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Emergency care assistant
Hours
37.5 per week
Starting salary
£15,600 + per year
If you want to help others and be part of an emergency response team, this job could suit you.
As an emergency care assistant (ECA) you would drive ambulances under emergency conditions and support the work of qualified ambulance technicians (where this role exists) and paramedics.
In this job you will need to be emotionally strong and have physical stamina. You will need to communicate well in speech and writing. You will also need to be observant.
Each regional ambulance service can set its own entry criteria and training, so you will need to check the details with the ambulance service you wish to join. You will need a full driving licence. You will also need to pass a Criminal Records Bureau check.
WorkDesc
The work
As an emergency care assistant (ECA), your day-to-day duties would include:
- using advanced driving skills to respond to medical emergencies
- transporting patients between hospitals and clinics for planned appointments and treatment
- safely transferring patients to and from ambulance vehicles, using suitable equipment and manual handling skills
- helping ambulance paramedics and technicians deal with urgent hospital admissions
- responding to any other situation as directed by the emergency control centre
- helping to complete a handover report, recording all patient information
- making sure your vehicle is roadworthy and properly kitted out and cleaned (paying particular attention to infection prevention) after every call.
When responding to an emergency, you would have little warning of the exact circumstances. For example, you could be involved in:
- carrying out basic scene safety checks and assessing the risk to yourself and others, in line with health and safety guidelines
- contacting the emergency control centre to request extra support when needed
- carrying out basic diagnostic procedures under the direct supervision of a paramedic
- supporting the delivery of first aid and minor emergency treatments
- monitoring and treating patients until they are transferred to hospital.
Your work would involve communicating with patients and relatives with dignity and respect in often challenging circumstances. You would also work closely with emergency services, relevant authorities and health and social care professionals.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would typically work 37.5 hours a week including shift work, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Part-time hours may be available once you have completed your training.
You would wear a uniform, which includes protective clothing such as a bright jacket, safety boots and, in some services, a stab-proof vest. You would spend much of your time in the community. Your work may involve heavy lifting, when transferring patients.
Your work is likely to involve attending to emotionally distressed patients in difficult situations, and you may occasionally face verbal aggression from people under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
IncomeDesc
Income
Emergency care assistants can earn between around £15,600 and £18,500.
Extra allowances (known as salary uplifts) may be paid to workers in certain regions, and to those expected to be on standby, working unsocial hours or rotational shifts.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
Each regional ambulance service can set its own entry criteria and training, so it is important you check the details with the ambulance service you wish to join.
In general, to become an ECA you need:
- excellent driving skills and up-to-date knowledge of the highway code
- previous experience in a customer care role
- an awareness of equality and diversity in the work place and surrounding community
- good fitness levels and good eyesight (prescription glasses are acceptable).
You will also need a full B and C1 category driving licence with no more than three penalty points or any short period disqualification. You may be accepted with a provisional C1, but you will usually need a full licence before you start training (some ambulance services may help you achieve the licence, but this is not standard). You must be at least aged 18 to apply for a C1 licence.
Some ambulance services will also prefer you to have:
- a current First Aid Certificate
- a good standard of education (for example, 3 or 4 GCSEs (A-C) including English, maths and a science subject)
- experience of working in a patient care setting, ideally in the NHS.
A full Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check will be carried out when you apply for this role.
For more information contact your local ambulance service listed on the NHS Choices website.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
Once you are working as a trainee ECA, you will have a period of intensive training. This can take around nine weeks and cover areas such as:
- basic life support skills
- first aid
- moving and handling techniques
- specialised driving skills
- procedures for collecting patients
- the process of transferring patient care to other health professionals.
Your training could also involve working towards a BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Emergency Care Assistance.
For your first six months in post, you will be monitored and assessed as part of an ongoing training programme.
Throughout your career, you will need to keep up to date with advances in patient care relevant to your role. You will be expected to continue your professional development and keep a portfolio of practical and clinical experiences that show your skills and knowledge.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To be an emergency care assistant you should have:
- a genuine desire to help and care for others
- emotional resilience and physical stamina
- good spoken and written communication skills
- good listening skills and powers of observation
- the ability to use communication and computerised systems
- a flexible approach to manage a changing workload
- a responsible attitude to work
- good teamworking skills
- the ability to drive under emergency conditions
- good decision making skills
- the ability to remain calm under pressure
- an understanding of patient confidentiality
- the ability to follow safe manual handling techniques.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
NHS Careers 
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Skills for Health
Goldsmiths House
Broad Plain
Bristol
BS2 0JP
Tel: 0117 922 1155
www.skillsforhealth.org.uk
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line
Tel: 08000 150850
Ambulance Service Network
www.nhsconfed.org/networks/ambulanceservice
College of Paramedics
The Exchange
Express Park
Bristol Road
Bridgewater
TA6 4RR
Tel: 01278 420 014
www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
Most jobs are within the NHS, although you may be able to train and work in the armed forces or private ambulance services.
As an experienced ECA, you could apply for a student paramedic post (check the ambulance paramedic job profile for details).
However, this is not a guaranteed progression route and you would apply for training in open competition with external candidates.
You may also find opportunities for secondment or promotion in the ambulance control room, in a training role, or in human resources.
Employment in the NHS ambulance service is generally stable. However, to find a position, you may need to relocate. You could contact your local ambulance service for further advice on opportunities in your region, and you may also find the following useful for vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
NHS Careers has sections on:
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