Qualified or Trainee Ambulance Care Assistants

Applications are now invited for individuals to join the Scottish Ambulance Service as a Qualified or Trainee Ambulance Care Assistant (ACA) at the following stations in the North Region:

• Aberdeen
• Elgin
• Fraserburgh
• Inverurie
• Peterhead
• Aviemore
• Dingwall
• Golspie
• Inverness
• Wick
• Lerwick

It is expected that the start date for successful trainee applicants will be from November 2025, the start date for successful qualified applicants will be dependent on previous experience and will be agreed at the time of offer.

The Role

As an ACA, you will be responsible for delivering high quality care and safe transportation for non-emergency patients from their homes to hospital and clinic appointments. This may involve a variety of shift times over 7 days and could involve working at other stations than your base station. The posts being recruited to are a mix of part time and full time.

You must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be a team player and have the ability to deal with a range of people who are often at their most vulnerable. This is a really important role within the Service and offers a vital service to the people of Scotland.

The Training

If you are a Trainee you will be an employee of the Service from your start date and will be enrolled on our bespoke clinical and driving programme. The programme takes approximately 6 months, the initial four weeks of which will be carried out at one of the Service’s Regional Training Centres. After this time, you will progress to your allocated Ambulance Station.

Requirements for Qualified ACAs will depend on previous experience.

The Person

This is a hugely varied role, each day and each patient is different. As a result, you will need to have excellent interpersonal skills as well as an ability to communicate effectively. You will need to demonstrate flexibility and the ability to make effective and safe decisions.

We welcome applications from a range of backgrounds, however previous experience in a healthcare role or a healthcare related qualification would be an advantage. Volunteer work or working with your community would also be beneficial.

All candidates will be required to satisfy the following minimum entry requirements:

• Evidence of successful study at SCQF Level 4 (or equivalent) or above in Maths and English.
• Full UK driving licence with no more than 4 penalty points.

Candidates must possess C1 on their driving licence at least 6 weeks prior to the course start date.

If you are shortlisted you will be required to bring copies and originals of the above documents to your fitness test/interview.

Candidates will also be required to successfully complete the following selection elements;

• Occupational Fitness Test
• Competency and Values Based Interview
• Occupational Health Screening
• Satisfactory application to the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (Disclosure Scotland)
• Reference process

The starting salary for Trainee Care Assistants is £21,748 per annum, rising to £26,869 per annum on successful completion of the Service’s training programme. This will increase in increments to £28,998 per annum.

If you are shortlisted you will be invited to attend a fitness test and interview which will be held on the same day. Dates and locations of the fitness tests and interviews are as follows:

• Golspie Ambulance Station – 4 June 2025
• Wick Ambulance Station – 5June 2025
• Lerwick Ambulance Station – 6 June 2025
• Aberdeen Ambulance Station – 23, 24 June and 2, 3 July 2025
• Inverness Ambulance Station – 24, 25 June 2025

Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.