Anyone worked as an Emergency Care Support Worker (Ambulance service)?

I'm getting really bored of sitting in offices, and I've never really enjoyed it since I left teaching and kind of want to be out and about doing things and helping people.

Whilst I've got no medical background as such I've always been pretty good at looking after people when they've been in a shit state, and I've seen posts for Apprentice Emergency Care Support Workers from my local ambulance service popping up every now and then. They don't pay well, but I'm already not paid well, so I don't think it will be the end of the world (£18.7k, plus 25% per month anti social hours top up)..... But I'd like to hear from people who've done this type of work.

I've been contemplating it a lot lately and keep coming back to it, and keeping an eye on posts for my two local ambulance depots. I do understand that to progress as a career though I'd probably have to do another degree.

 

Fucking go for it asap

 

wiskey might be able to help

 

There's oppurtunities but they're about an hour away, I've been reliably informed by a friend who's a paramedic in training there'll be another take late this winter early next year at my closest depot...... which also gives me some time to complete some sports training I want to do starting in september first.

 

Best, best thing I've ever done. Even on shit days I love it. You'll know pretty quickly whether it's for you or not, if that helps - i.e. you won't waste years of your life before the 'nope' kicks in.

 

Yeah definately go for it. If I had known such a thing had existed in would have done it.

My son recently had a look at it but has no driving licence atm.

I was talking to a student paramedic the other day and she was saying that ECA'S and paramedics have to fork out 1k to train and get their C1? Licence so they can drive the ambulance.....so best to get that clarified.

 

Yeah that is correct. I do have the money to do it, but wouldn't do it until offered the position.

 

Thanks!

I think I probably will, although the shift working might be a mish.

 

It will, no two ways about it. I've been doing them for two years now and breeze through 12.5 hours but at first I remember sitting on my breaks feeling like I'd been run over. Nights are harder. I'll not sugar coat how tough they are, but the big but is this: if you love the job, it'll be in your bones and you'll do it anyway. You'll even get used to it.

Would you want to be a paramedic eventually?

 

If I enjoyed the job and the oppurtunities were there I would. I can't sustain the rest of my life on sub £20k a year.

I'm not very good at studying and bookwork though, thats the one thing that would put me off, I'm definitely and on the job/experience learner.

 

If it's anything like nursing (and I think it is) it'll be 50% on the job and even the in-uni learning will be of a practical nature. I found that because the theory had it's basis in clinical care it felt different - you do need to know some physiology and normal ranges for example but it isn't quite the same as book learning for the sake of a grade iykwim.

 

Yeah that sounds a bit better for me then.

Anyway, I'm just waiting for the next intake now. I know I could apply to be on the phones in the meantime, but I don't think thats my bag.

 

I think the ECSW role is called different things depending on what Trust you work for, they're called ECAs in some places for example.

Your clinical skills training will be pretty basic (in-house training and a few weeks rather than a uni based course) and you'd be working with a paramedic (maybe a technician) who'll make all the decisions and enact most of the treatment and interventions. Depending on the Trust and you and some other variables there may be a chance to progress either in-house or externally at a uni to being a paramedic.

If working long hours, including nights, for those wages, and doing lots of driving ambulances, but doing amazing and socially useful work that's sometimes stressful and tiring, and maybe has the chance to progress to being a paramedic is your thing.... go for it.

 

Application went in yesterday...... I don't think I'll get it as I don't have a C1 license and there's a short turnaround between recruiting and starting training, but apparently our local service are very good at keeping records of who they like and coming back to them when there's longer turn arounds.

Fingers crossed for me.

 

Good luck!

 

Very good luck!

 

I've been offered the job, but also got a timeframe of 5 weeks to get my C1 license. I'm going to give it a go, but can't see that it's possible

 

Congratulations!
Look e here:
https://www.hgvtraining.co.uk/hgv-training/hgv-cat-c1/

Intensive two day course.

 

Well done on being offered the placement! Hope you can get the licence. If you can't get it within 5 weeks is it possible to do it and apply again? Knowing that you have a good chance to get the job if it comes up again.

Hopefully you will pass it and it will be a moot point.

 

Totally do-able. Might have to take holiday if you're working now as I think it's 5 days. Bit expensive too, but go for it, it'll be worth it. And congratulations on the job!

 

This is the last time they're recruiting for the forseeable future, I guess they will have to recruit in the future..... I'll just have to go hell for leather to get the license.

 

Well I've got my medical today, and as long as the DVLA don't drag their heals I hope I can pass the theory first time and there's places near me that offer the C1 training intensely if you've driven large vans. I've got a campervan, driven long wheelbase sprinters and LDV vans with the roller shutter and lift at the back (laiden with sound equipment), so size wise think I'm ok. Timings I'm panicking a bit, as I don't want to have to hand my notice in without having completed the driving course, so its all a bit of a knife edge.

 

This is so exciting sim667

 

Congratulations on getting the job.

 

I'm shitting meself incase I can't get the license sorted..... Spent all day saturday fretting and googling after being offered it, but my partner told me to go for a dive yesterday to take my mind off it, which worked for a bit I think. However, my license is in the hands of the DVLA now, so I can't do much panicing until I get it back (need it to book my theory).

I'll admit, I'm not one for needing to belong to groups of people or organisations, but trying on the uniform did feel good.

 

Incredible, thank you! I've not been able to find a 2 day one and they've got a centre 9 miles away. I'll get on the blower to them tomorrow!

 

Good luck sim! Your employers clearly believe in you enough to offer you the role even before you have a C1 licence, so you must be doing something right

 

TBH it seems like they'd offer it to anyone who isn't an idiot........ It was all group interviews and being informed of job offers as groups.

 

I suspect there was more than that going on behind the scenes. Group interviews make sense when the job involves working as part of a group so much, under more pressure than in an interview - not everyone is very good at that. And you passed that

 

There was a group task we had to do (build a tower out of newspaper as high as possible within 5 mins), and then there were 6 mini interviews of six minutes 1 to 1. Also a medical test and a uniform fitting.