FINAL DRAFT 2nd December 2005

Scottish Ambulance Service

Job Description
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION

Job Title: Ambulance Technician

Department(s): Operations
Job Holder Reference: MLPR 006
No of Job Holders: Multiple

Job Description/December 05

FINAL DRAFT 2nd December 2005

2.

JOB PURPOSE

The delivery of high quality treatment and care to patients, associated duty of care to
other members of the public including the provision of health advice (see and treat), and
transportation to appropriate medical facilities, generally in emergency situations.

3.

DIMENSIONS

The post holder is responsible for:

o Following Joint Royal College Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC) clinical
guidelines and clinical standards as laid down.
o Responsible for keeping abreast of all new developments within these guidelines
and standards.
o Responsible for providing life-preserving treatments.
o Delivery of front-line, pre-hospital emergency care
o Whilst on duty responsible for the vehicle and equipment

Job Description/December 05

FINAL DRAFT 2nd December 2005

4.

ORGANISATIONAL POSITION

Organisation Chart attached

Supervisor is Team Leader A&E, Manager is Area Service Manager A&E

Job Description/December 05

FINAL DRAFT 2nd December 2005

5.

MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Carries out daily inspection of vehicle and report any damage or defects
immediately
2. Checks stock of patient care equipment and ensure that all equipment is safe, clean
and in good working order.
3. Ensures that he/she and the vehicle are in state of readiness at all times
4. Transmits and receives information via radio/ telephone in accordance with Service
procedures.
5. Assesses the most appropriate method of conveying patients using the relevant
equipment and moving and handling techniques, when necessary
6. Attends to patients using the full range of pre-hospital emergency care and
extended skills when appropriate.
7. Reports relevant patient history, condition and treatment to receiving hospital staff
8. Maintains a high quality of patient care ensuring that consideration is given at all
times to the feelings and needs of the patient.
9. Acts as Ambulance incident officer when first on scene at Major Incident
10. At all times maintains standards and observes the code of conduct expected of
Qualified Ambulance staff
11. Drives service vehicles in accordance with the approved methods of techniques of
driving
12. Complies with health and safety rules and regulations and reports accidents or
hazards immediately.
13. Ensures compliance with Control of Infection standards.
14. Completes and submits all relevant documentation to comply with Service
requirements
15. Ensures that vehicle, patient care equipment and Station are kept clean and tidy at
all times
16. Undertakes training as required and responsible for keeping abreast of any new
developments and changes to clinical guidelines.
17. Maintaining sufficient basic knowledge of the paramedic role to effectively assist in
delivery of patient care e.g. assisting with drug administration
18. Carry out dynamic risk assessment
19. Assists line manager(s) as required with risk assessment of tasks carried out and
ensures that safe working practices are followed at all times in line with Service
Policy and current legislation.
20. Complies with Health and Safety rules and regulations. Ensures that any accidents,
near misses or hazards are reported immediately to line manager using the Health
& Safety Accident & Incident Reporting Form, the Vehicle Accident Report Form
and/or REPD Incident Report Form as appropriate.
21. Induction Standards and Code of Conduct
Your performance must comply with the Mandatory Induction Standards for
Healthcare Support Workers in Scotland 2009; and with the Code of Conduct for

Job Description/December 05

FINAL DRAFT 2nd December 2005

Healthcare Support Workers, both as amended from time to time, which are
attached
(further
copies
can
be
obtained
on-line
at:
www.workinginhealth.com/standards/healthcaresupportworkers or from your
Human Resources Department). Failure to adhere to the Standards or to comply
with the Code may result in poor performance measures or disciplinary action and
could lead to dismissal; or if you are self-employed, such failure will be deemed to
be breach of an essential term of your contract, allowing us to terminate with or
without notice.

Job Description/December 05

FINAL DRAFT 2nd December 2005

EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY

o Use of a variety of clinical equipment in an emergency setting
o Carry out vehicle inspection at start of shift and report any damage or defects
immediately.
o Check stock of patient care equipment and ensure that all equipment is safe, clean
and in good working order. Ensuring all medical supplies are in date and sterile
o Use of moving and handling equipment
o Use of computer equipment to support clinical issues.
o Use of radio equipment/mobile telephone

7.

SYSTEMS

Completion of :
o
o
o
o

Patient Report Forms using information generated by post holder.

Forms relating to other aspects of work, e.g. cardiac report forms
Accident/incident reporting and near miss forms.
Forms in relation to hours worked, absence, self appraisal etc.

Job Description/December 05

FINAL DRAFT 2nd December 2005

DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS

8
o

Standards will be determined by JRCALC clinical guidelines, protocols, policies and

procedures.

To autonomously assess and diagnose individual patient needs to determine how to treat
in accordance with JRCALC

Recognition of Life Extinct and cessation of resuscitation

Notwithstanding the above, decisions made will require evaluation of evidence to facilitate
choice between different approaches.

Work is allocated by EMDC through the despatching system for emergency calls and other
duties will be allocated via the line manager.

Routinely, whilst on calls, technicians work without line manager presence, although advice
and support are readily available.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Required to deal with sensitive situations professionally, assertively and tactfully

Required to respect religious beliefs and cultural differences and communicate in

emotional circumstances.

Required to communicate effectively and concisely with other emergency and

health service employees.

Attends station meetings on a regular basis to discuss items of common interest

and take part in the ongoing communications within the organisation.

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FINAL DRAFT 2nd December 2005

10.

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

Must have good hand eye co-ordination skills in order to carry out clinical
procedures
Required to, using appropriate aids, move and handle patients
Responds to emergency calls and situations that require concentration as well as
being distressing and sometimes traumatic, for example road traffic accidents
Exposure to, and contact with, body fluids.
Dealing with death, this is especially distressing in cases of infant mortality, etc
Dealing with relatives and members of the public in difficult circumstances, e.g.
sudden death
Contact with aggressive patients requiring use of management of aggression skills
Responding and attending to emergency calls in all kinds of weather

11. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB

Assessment of wide range of patient conditions in a variety of differing circumstances.
Coping with emotional impact of exposure to traumatic and distressing incidents.

Job Description/December 05

FINAL DRAFT 2nd December 2005

12. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB

Good verbal and written communication skills (must be able to complete relevant
paperwork legibly)
Self-disciplined and able to work on own initiative.
Post holder required to successfully complete 10 week Ambulance Aid course and 3 week
Driver 2 driving course.
Post holder required to complete 12 month probation period
Must successfully complete annual post proficiency course to ensure retention and
development of patient care skills, e.g. 12 lead ECG

13. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT

Job Holders Signature:

Head of Department Signature:

Job Description/December 05

Date:
Date: