Nectar Ambulance Driver

**PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY**

IAS Medical, the UK’s leading National and International Air and Ground Ambulance provider, working in partnership with North East & Cumbria Transport and Retrieval (NECTAR) are looking to recruit Ambulance Drivers for our exciting and ever expanding Transport Service.

As a NECTAR Ambulance Driver, you will be transporting NECTAR patients across the North East, Cumbria, and Nationally, so a good knowledge of the UK road network is essential.

You will ensure that the ambulance is roadworthy, safe, clean, fuelled and stocked with oxygen and consumables, and you will be responsible for ensuring that the patient is secured in the ambulance prior to departure.

You will provide and receive routine information to patients and families which can require tact or persuasive skills whilst the critical care teams are stabilising the patient, ensuring that information is clearly conveyed

You will provide personal care to patients and families during their journey

To ensure that the needs of all patients and relatives are met without delay, you will always be acting in a courteous and sympathetic manner

You will liaise with the Shift Coordinator to inform them of any significant delays, patient deterioration and transport issues i.e., weather, traffic conditions and road closures and plan the route between destinations, adjusting for road, traffic and weather conditions.

You will be guided by standard operating procedures, and work on your own initiative with a supervisor available when necessary.

You will be working both as part of a clinical team comprising of medical personnel and practitioners, or as part of a two-person non-emergency patient transport crew.

You will be required to carry out other roles within NECTAR when required. this will include Non-Emergency Patient Transfer duties, answering general telephone calls, answering the patient referral line, transporting medical equipment and staff, administrative duties or any other reasonable request from your manager or shift coordinator.

**Essential Requirements**

Five GCSE’s at Grade 4-9 or equivalent / NVQ Level 2 or higher level qualification or significant relevant work experience for example working in a healthcare environment

Willing to undertake further training as required

Ability to attend and successfully pass emergency care, advanced and blue light driver training courses.

Full UK/EU Manual driving licence with C1 entitlement with no more than three penalty points

Significant driving experience

To work at either our Newcastle or Darlington base, using your own transport to travel to either base when required.

The ability to obtain and maintain a clean enhanced DBS Certificate

**Effort & Environment**

You will encounter frequent moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift when moving patients in wheelchairs, trolleys, and critical care trolleys.

There may be a requirement to sit in a restricted position when driving for long periods of time

There is a requirement for concentration when driving where the work pattern is predictable

You will have frequent exposure to critically ill patients and distressed families

You will have exposure to unpleasant working conditions such as inclement weather, body odours and verbal aggression and distressing situations.

**Your Shifts**

As our service operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, you must be able to work a varied shift pattern on a rota which include various start and finish times.

The positions do include working days, lates, nights. weekends and bank holidays, including Christmas and New Year. Shifts may have to be changed or amended at times to ensure the needs of the service are met.

**Desirable requirements**

Previous experience within a health or social care environment

**Salary**: £21,500.00-£23,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Company pension

Schedule:

- 12 hour shift
- Day shift
- Night shift
- Overtime
- Weekend availability

COVID-19 considerations:
IAS Medical regularly receive advice and updates and follow recommendation's from the NHS and the UK Government.

Application question(s):

- Do you have a valid Full UK Manual Driving Licence with C1 entitlement?
- Are you willing to undertake all duties within NECTAR including Patient Transport Service when required as per the job advert?'
- Can you work all shifts including, Days, Nights, Weekends and Bank Holidays?
- How many years of Ambulance or Health and Social Care experience do you have?
- Are you willing to undertake and pass advanced and blue light driver training courses?'

**Education**:

- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)

**Experience**:

- Driving: 2 years (required)

Work authorisation:

- United Kingdom (required)

Willingness to travel:

- 100% (required)