Sort Paramedics

North SORT (3 x Aberdeen & 2 x Dundee Locations)

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 18 months post registration frontline experience and maintain a high level of clinical competency. Additional duties include support to multi agency operations and potential major incidents.

SORT paramedics are also required to undertake the following operational duties as part of their role:

- 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

Applications for the SORT Paramedic positions are invited from existing HCPC registered Paramedics with a minimum of 18 months post registration frontline experience.

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 following Scottish Ambulance Service courses:

- 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 above courses require you to reach and maintain a minimum standard of fitness for which assessments will be carried out on an annual basis. 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

There will be a requirement to undertake and pass the SORT Paramedic Physical Competency Assessment (PCA) and swim test, details of which are attached.

Undertake a clinical OSCE, a written task, and a competency-based interview.

In additional to the usual pre-employment checks, as this role requires you to deal with sensitive information, you will be required to undergo additional security vetting.

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