A variety of careers at EMAS
Whatever your age, education and qualifications, you can join the ambulance service at a level that’s right for you. You’ll be given every support to develop your career if this is what you want. There is on-the-job training for every role, so you can earn while you learn. There is also the chance to study for formal qualifications, including a degree.
Below are some of your options and entry routes
Graduate opportunities / approved courses
The East Midlands Ambulance Service only provides the Institute of Healthcare Development (IHCD) Paramedic Course for Internal candidates. That is, employees who have already secured a position as an Accident and Emergency Clinical Student (AECS).
We currently recruit our AECS candidates 'internally' from our pool of staff who are already employed as an Emergency Care Assistant or Ambulance Care Assistant.
EMAS is not able to offer the student Paramedic position (to be trained on the job). The reason for this is that the registering body (IHCD) is ceasing in the near future. Until EMAS has established an alternative route (which could take a couple of years to be signed off and put in place) candidates who are aiming to become Paramedics will have to go through university
EMAS has contracts with Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) and Northampton University. Students from these universities can apply to go on placements with EMAS.
To find out more about courses at Northampton University click here.
To find out more about courses at Sheffield Hallam University click here.
For more information on requirements and course programmes, please contact the university of your choice directly.
Apprenticeships
We currently employ a number of apprentices in administrative (non clinical) roles. Any vacancies which exist are advertised through the county based Connexions teams.
Work Experience
We are unable to offer any work experience on front-line services. However, we do offer a limited amount of work experience placements each year for certain administrative posts.
Bank staff
Opportunities for bank work are available in our A&E operations teams and Patient Transport Service. All vacancies are advertised on NHS jobs.
If you are a qualified paramedic looking for bank work, you should apply via one of the all year round divisional ‘Qualified Paramedic’ adverts on NHS jobs.
Staff who wish to transfer to EMAS from another service
Generally we are always looking for qualified paramedics who want to relocate to our area. Anyone who is seeking transfer to EMAS can apply for a post at anytime. Please visit NHS jobs and select ‘Divisional Qualified Paramedic’ vacancies.
What jobs are available?
All our current vacancies are advertised on NHS Jobs - we do not send out application forms or keep a database of the people who are interested in a post when a vacancy next arises.
Listed below are some of the most popular roles we offer and a brief description of what’s involved. When you apply for a post through NHS Jobs, you will be able to view the job description and person specification relating to the position.
Emergency care assistant
As an emergency care assistant you are a member of the emergency ambulance crew, answering 999 calls. You will work alongside a more qualified member of the ambulance team, giving support and help to enable them to provide patients with potentially life saving care at the scene and getting patients to hospital as fast as possible. Working shifts and in all weathers; you will deal with a range of different people and situations.
Paramedic
Paramedics have a highly responsible role, often being the senior ambulance service healthcare professional in a range of emergency and non-emergency situations. Working either on your own or with an emergency care assistant colleague, you’ll assess the patient’s condition, make a decision on treatment and administer it where appropriate. In an emergency, you will use high-tech equipment, such as defibrillators (which restore the heart’s rhythm), spinal and traction splints and intravenous drips, as well as administering oxygen and drugs.
Route to becoming a paramedic – You must study a two year foundation degree in paramedic science at university. Alternatively, you can join the service in another A&E role such as ‘Emergency Care Assistant’ or ‘Emergency Clinical Student’ and work your way up to Paramedic level.
Emergency care practitioner
The role of the emergency care practitioner is a developing one that offers new opportunities for paramedics. Perhaps working from a response car, or based in a GP surgery, minor injury unit, hospital emergency department, or other setting, you will assess patients with certain symptoms and conditions, such as suspected fractures or chest pain. You will take a medical history; examine the patient and order tests and scans as necessary. You might then decide to give treatment yourself or to refer on to another healthcare professional. You’ll have great scope for extending your role even further, with more training and qualifications.
Non Emergency Patient transport service driver
As a PTS driver, you’ll be providing care and transport to patients who are:
- Attending hospital for an out patient appointment
- Being admitted to hospital
- Being discharged from hospital
- Attending a routine day care facility appointments
Your journey schedules will be passed to you on a daily basis and you will record key times for each journey e.g. when the patient was picked up and when they were delivered to hospital.
Emergency call handler
In this role, you will be answering 999 calls from members of the public, asking them a series of structured questions about their condition and then assisting an Emergency Medical Dispatcher to decide what type of response needs to be utilised to deal with the problem i.e. a Paramedic or Emergency Care Practitioner. Where appropriate, you will provide medical advice over the telephone so that the patient’s condition is being managed before help arrives on the scene.
Emergency medical dispatcher
As an emergency medical dispatcher you receive details of 999 calls requesting an ambulance on a computer screen. The information will have been collected by a call handler. Using your training to assess the type of emergency, you’ll determine what response is needed and, if appropriate, send the nearest ambulance, rapid-response car, motorcycle or even paramedic helicopter to the scene. Some employers combine the roles of call handler and emergency medical dispatcher.
.
