Experienced Paramedics are those who have been a registered paramedic for over two years. Becoming an Experienced Paramedic allows you to progress into roles where you are able to carry out more complex treatments, specialise in specific areas and take on more responsibility.
Working life
Once you have gained two years experience as a registered paramedic, you can progress into roles such as:
- Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedic
- Specialist paramedic, for example in mental health
- Advanced paramedic, for example in critical care
- Consultant paramedic
Experienced Paramedics in these roles have the experience and training to be able to make decisions and treat patients at the emergency scene. Because of this treatment, the patient may not need to go to hospital and experienced paramedics can also treat service users at home.
As an experienced paramedic, you may, for example:
- Carry out tests (such as urine tests) and interpret the results
- Undertake basic procedures in the home
- Refer patients to social care services
- Directly admit patients to specialist units
- Prescribe and administer medication
As well as working with other members of the Ambulance Services, paramedics also work with control room staff, doctors and staff from the other emergency services, including fire and rescue services and the police to respond to an incident or emergency.
Requirements
Becoming an Experienced Paramedic requires you to have qualified as a paramedic and have spent two years working in this role. NHS and Social Care employers will expect you to have good literacy and numeracy as these are an important part of working as part of the Ambulance Service. Depending on the role, some employers may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. When applying for a role as an Experienced Paramedic there may be other skills or qualifications required but this will depend on the role and the team in which the role sits.
You will also be required to have a full manual driving licence to be able to drive the ambulance and if you passed your driving test after 1996, you will be required to undertake a further driving qualification for larger vehicles and to carry passengers.
Working as an Experienced Paramedic will provide further opportunities to develop your career through other apprenticeships and internal training.
Personal characteristics
To work successfully within the Ambulance Service team, you need to consider your own personal characteristics. You would need to have the following attributes or similar:
- Be accurate and methodical and have good attention to detail
- Be able to assess a situation quickly
- Be resilient and prepared to go into unknown or unpredictable situations
- Be able to work as part of a team but also able to use your own initiative
- Be willing to follow procedures
- Be able to work with all people from various backgrounds with different experiences
- Be able to stay calm under pressure
- Have good conflict management skills as some of those who you attend to will be distressed, angry or scared
- Have strong communication skills
- Have strong IT and digital skills
- Be willing to train and support new ambulance service staff
Skills required
To work successfully with the Ambulance Service, you need to consider the skills that you have. You would need to demonstrate the following:
- Be well organised and able to plan your time
- Be able to communicate with a variety of people using different methods
- Have positive customer service skills
- Be patient, caring and kind
- Be able to reassure those who may be anxious, scared, angry or distressed
- Be able to manage challenging behaviour
- Be able to make decisions
- Be able to verbalise complicated information and ensure this is understood
- Be physically fit
- Be able to work alone
- Be resilient and able to manage complex problems
Training and development opportunities
When you begin to work as an Experienced Paramedic, you will receive the training you require to be able to undertake the role successfully. You will receive an induction which will introduce you to the department you will be working in, will support you in accessing the IT systems and will ensure you are aware of the policies and procedures you will be required to follow in the undertaking of your role. You will also have to complete any statutory and mandatory training that your employer requires such as fire training, data security training and customer service.
As part of your training, you will be required to be competent in moving and handling, first aid, basic patient skills and safe driving techniques. Some of these training programmes will require practical assessments and written exams.
You may also be expected to undergo Paramedic Practice Educator (PPEd) training to be able to mentor the next generation of paramedics, technicians and emergency care assistants. You will also undertake further training to be able to prescribe medications if you are based in a GP surgery or A& E department for example.
Career development opportunities
Once you have experience working as an Experienced Paramedic, there are many other roles you could progress into. You could lead a team, become a supervisor or develop your career into management. You could also transfer into other specialist healthcare roles such as becoming a consultant paramedic once you have achieved the requirements of this role.
You may also be able to use your skills and experience to teach or research and some Experienced Paramedics join teams focussed on stroke patients, working in an air ambulance, in a GP surgery or an A&E department.
Pay and benefits
Experienced Paramedics usually work 37.5 hours per week and you will be required to work shifts, nights, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. You also need to be prepared to work outside in all weathers.
Experienced Paramedics in the NHS are paid using the Agenda for Change (AfC) system and Experienced Paramedics who are qualified will typically start their career on AfC band 6 but with experience, further training and additional qualifications, can progress further up the pay scale.
Other benefits of working within the Ambulance Service include access to a pension scheme, health service discounts such as a Blue Light Card and 27 days of annual leave in addition to bank holidays.