Health and science
Ambulance support worker emergency, urgent and non-urgent
Provide care and clinical support for emergency (999), urgent or unscheduled care calls.
Summary
Ambulance Support Workers respond to emergency (999), urgent and or/unscheduled care calls from the public and/or wider health and social care communities to provide care and clinical support to individuals of all ages within an agreed scope of practice and outside of a multi-disciplinary hospital team, or provide scheduled non-urgent transport for people with specific health needs. You will transport them, as required, to (and from) specified treatment centres and other locations which may be very remote settings, driving safely and at progressively high speed as appropriate, and also have the responsibility of managing a vehicle. You will work as part of a double ambulance crew either alongside a more senior member of staff such as a Paramedic or Associate Ambulance Practitioner, or with another non-registered Ambulance Support Worker; for some non-urgent care you may work alone. You are required to work in a wide range of settings and environments both inside and outside including, in some cases, uncontrollable environments assisting individuals at the scene. Clinical duties vary accordingly. Often you will be supporting and assisting the senior clinician and in cases where patients deteriorate you will provide basic level of life saving techniques.
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
why it is important to gain consent, even when it is difficult; how to undertake risk assessment in enabling a person-centred approach; why it is important to promote ‘person centred care, treatment and support’
K2:
why it is important to encourage people to be actively involved in their own care or treatment; why it is important to give people choices about their care and to treat people as valuable and unique
K3:
why safety and clinical effectiveness are important; the importance of managing relationships and boundaries with service users
K4:
legislation, policies and local ways of working about duty of care, candour, raising concerns, safeguarding/ Prevent/protection from abuse, diversity, equality and inclusion; what they mean, why they are important, how to promote them to others
K5:
how discrimination can happen; how to deal with conflicts between a person’s rights and a duty of care
K6:
the signs of abuse, what to do if you suspect it, how to reduce the chances of abuse as much as possible
K7:
why it is important to promote effective communication at work; how to communicate with people who have specific language needs or wishes; how to reduce communication problems and respond to complaints; techniques for difficult situations, local guidelines for dealing with abusive behavior
K8:
the importance of accessing appropriate support and supervision as needed to manage the potential psychological effects following the exposure to trauma and serious incidents
K9:
how verbal and non-verbal communication may relate to an individual’s condition to include taking contemporaneous notes and complying with information governance policies, legislation, other policies and local ways of working about handling information
K10:
why it is important to record and store information securely and confidentially and support others to do so; e-safety; the audit process and how it relates to your role
K11:
the relevant guidelines and how it relates to your own scope of practice
K12:
which clinical tasks you will routinely be expected to carry out within your role; which tasks you should not carry out; ways to support individuals to manage their own condition and hand over to other services
K13:
basic human anatomy and physiology for Ambulance Patient Care; across the age range, stages of development; functional changes associated with disease or injury; ways to support physical or learning disability
K14:
procedures to follow when conveying individuals with own medication and medical devices
K15:
basic life support and defibrillation; the process and procedures to follow; how it relates to your role; differences in application according to age
K16:
administration of a medical gas eg. oxygen; the process and procedures to follow; how it relates to your role
K17:
conflict and resolution measures following guideline specific communication methods to reassure or calm individuals who are traumatised, confused, angry or aggressive; ways to keep yourself and your colleagues safe; ensuring the safety of others; the meaning of Common Law; criteria that must be met to undertake gaining entry with good intent
K18:
the range of physiological states which can include body temperature, height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate, oxygen saturation and blood sugar levels; the types of equipment used for measuring the physiological states in all age clients; how to check they are in working order
K19:
what is meant by frailty; the end of life phase and factors which impact on the care of the dying or deceased
K20:
the importance of recognising mental and other cognitive issues including relating to depression, substance use, delirium, age or stage of development; how an individual’s physical capacity, health condition, learning disability or overall wellbeing may impact on the clinical task or way the individual presents
K21:
move and position people, equipment or other objects safely in line with agreed ways of working
K22:
the importance of a clean workplace; legislation, policies and local ways of working for the prevention of infection; personal hygiene, handwashing; the right use of PPE: gloves, aprons, masks; how infections start and spread; how to clean, disinfect and sterilise
K23:
multi- disciplinary teams, including fire, police, social care and hospital and other health staff; the key roles of different organisations and their staff; how to signpost individuals to other services
K24:
how to operate devices such as radio and to communicate effectively with all colleagues both internally and externally
K25:
ways to prepare a range of vehicles prior to use, ways to familiarise yourself and your colleagues with different vehicles, any relevant safety guidance, the Highway Code, relevant legislation and policies, how they apply when driving an ambulance or emergency support vehicle
K26:
understand the procedures for using equipment
K27:
stock management- including maintaining stock levels, ordering and storing stock
K28:
the responsibilities under the Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees and patients
Technical Educational Products
- ST0627: Ambulance support worker (emergency, urgent and non-urgent) (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0627
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,086 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 6132 Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 6132/00 Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
S1:
demonstrate what it means in practice to promote and provide person centred care, treatment and support by obtaining valid consent, and carrying out risk assessments
S2:
work in partnership with the individual, their carer, families and the wider healthcare team
S3:
promote clinical effectiveness, safety and a good experience for the individual
S4:
follow the principles for equality, diversity and inclusion
S5:
implement a duty of care and candour
S6:
safeguard and protect adults and children; promote the principles to others
S7:
follow the principles of the National Prevent Strategy
S8:
demonstrate and promote effective communication using a range of techniques
S9:
observe and record verbal and non-verbal communication
S10:
engage in de-brief/supervision following potential exposure to trauma and serious incident
S11:
ensure that all information recorded is clear, concise and accurate
S12:
handle information (record, report and store information) in line with local and national policies, keep information confidential and support others to do so; take part in audits
S13:
undertake clinical tasks in line with the scope of your own role, being aware of the limits of your competence; adhering to current legislation and policy including:
S14:
manage medical and post- surgical conditions during ambulance patient care
S15:
convey individuals with own medication and medical devices undertake basic life support and external defibrillation
S16:
administer a medical gas eg. oxygen in ambulance patient care
S17:
administration of medicines under supervision
S18:
communicate with individuals and the people supporting them or involved at a scene using language that is clear and compassionate, checking understanding
S19:
carry out patient assessment and physiological measurements as required
S20:
support frailty and end of life care
S21:
adapt the clinical intervention within the scope of your practice taking into account the impact of mental or physical capacity, a health condition, learning disability or overall wellbeing of the presenting individual
S22:
manage own safety and that of others in a range of environments
S23:
move and position individuals, equipment and other items safely
S24:
use a range of techniques for infection prevention and control, eg waste management, spillage, hand washing, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
S25:
work as part of a team, seek help and guidance when you are not sure, escalate concerns in a timely manner to the correct person; support or supervise colleagues as required, delegate well-defined tasks appropriately
S26:
work in partnership across the fire, rescue, health and care team in a way that is professional and committed to quality and care of the patient
S27:
operate a range of communication electronic devices
S28:
prepare a range of vehicles prior to use to ensure all safety aspects are met
S29:
operate and drive the ambulance vehicles safely at all times, adhering to the Highway Code, relevant legislation and policies
S30:
monitor and maintain the environment, equipment and resources including performing first line calibration on clinical equipment
S31:
use equipment and resources in a safe, effective way in line with local policy and procedure
S32:
manage stock control
Technical Educational Products
- ST0627: Ambulance support worker (emergency, urgent and non-urgent) (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0627
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,086 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 6132 Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 6132/00 Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
B1:
You will treat people with dignity, respecting individual's diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences, show respect and empathy for those you work with, have the courage to challenge areas of concern and work to best practice, be adaptable, reliable and consistent, show discretion, show resilience and self-awareness and show supervisory leadership
Technical Educational Products
- ST0627: Ambulance support worker (emergency, urgent and non-urgent) (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0627
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £29,086 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 6132 Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 6132/00 Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
