Ambulance Care Assistant

**About us**

We are professional, agile, innovative, and our goal is to bring high quality care to patients across the North West.

Our work environment includes:

- Modern office setting
- Growth opportunities
- On-the-job training
- Safe work environment
- Flexible working hours
- Regular social events

**Summary**

The Urgent Care Assistant, working on our Ambulance Services Division, provides a frontline ambulance service to those patients who have been triaged by NHS ambulance service clinicians as not requiring emergency care as well as being flexible to work across our Medical Repatriation and Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services.

**Key Duties and Responsibilities**
- Maintain regular communication with the contracted trusts Ambulance Control team using radio/telephony/mobile data terminals as necessary to receive and provide call information updates and register your vehicle’s status and availability.
- Mobilize according to contracted Trust procedures and locate/record call destinations quickly and effectively using satellite navigation systems, data terminals and maps, as appropriate.
- Where required, to assist another healthcare professional to deliver clinical care beyond your scope of practice.
- Complete risk assessments for every patient journey to ensure safety and any additional resource requirements, identifying the best transfer protocol for every patient.
- To always maintain proper care and attention to patients.
- To maintain complete confidentiality of any information provided or gained concerning patients.
- To aid patients as required, ensuring all patients are treated with care and dignity throughout the patient journey.
- Adopt and maintain infection control procedures and universal precautions.
- Role includes transfer of patient in line with patient manual handling training (lifting and transfer of patients (all mobility’s).
- Staff will maintain the highest standards of courtesy and respect to patients, ensuring patients are transported peacefully without undue noise or stress.

**Communication**
- Communicate with and manage patients, relatives, carers and the public in a calm, sensitive and professional manner ensuring patient dignity and informed consent for all patient assessment and movement.
- Communicate effectively with a wide range of professionals and other agencies to support joint working to meet patient needs, which may, at times, be complex and sensitive.
- Complete physical observations on patients to identify the best course of treatment and to adequately inform other healthcare professionals so that the best pathway can be identified for the patient.
- As appropriate, to transfer the patient to and from the ambulance, undertaking a full and dynamic risk assessment, using the most appropriate equipment and moving/handling techniques for the patient’s needs, condition, and the circumstances.
- As appropriate, transport patient(s) and others to and from hospitals and other treatment centres in a safe and comfortable manner, reassessing the patient’s condition and responding appropriately to their needs en-route.
- Aid, with or without the use of wheelchairs/carrying chairs/stretchers, in and out of the house, emergency departments, in/out-patient departments, wards, transport waiting areas and vehicles.
- Ensure that patients are not left unattended whilst negotiating steps or stairs, and when entering or alighting from the vehicle.
- Provide appropriate and necessary assistance for patients to access the vehicles. This may include supporting unsteady patients or manoeuvring of wheelchairs around hazards or in constricted environments.
- Ensure that patients have all relevant and necessary paperwork, medication etc. required for attendance at appointment.
- Demonstrate care and understanding for patients even when patients or their carers may be confrontational or distressed.
- Giving patients and others advice and guidance about the process of Urgent and Emergency Care, reassuring patients when they are anxious about treatment pathways.
- Taking personal action to resolve patient’s issues of concern or complaints; or where this is not possible, advising patients or their carers on whom to contact next.
- Recording journey information such as a deterioration in patient’s health, accidents involving Patients or any abusive/threatening behaviour on the incident form or other service documentation as necessary.
- To inform control of any delays or breakdowns that will delay patients attending hospital.
- To report any accidents and/or injuries to patients, members of the public and to vehicles promptly and to make a full report of any such incident on the report form provided without delay.

**Driving**
- Regular driving and continuous review of planned journeys to optimise routes, maximising both fuel efficiency and loading capacity of vehicles whilst complying with any expected standards for patient care and timelines.
- Abide by the highway code