Services in maintaining the operational serviceability of the vehicle fleet by undertaking vehicle inspection and minor running repairs.

Operational Response

• Contribute to the daily provision of sufficient staff to undertake the Make Ready function.
• Contribute to the provision of a non‑call capability in support of the Make Ready function.

Health and Safety at Work

• Compliance with HSE requirements in the use of all equipment and materials applicable to the Make Ready function.

Communications

• Ensure effective communications with staff and their representatives. Identify and minimise interpersonal conflict.

Reports

• Make reports as directed on matters relevant to the Make Ready function such as personal accidents, injuries sustained at work, loss or damage to service vehicles and equipment, abuse of the service, hazardous or defective equipment, premises or practices.

Effort and Environmental Factors

The pattern of work is unpredictable and interruptions can arise frequently during the shift.

The work takes place in an open garage environment susceptible to extreme temperature conditions.

The physical requirements of the job include lifting and carrying supplies, washing vehicles, and protective clothing is issued.

The post holder is exposed to unpleasant smells, temperature, weather, bodily fluid on a day‑to‑day basis several times a shift.

Additional Duties

• Perform such duties of either a higher or lower rank as may be reasonable from time to time.
• Ensure adherence to Health and Safety at Work Act, directions in Routine Instructions, and the Trust’s Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures.
• Develop yourself within the job and proactively identify own professional development needs.
• Contribute to the development and review of the training needs of own peers and colleagues.
• Provide professional advice and assistance in training of Trust employees as appropriate.
• Attend any course or training the Service deems necessary for individual and/or organisational development.
• Perform any other reasonable duties as may be assigned by your Line Manager.
• Take part in major incidents and relevant exercises as required.

NB. This job description identifies the major aspects of the post, but will be subject to review from time to time in light of the development of the Trust.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of stock taking.
• Experience of driving a variety of vehicles.
• Full UK driving licence including full category C1 entitlement.
• Must be able to work in the UK without the need for sponsorship.

Qualifications

• Good standard of general education: minimum 3 GCSEs (or equivalent) at Grade C or above to include English and Maths, or be willing to undertake a Level 2 qualification whilst in post within the first 12 months of the role.
• Must be willing to undertake any training as required by the Trust.

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.

Employer name

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust

£24,465 to £26,598 a year plus the relevant unsocial hours as per section 2