job description - ambulance technician

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 1


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



4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION Organisation Chart attached

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



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



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.



6 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 Patient Report Forms using information generated by post holder. o Forms relating to other aspects of work, e.g. cardiac report forms o Accident/incident reporting and near miss forms. o Forms in relation to hours worked, absence, self appraisal etc.



8 DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS

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

o To autonomously assess and diagnose individual patient needs to determine how to treat

in accordance with JRCALC

o Recognition of Life Extinct and cessation of resuscitation

o Notwithstanding the above, decisions made will require evaluation of evidence to facilitate

choice between different approaches.

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

o Routinely, whilst on calls, technicians work without line manager presence, although advice

and support are readily available.

9 COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS

o Required to deal with sensitive situations professionally, assertively and tactfully

o Required to respect religious beliefs and cultural differences and communicate in emotional circumstances.

o Required to communicate effectively and concisely with other emergency and

health service employees.

o Attends station meetings on a regular basis to discuss items of common interest and take part in the ongoing communications within the organisation.



10. PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB o Must have good hand eye co-ordination skills in order to carry out clinical

procedures o Required to, using appropriate aids, move and handle patients o Responds to emergency calls and situations that require concentration as well as

being distressing and sometimes traumatic, for example road traffic accidents o Exposure to, and contact with, body fluids. o Dealing with death, this is especially distressing in cases of infant mortality, etc o Dealing with relatives and members of the public in difficult circumstances, e.g.

sudden death o Contact with aggressive patients requiring use of management of aggression skills o 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.




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 Holder’s Signature: Head of Department Signature:

Date: Date:

job description - ambulance technician

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