North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Ambulance Care Assistant

The closing date is 13 February 2026

Job summary

The Trust is looking to recruit staff who are committed and flexible to work as Ambulance Care Assistants for the Patient Transport Service, providing high quality care and support to patients being transported for non-emergency appointments.

The successful candidates willbe responsible forsafely transporting patients to and from treatment centres, ensuring that they are supported and cared for appropriately during their journey and that any patients feeling unwell are provided withappropriate assistance.

Visa sponsorship is not possible for this role for either candidates or existing employees. This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for Skilled Worker/ Health and Care Worker visas as set out at gov.uk. Graduate visa holders should have no expectation of long-term employment through sponsorship. Additionally, your visa conditions and validity period must allow you to work in the role question and for a suitable period to allow training and execution without requiring sponsorship.

You will hold a valid Full UK manual driving licence with no more than 3 endorsement points (in exceptional circumstances a maximum of 6 points may be considered).

Main duties of the job

As an Ambulance Care Assistant within Patient Transport Services, you will provide the effective transport of patients, providingappropriateand necessaryassistancefor patients to access vehicles. This may include supporting unsteady patients or the manoeuvring of wheelchairs around hazards or in constricted environments.

In all cases you must be able to support patients with empathy, care, and dignity, ensuring that their journey is safe and comfortable and that any required support and care is offered. You will need to select and apply appropriate skills and equipment safely and within appropriate level of training, competency, and scope of practice.

The vacancies for this recruitment are in Cumbria,

Area Base Locations:

West 4 Group 1: Barrow

West 4 Group 2: Westmorland

West 4 Group 3: Distington, Flimby

West 4 Group 4: Carlisle

About us

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides non-emergency patient transport services for those patients who require non-emergency transport to and from hospital and who are unable to travel unaided because of their medical condition or clinical need.

Our highly skilled staff provide essential care to patients in the community and take people to hospital or a place of care if needed.

Alongside the other emergency services, we also work to ensure the safety of the public and treatment of patients in the event of a major incident.

We also provide 24 hour, 365 days a year accident and emergency services to those in need of emergency medical treatment and transport.

We also deliver the NHS 111 service in the North West. NHS 111 replaced NHS Direct in 2013. This service was introduced to make it easier for people to access local NHS healthcare services in England. It provides non-emergency medical help fast, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Date posted

29 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Per Annum - Pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

242-4925

Job locations

Cumbria

CA2 7AN

Job description

Job responsibilities

First stage Interviews will be held in Cumbria: Dates TBC

All candidates meeting the required benchmark will then be invited to take a Driving assessment and slots will be available Monday to Friday

Should you be successful for this role, you will be required to complete pre-employment checks ahead of a post-recruitment training course for 3 weeks.

We are running courses full time Monday to Friday with the first courses commencing April 2026. Training venues will be confirmed at the offer stage. Full attendance is 100% mandatory.

Positions are full time.

Shift information.

Shifts are currently 8 or 10 hours in duration with a 30-minute meal break; these are worked over 4 or 5 days (based on a full-time position). The PTS service provides transport for patients 7 days per week, including Bank holidays and weekends. Our hours of operation are currently 06:00 01:00 with a range of shifts to cover these hours.

Job description

Job responsibilities

First stage Interviews will be held in Cumbria: Dates TBC

All candidates meeting the required benchmark will then be invited to take a Driving assessment and slots will be available Monday to Friday

Should you be successful for this role, you will be required to complete pre-employment checks ahead of a post-recruitment training course for 3 weeks.

We are running courses full time Monday to Friday with the first courses commencing April 2026. Training venues will be confirmed at the offer stage. Full attendance is 100% mandatory.

Positions are full time.

Shift information.

Person Specification

Skills / Attributes

Essential

Good interpersonal skills
Able to work as part of a team and on own initiative
Good written skills and communication skills (must be able to complete journey documentation clearly and accurately)
Able to relate to people from different backgrounds and cultures

Qualifications / Attainments

Essential

Educated to a minimum of level 1 literacy and numeracy standards or relevant experience in a similar role
Willing to undertake further training as and when required
Hold a valid UK Manual Driving Licence (No more than 3 endorsement points. In exceptional circumstances a maximum of 6 points may be considered)

Knowledge / Experience

Essential

Effective social skills gained from dealing with the public

Desirable

Experience or knowledge of caring for people or volunteer work
St. John, Red Cross or other 1st Aid experience

Health

Essential

Ability to undertake the full duties of the job role

Person Specification

Skills / Attributes

Essential

Good interpersonal skills
Able to work as part of a team and on own initiative
Good written skills and communication skills (must be able to complete journey documentation clearly and accurately)
Able to relate to people from different backgrounds and cultures

Qualifications / Attainments

Essential

Educated to a minimum of level 1 literacy and numeracy standards or relevant experience in a similar role
Willing to undertake further training as and when required
Hold a valid UK Manual Driving Licence (No more than 3 endorsement points. In exceptional circumstances a maximum of 6 points may be considered)

Knowledge / Experience

Essential

Effective social skills gained from dealing with the public

Desirable

Experience or knowledge of caring for people or volunteer work
St. John, Red Cross or other 1st Aid experience

Health

Essential

Ability to undertake the full duties of the job role

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.

Employer details

Employer name

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Address

Cumbria

CA2 7AN

Employer's website

https://www.nwas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Address

Cumbria

CA2 7AN

Employer's website

https://www.nwas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)