Job summary
"Exciting volunteering opportunities have arisen within South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust for Community First Responders to join Community First Responder schemes across BSW (BANES, Swindon and Wiltshire).
We welcome applicants from throughout Wiltshire; however we are particularly interested in people from the following areas:
Malmesbury, Ludgershall, Tidworth, Cricklade, Ramsbury, Royal Wootton Bassett, Bradford on Avon, Mere, Tisbury, Devizes, Calne, Midsommer Norton, Lavingtons, Warminster, rural district west of Salisbury, Teffont, Berwick St James, Broad Chalke), Paulton, Pewsey, Westbury and Lyneham.
A Community First Responder (CFR) scheme is made up of a group of trained volunteers who within the community in which they live or work attend emergency calls on behalf of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to provide patient care, including basic life support, until the arrival of an emergency ambulance.Applicants will have a good all round education; a full driving license held for at least one year, with no more than 6 current penalty points and have access to a vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for your use.
Main duties of the job
As a volunteer and a member of a Community First Responder Scheme you would provide this community based service willingly and without pay. This role is highly rewarding and offers opportunities to meet new people and learn valuable lifesaving skills through the training provided by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
It is vital you include what would make you a exceptional Community First Responder and how you meet the person specification for the role. Please be aware, if there is not currently a Community First Responder scheme running within a 3 mile radius of your home postcode you may not be short listed. Should you wish to respond from your work place as well as or instead of your home address, please detail this in the additional information section.
When applying for this position, please be aware that you must be able to attend the following interview dates and all of the training course.
Interviews are scheduled to be held during the week commencing Monday 2nd February 2026.
The training course location Methuen Park, Chippenham.
Saturday 7th March 2026
Sunday 8th March 2026
Saturday 21st March 2026
Sunday 22nd March 2026
Saturday 28th March 2026
Sunday 29th March 2026
If you are unable to make all of the training days please do not apply for this intake. The next intake is provisionally planned for autumn 2026, please get in touch by if you would like to register your interest for a later course.
About us
At South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) we have a culture where everyone is valued for being themselves. Our aim is to work together to promote the most inclusive environment possible, which attracts people from the widest range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work that we do together, for the benefit of all of our employees, our patients and the communities we serve. We offer flexible working opportunities, inclusive policies and a range of feedback mechanisms to support individuals and to enable a positive, welcoming environment where our people and their careers can thrive in.
We employ over 5,000 employees mainly clinical, operational and emergency response staff as well as supporting roles. We also employ Doctors and volunteers which include community first responders and fire co-responders.
We take all the steps needed to provide the most compassionate patient care possible whilst also providing an enjoyable and safe place to work. We actively promote a positive set of behaviours as being key to our performance both individually and collectively. Our recruitment, selection and screening processes are designed to uphold these standards and we invite all our candidates to actively share with us through these processes how they will bring these behaviours to life.
To view the Trust's Mission, Vision, Values and Goals clickhere
Job description
Job responsibilities
Following shortlisting, applicants will be invited to attend a formal interview whereby they will be expected to have some knowledge of the role and South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust. Candidates will be required to attain the Level 3 Award for First Responders on Scene during training in order to complete the recruitment process.
For further information about this role please see attached the job description and person specification attached.
Please do however re register your interest to be notified of future recruitment campaigns: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=1Jr8HAsL0ECdxOdKjT0WUjryOBEWEoFGoolRy68IBA1UNU5ZRU9YUDBDUEFWQkdaRkhNUUtDQkg2UCQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl
To make your application stand out it is vital you include what would make you a exceptional Community First Responder and how you meet the person specification for the role.
Please be aware, if there is not currently a Community First Responder scheme running within a close proximity to home postcode you may not be short listed.
More information including a video is available on our website: https://www.swast.nhs.uk/volunteer-recruitment
Job description
Job responsibilities
Following shortlisting, applicants will be invited to attend a formal interview whereby they will be expected to have some knowledge of the role and South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust. Candidates will be required to attain the Level 3 Award for First Responders on Scene during training in order to complete the recruitment process.
For further information about this role please see attached the job description and person specification attached.
Please do however re register your interest to be notified of future recruitment campaigns: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=1Jr8HAsL0ECdxOdKjT0WUjryOBEWEoFGoolRy68IBA1UNU5ZRU9YUDBDUEFWQkdaRkhNUUtDQkg2UCQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl
To make your application stand out it is vital you include what would make you a exceptional Community First Responder and how you meet the person specification for the role.
Please be aware, if there is not currently a Community First Responder scheme running within a close proximity to home postcode you may not be short listed.
More information including a video is available on our website: https://www.swast.nhs.uk/volunteer-recruitment
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Full driving licence held for at least one year, with no more than 6 current penalty points.
- Have a vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for your use.
Desirable
- Current advanced driving qualification.
- Up to date First Aid Qualification.
Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)
Essential
- Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)
Desirable
- Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)
Skills, knowledge, ability
Essential
- Commitment to volunteering for a minimum of 12 hours a week.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- Full driving licence held for at least one year, with no more than 6 current penalty points.
- Have a vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for your use.
Desirable
- Current advanced driving qualification.
- Up to date First Aid Qualification.
Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)
Essential
- Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)
Desirable
- Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)
Skills, knowledge, ability
Essential
- Commitment to volunteering for a minimum of 12 hours a week.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
