Ambulance Care AssistantNHS

Job summary

Make a real difference every day as an Ambulance Care Assistant.Join a compassionate team dedicated to providing safe, comfortable, and dignified transport for patients. If you're caring, reliable, and enjoy helping others, this rewarding role offers the opportunity to support people during important moments while building a meaningful career in healthcare.

Main duties of the job

The main duties include safely transporting patients to and from hospitals, clinics, and care settings while ensuring their comfort, dignity, and wellbeing. You will assist patients with mobility, provide reassurance during their journey, complete vehicle and equipment checks, maintain accurate records, and work closely with colleagues and healthcare professionals to deliver a safe, reliable, and compassionate service.

Job description

Job TitleAmbulance Care Assistant (ACA)

LocationVarious locations across Devon, Cornwall and surrounding areas (travel required)

Role SummaryAs an Ambulance Care Assistant, you will provide high-quality, compassionate, non-emergency patient transport services to patients of all ages and abilities. Working as part of a two-person crew, you will safely transport patients between hospitals, healthcare facilities, care homes and their own homes whilst maintaining the highest standards of patient care, dignity and professionalism.

This rewarding role requires excellent communication skills, empathy, resilience and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer service. You will often be supporting vulnerable patients who may have mobility issues, disabilities, learning difficulties or mental health conditions, ensuring they feel safe, comfortable and reassured throughout their journey.

No two days are the same, making this an exciting opportunity for individuals who enjoy helping others and working in a varied environment.

Key ResponsibilitiesPatient Care

• Deliver compassionate, safe and person-centred care to all patients.
• Ensure patients are treated with dignity, respect and compassion at all times.
• Assist patients with boarding and leaving vehicles safely.
• Support patients with mobility needs using appropriate equipment.
• Monitor patients during transportation and respond appropriately to changes in condition.
• Provide reassurance to anxious or vulnerable patients.
• Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
• Safeguard vulnerable adults and children in accordance with safeguarding policies.
• Recognise deterioration in patient condition and escalate concerns appropriately.

Patient Transport

• Safely transport patients to and from hospitals, clinics, treatment centres, care homes and residential addresses.
• Ensure journeys are completed safely and efficiently.
• Assist with hospital admissions, discharges and inter-facility transfers.
• Secure wheelchairs, stretchers and other equipment correctly.
• Ensure vehicles remain clean, safe and roadworthy.
• Carry out daily vehicle inspections.
• Report vehicle defects promptly.
• Maintain accurate journey records and documentation.

Clinical ResponsibilitiesSubject to training and competency:

• Record basic patient observations.
• Use moving and handling equipment safely.
• Apply infection prevention and control procedures.
• Assist patients requiring oxygen during transport (where trained).
• Maintain clinical equipment in a clean and operational condition.
• Report clinical incidents through the appropriate reporting systems.

Communication

• Build positive relationships with patients, relatives and carers.
• Communicate effectively with hospitals, GP surgeries and healthcare professionals.
• Liaise with ambulance control regarding journey updates.
• Maintain professional communication with colleagues.
• Demonstrate empathy and understanding during difficult situations.

Vehicle Responsibilities

• Complete daily vehicle checks.
• Ensure vehicles are stocked with required equipment.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness.
• Refuel vehicles as required.
• Report defects immediately.
• Ensure safe use of emergency and non-emergency equipment.

Health and Safety

• Work in accordance with Health and Safety legislation.
• Follow manual handling guidance.
• Wear appropriate PPE.
• Report accidents and near misses.
• Maintain safe working practices.
• Follow infection prevention procedures.
• Complete mandatory health and safety training.

Record Keeping

• Complete electronic or paper patient records accurately.
• Maintain journey documentation.
• Record incidents and accidents promptly.
• Complete vehicle check documentation.
• Maintain confidentiality in accordance with GDPR.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain professional appearance.
• Demonstrate excellent customer service.
• Attend mandatory training.
• Participate in annual appraisals.
• Maintain competence through continuous professional development.
• Work flexibly to meet service demands.
• Support new staff where appropriate.

Working RelationshipsYou will work closely with:

• Ambulance Care Assistants
• Emergency Care Assistants
• Ambulance Technicians
• Paramedics
• Operations Managers
• NHS Trust staff
• Hospital discharge teams
• Ward staff
• Care homes
• GP surgeries
• Community healthcare teams
• Patients and their families

About us

At Alliance Pioneer Group, we are dedicated to ensuring every patient reaches their destinationsafely, reliably, and on time, every time. Established in 2002, we are a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered ambulance provider and a member of the Independent Ambulance Association (IAA), delivering high-quality patient transport, frontline ambulance, and medical services across Devon, Cornwall and the UK.

Our Patient Transport team provides compassionate, non-emergency transport for patients attending appointments, being discharged from hospital, or requiring specialist transfers. We understand that every patient is different, and our focus is on delivering safe, dignified, and person-centred care throughout every journey. We work closely with NHS partners and healthcare providers, supporting a wide range of patient transport needs with professionalism and compassion