Vehicle Preparation Operative (Taunton)

Integrated Care System; Taunton; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Join the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust as a Vehicle Preparation Operative in Taunton, where you'll play a crucial role in preparing ambulances and equipment to ensure our emergency teams are always ready. Opportunities for career development and professional growth are available, along with a supportive working environment and comprehensive benefits including flexible shift hours and pay enhancements for unsocial hours.

Benefits

27 days holiday per year

Pay enhancements for out of hours, shift and overtime working

Car leasing scheme

Free parking across Trust sites

Cycle-to-work and other salary sacrifice schemes

Access to discounts from various organisations across the UK

Qualifications

• General all round education including numeracy and literacy.
• Experience in similar roles which may include stock checking and/or infection control/cleaning.
• Must have a current full driving licence, category C1 preferred.

Responsibilities

• Process ambulances to ensure each is ready for patient treatment.
• Perform detailed cleaning and infection prevention & control activities.
• Check and inspect medical devices, restock consumables, and drive vehicles.

Skills

Numeracy

Literacy

Driving various types of vehicles

Stock checking

Cleaning

Customer care

Education

3 GCSEs or equivalent

Full driving licence with maximum 6 penalty points

C1 category on driving licence

Job description

Go back South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Vehicle Preparation Operative (Taunton)

The closing date is 22 July 2025

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 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:

- All time on Saturday (midnight to midnight) and any week day after 8pm and before 6am -Time plus 41%

- All time on Sundays and Public Holidays (midnight to midnight) - Time plus 83%

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 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.

You will have opportunities to progress to roles at a higher pay grade 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
• Cycle-to-work and other salary sacrifice schemes
• Staff networks
• Access to a wide range of discounts from various organisations across the UK

Job responsibilities

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

For secondments please add the below as well;PLEASE NOTE: Internal candidates are asked to seek approval from their current SWASFT line manager prior to applying for this secondment opportunity.

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