Ambulance care assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) driver - Denbigh/ Bangor

Working life

You'll be responsible for looking after your passengers and, because many of them will be in poor health, you will also need life-saving skills in case there is a medical emergency.

As well as driving, you'll lift and help patients in and out of the vehicle. You'll make sure they're safe and comfortable during the journey and arrive on time for their appointment.

Some of your passengers will be anxious about their hospital visit and others will lead isolated lives so will value your reassuring manner and the chance to chat. You'll often see the same people on a regular basis and get to know them.

You'll be based at an ambulance station or a hospital and cover a local area. You may have to work shifts. You might be part of a two-person team using a specially-designed ambulance with a tail-lift for wheelchairs, carrying several people on each journey. Alternatively, you might work on your own, driving a standard car to transport one or two people at a time.

Your duties will include making sure that the vehicle is clean and tidy and keeping an accurate record of their journeys. More experienced PTS drivers may take on specialist work such as transporting:

Renal Patients
Inter Hospital Transfers
End of Life Patients
Hospital Discharges

Role: Ambulance Care Assistant (Driver)

Location: Denbigh/ Bangor

Department: Non-Emergency

Contract: Zero Hours

Pay: £12.00 per hour

Kim Lunn

Ambulance Care Assistant

" You most certainly need a caring/loving personality for the job as we see and meet different people from all types of backgrounds every day. I have also gained some qualifications along side working for Odessa, the experience for me is hard to explain as everyday is different but I know for sure I love working as an Ambulance Care Assistant and this for me is a career definitely most rewarding and I’m very thankful to Odessa for giving me this opportunity."

Entry requirements

There are no set entry requirements to become an ambulance care assistant and patient transport driver. Most employers expect good standards of literacy and numeracy and some may ask for qualifications such as GCSEs, NVQs or equivalent. Employers look for relevant work experience so it would be an advantage if you have worked with elderly or disabled people, either in paid employment or voluntary work.

Driving licence

Most employers expect you have a full, manual driving licence when you apply. If you passed your test after 1996, you may need an extra driving qualification for larger vehicles and carrying passengers, so check carefully which classifications you need on your licence.

Must have skills

You'll need to be patient, caring and calm. You'll need to be interested in other people, be able to reassure people who may be nervous and deal with challenging behaviour. You'll also need to be physically fit and have excellent communication skills.

Training and development

You'll usually have an initial two week training course that covers:

Moving and handling techniques
First aid
Basic patient skills
Safe driving techniques

Training includes practical assessments and written exams. Once you have passed these tests, you'll work under the guidance of a trained supervisor before working unsupervised.

As your career progresses, you could become a team leader or supervisor and take charge of a team of assistants and drivers. You could take further training to become an emergency care assistant.