Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Drivers support elderly, sick and vulnerable service users by transporting them to clinics, day centres and hospital appointments.
Many of the passengers supported by Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Drivers are unwell so you will need to have life-saving skills in case of a medical emergency.
Working life
As well as driving, you will be lifting and helping patients in and out of the vehicle. You’ll make sure they’re safe and comfortable during the journey and arrive on time to their appointment.
Some service users may be anxious about their hospital visit and others will lead isolated lives so will value your reassuring manner and the chance to chat. You will often support the same service users so will get to know them and become familiar with their needs.
Ambulance Care Assistant’s and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Drivers are based within an ambulance station or a hospital and will work in the local area. You might be part of a two-person team using a specially designed ambulance with a tail-lift for wheelchairs that can carry several people on each journey. You could also work on your own and drive a standard car to transport individuals to their destination.
Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Drivers also make sure that their ambulance vehicles are clean and tidy and that they keep an accurate record of their journeys.
More experienced drivers may take on additional work which could include transporting:
- Babies
- mental health patients
- people nearing the end of their lives
- kidney patients
Working as an Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver could mean that you work collaboratively with:
- Acute hospital wards
- Specialist departments or clinics
- GP surgeries
- Health centres
Your Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver role will mean that you are patient facing and have a lot of interaction with service users.
Requirements
Becoming an Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver’s team member has no set entry requirements, but NHS and Social Care employers will expect good literacy, numeracy as these are an important part of working as part of the Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver team. Depending on the role, some employers may ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. When applying for a role as an Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver, 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 require a full, manual driving licence to work as an Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver. If you passed your driving test after 1996, you may also need an additional driving qualification for larger vehicles and additional passengers so check your licence to determine which classes you have available before you apply.
Employers may require you to have some relevant work experience or knowledge of having worked in a similar role previously. If you are considering a role as an Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver, it is a good idea if you can demonstrate where you have previously worked or volunteered in a role with the elderly or with disabled people.
Working as an Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver will provide further opportunities to develop your career through apprenticeships and internal training and there are sometimes other ways to access employment as an Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver such as traineeships or internships depending on the Trust you work for.
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 work as part of a team but also able to use your own initiative
- Be willing to follow procedures and take instruction from senior team members
- Be able to work with all people from various backgrounds with different experiences
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 physically fit
- Be able to reassure those who may be anxious
- Be able to manage challenging behaviour
Training and development opportunities
When you begin to work as an Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver, 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 initial training, you will be required to take training in moving and handling techniques, first aid, basic patient skills, and safe driving techniques. Some of these training programmes will require practical assessments and written exams.
Career Development Opportunities
Once you have experience working as an Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Driver, 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 paramedic.
Pay and benefits
Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Drivers usually work around 37.5 hours per week. Depending on the role and the setting you work in, you may be required to work shifts, nights, evenings or weekends.
Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Drivers in the NHS are paid using the Agenda for Change (AfC) system and Ambulance Care Assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) Drivers will typically start their career on AfC band 2 or 3 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.