Qualified Paramedic - SORT Johnstone

NHS Ayrshire & Arran; Jawa Barat; On-site; IDR 830,959,000 - 1,305,793,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Scotland seeks HCPC-registered paramedics for the Special Operations Response Teams (SORT). The role emphasises frontline clinical care in high-risk environments, with training to support multi-agency responses and major incidents. Candidates must meet strict fitness and PPE criteria and complete the SOAR courses.

Successful applicants will join a UK-wide programme with ongoing specialist training and security vetting. Interviews are scheduled in early 2027.

Qualifications

• HCPC registered paramedics
• Minimum 2 years frontline experience post NQP
• Demonstrated frontline competency and multi-agency operation exposure

Responsibilities

• Respond to hazardous materials incidents (HAZMAT)
• Operate in CBRN, MTA environments
• Work at height, confined spaces and unstable terrain
• Support security operations (tactical medical)
• Maintain continuous specialist training for SORT/SRUs
• Participate in SOAR course and related PPE protocols

Skills

Frontline clinical experience

Excellent communication

Teamwork under pressure

Education

HCPC registration

Tools

PPE & tactical medical equipment

Job description

The National Risk and Resilience Department (NRRD) are currently seeking applications from enthusiastic, flexible and motivated individuals with a genuine interest in developing new skills for positions as Paramedics within the full-time Special Operations Response Teams.

The purpose of SORT is to save life, increase survival, improve clinical outcomes and enhance patient and staff safety through the provision of specialist paramedical care.

SORT has been trained and equipped to extend the reach of the NHS into challenging and high-risk environments. To provide direct access to patients, undertake clinical assessment, triage, initial treatment and extrication whilst operating in circumstances where no other responding agency is able to provide clinical care and no other professional health care intervention is available, and so ensure a smooth transition for patients from the point of injury into wider NHS care. The Teams also attend around 9000 emergency calls annually.

The Role

SORT Paramedics must be HCPC registered with a minimum of 2 years frontline experience post NQP period at the close of application.

Demonstrate significant frontline experience and maintain a high level of clinical competency. Additional duties include support to multi agency operations and potential major incidents.

• Hazardous materials
• CBRN
• MTA
• Safe working at height
• Confined Space
• Unstable terrain
• Water operations
• Support to security operations (Tactical medical operations e.g. Firearms)

All SORT posts are also required to undertake additional organisational support duties, which include crewing the SORT Response Units (SRUs). SORT personnel must also undertake continual specialist training to maintain their skills.

The Person

For these posts we are looking for flexible individuals with a can-do approach who have excellent people skills. You will have developed communication skills, both oral and written. It is vitally important that you are be able to demonstrate the ability to work to a high standard using your own initiative and be able to work alongside other Paramedics and often the initial wider operational response to incidents on behalf of the Scottish Ambulance Service.

HCPC registered Paramedics must be HCPC registered with a minimum 2 years frontline experience post NQP period at the close of application.

Previous experience of SORT / CBRN / NBC operations would be advantageous, but not essential, as comprehensive training will be given.

Important - Please Note

Appointments to SORT are made on the understanding that individuals attend and successfully complete the Special Operations Ambulance Response (SOAR) course.

• CBRNe Responder Course.
• Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) Course
• NxGen CBRN PPE Course
• Incident Response Unit Course
• Support to police tactical firearms operations
• ATV course
• Safe Working at Heights/Confined space and unstable terrain courses
• Swift Water rescue technician course

The Special Operations Ambulance Response (SOAR) course is Level 6 Certificate (Scottish equivalent Level 9) qualification encompassing all the listed courses plus some additional activity. Currently valued at 30 academic points. Approved by UK OFQUAL. A follow-on diploma is currently under development to add an additional 30 points (60 in total). It will involve some academic writing, but students will be fully supported during the process.

This will give candidates an educationally ratified qualification in SOAR response. Although the qualification is internationally recognised it is currently unique to NRRD / SORT and our education partner QualSafe UK. This is currently not available via any other route.

Further information on this can be obtained from Deputy Head of Specialist Training on [e-mail]

The above courses require you to reach and maintain a minimum standard of fitness for which assessments will be carried out on an annual basis. This includes maintaining the minimum and maximum weight requirements of 60kg to 120kg for PPE.

SORT personnel must also achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) level security clearance. Maintenance of these skills is a pre-requisite for continued employment within SORT.

Application and Selection

• Due to operational limitations, applications cannot be considered from persons that fall out with the height range of 160cm – 200cm, or the Scottish Ambulance Services upper safe working limit for staff wearing PPE of 120kg and the lower limit of 60kg, this includes a minimum footwear size of 5 and a maximum of 14.
• There will be a requirement to undertake and pass the SORT Paramedic Physical Competency Assessment (PCA) and swim test, these are detailed in the recruitment pack.
• Due to changes to the Physical Competency Assessment previous PCA’s passed within the last 12 months are not valid on this recruitment cycle. Shortlisted candidates are required to complete all elements of the recruitment process.
• In addition to the usual pre-employment checks, as this role requires you to deal with sensitive information, you will be required to undertake additional security vetting.
• Please note shortlisted candidates should be available for the PCA process on the dates 20th to the 22nd of November and this will be held at East SORT Newbridge.

Interviews will be conducted in January or February 2027.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be made to the following:

Brian Forbes, Special Operations Manager – West of Scotland – [e-mail]

Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service. As part of the pre-employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre-settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here.

Please note that The Scottish Ambulance Service is NOT licensed to issue certificates of sponsorship under current UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) regulations. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship to work with us.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best.

To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.