Job summary
The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) is a specialist capability within the ambulance service required to provide paramedic level care to patients caught within hazardous situations and subsequently increasing their chances of survival. These situations may be large scale major incidents or they may include more routine incidents for example working at height, difficult access or in water. In addition to the extensive additional training in specialist capabilities and working within safe systems of work, HART Paramedics become proficient in the use of a wide range of specialist protective clothing and incident management equipment.
You will deliver paramedic interventions through key HART capability areas:
- Hazardous Materials incidents.
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear emergencies (CBRN)
- Marauding Terrorist Attacks
- Safe Working at Height
- Confined Space
- Unstable Terrain
- Water Operations
- Support to Security Operations
SCAS HART is based in Eastleigh, near Southampton, Hampshire.
We are looking for QUALIFIED HART Paramedics to join South Central Ambulance Service Hazardous Area Response Team.
The process once applied is:
- Application shortlisting
- HART Physical Selection Testing (including swim test)
- HART Interview (held on separate days to the physical selection testing day)
- Successful completion of further internal Trust requirements including occupational health screening
Main duties of the job
In the event that successfully shortlisted candidates can provide evidence of attending a Water Rescue Technician Course, a High Risk Confined Space course and a Safe Working at Height Course as well as having an in-date HART Physical Competency Assessment elements of the selection procedure will be reduced to:
- Clinical assessment
- HART Interview
- Driving assessment (date TBC)
The HART selection days and interview will be confirmed. **Please note there are no alternative dates for assessment or interview**
On the selection days candidates should attend in uniform and wear appropriate boots.
In the event that the appropriate courses have not been evidenced you will need to bring running shoes and appropriate clothing. Please also bring swimming costumes and goggles if they require them as swimming assessments may also take place on the same day as the assessment.
You will be required to pass the usual physical competency test, safe working at height, confined space assessment and a clinical OSCE.
You will only attend an interview if you are successful at all elements of the assessment. You will be notified of the assessment results on the day.
Applicants should be aware that HART is both a national and local ambulance capability. In the event of large scale incidents or exercises, staff may occasionally be required to work nationally anywhere in the UK.
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy when we have received sufficient numbers of applications.
About us
Benefits we offer:
- Full training and support when you join and ongoing throughout your employment with us.
- Holiday entitlement is 27 days rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years, plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata for part time).
- Enrolment into the NHS Pension Scheme.
- Access to continual professional development and opportunities within SCAS and the NHS.
- Occupational Health support along with an Employee Assistance Programme.
- NHS Discounts in over 200+ stores including Holidays, Days out, Car insurance, Restaurants and Clothing.
About Us
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of emergency, urgent care and non-emergency healthcare services, along with commercial logistics services.
The Trust delivers most of these services to the populations of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire and Oxfordshire as well as non-emergency patient transport services in Surrey and Sussex.
We serve a population of over 7 million and answer over 500,000 urgent calls a year. We employ 4,551 staff who, together with over 1,100 volunteers, enable us to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Detailed information regarding the criteria required for a HART Paramedic is available within the Job Description and Person Specification, however, some of the essential criteria are:
- As a minimum the successful applicants must have completed modules 1, 2 and 3 of the national HART Training syllabus
- HCPC Registered Paramedic, with extensive operational experience (2 years post registration experience including preceptorship training and Newly Qualified Paramedic (NQP) period).
- Emergency Driving Qualification
- Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing with people at all levels
- Evidence of a proactive approach to own CPD and development of professional practice
- You will be able to demonstrate competence in team working, self-discipline, communication skills, adaptability, planning skills and decision making.
- You must have a good level of fitness be comfortable working at height and in confined spaces and be capable of swimming 100 metres as a minimum.
- It is essential you weigh less than 115kg for operational reasons.
- You must not suffer from lung function difficulties or breathing conditions including asthma which is inhaler dependent for treatment.
HART staff work within hazardous areas, to deliver the highest standards of pre- hospital specialist clinical care to all patients actually or potentially affected by any major civil emergency or an accidental or deliberate release of hazardous materials or a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agent, whilst using specialist personal protective (PPE) within the inner cordon or Hot Zone.
The Hot Zone is an area within the Inner Cordon where high concentrations of a potentially hazardous substance are present and specific procedures and protocols, including Dynamic Risk Assessments, controlled access and egress and the wearing of appropriate levels of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are required. Depending on the type and nature of the hazard this area may contain live casualties who will need to be treated and prioritised for decontamination and evacuation (National HART Work Standard Operating Procedures v 7.0)
HART staff will work closely with other emergency service teams at a range of operational incidents including: Major Incidents, incidents of a CBRN nature, USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) incidents, incidents involving hazardous materials, structural collapse, confined space rescue, major transportation incidents, incidents requiring working at height, trench collapse and rescue, incidents involving complex entrapment as defined and in accordance with HART IRU and USAR Standard Operating Procedures, depending upon the qualification and training of the operatives.
The post-holder will ensure that the highest level of patient care is delivered in accordance with the procedures issued by the Trust in order to maintain personal safety and that of colleagues and casualties.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Detailed information regarding the criteria required for a HART Paramedic is available within the Job Description and Person Specification, however, some of the essential criteria are:
- As a minimum the successful applicants must have completed modules 1, 2 and 3 of the national HART Training syllabus
- HCPC Registered Paramedic, with extensive operational experience (2 years post registration experience including preceptorship training and Newly Qualified Paramedic (NQP) period).
- Emergency Driving Qualification
- Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing with people at all levels
- Evidence of a proactive approach to own CPD and development of professional practice
- You will be able to demonstrate competence in team working, self-discipline, communication skills, adaptability, planning skills and decision making.
- You must have a good level of fitness be comfortable working at height and in confined spaces and be capable of swimming 100 metres as a minimum.
- It is essential you weigh less than 115kg for operational reasons.
- You must not suffer from lung function difficulties or breathing conditions including asthma which is inhaler dependent for treatment.
HART staff work within hazardous areas, to deliver the highest standards of pre- hospital specialist clinical care to all patients actually or potentially affected by any major civil emergency or an accidental or deliberate release of hazardous materials or a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agent, whilst using specialist personal protective (PPE) within the inner cordon or Hot Zone.
The Hot Zone is an area within the Inner Cordon where high concentrations of a potentially hazardous substance are present and specific procedures and protocols, including Dynamic Risk Assessments, controlled access and egress and the wearing of appropriate levels of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are required. Depending on the type and nature of the hazard this area may contain live casualties who will need to be treated and prioritised for decontamination and evacuation (National HART Work Standard Operating Procedures v 7.0)
HART staff will work closely with other emergency service teams at a range of operational incidents including: Major Incidents, incidents of a CBRN nature, USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) incidents, incidents involving hazardous materials, structural collapse, confined space rescue, major transportation incidents, incidents requiring working at height, trench collapse and rescue, incidents involving complex entrapment as defined and in accordance with HART IRU and USAR Standard Operating Procedures, depending upon the qualification and training of the operatives.
The post-holder will ensure that the highest level of patient care is delivered in accordance with the procedures issued by the Trust in order to maintain personal safety and that of colleagues and casualties.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Qualified HCPC Paramedic
- IHCD or FutureQuals Emergency Driving Qualification
- Valid manual B category UK Driving licence including category C1 and no more than 3 penalty points.
Knowledge
Essential
- Operational ambulance experience
- Evidence of working in a multi-agency environment
- Experience of supervising staff and supporting new entrants
- Experience of development relationships with external agencies and organisations
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries within health and social care
- Understanding Of and demonstrable commitment to equal opportunities as an employee and as a provider of service to the public
- Awareness and understanding of the Trust's purpose and values and of the key objectives set out in the Trust's Plan
- Understanding of the key result areas against which the Trust performance is measured and an understanding of the role of the Ambulance Trusts within the wider NHS
Skills
Essential
- Proven clinical skills and a commitment to delivering high standards of patient care
- Ability to make sound clinical decisions often at short notice
- Ability to maintain high standards of clinical care and health and safety, even in stressful and challenging situations
- Understanding of the Trust's risk management system and ability to undertake A/I A/I A/I A/I A/I Dynamic Operational Risk Assessments and manage risk in accordance with these procedures
- Understanding of and demonstrable commitment to Equal Opportunities and Diversity, both as a colleague and as a provider of a service to the public
- Knowledge of HCPC requirements relating to professional registration, e.g. conduct, competency and duty of care.
- Excellent verbal and written interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide range of occupational and cultural backgrounds
- Strong written communication skills including the ability to produce written reports, patient report forms and handover clinical information to other healthcare professionals.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Qualified HCPC Paramedic
- IHCD or FutureQuals Emergency Driving Qualification
- Valid manual B category UK Driving licence including category C1 and no more than 3 penalty points.
Knowledge
Essential
- Operational ambulance experience
- Evidence of working in a multi-agency environment
- Experience of supervising staff and supporting new entrants
- Experience of development relationships with external agencies and organisations
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries within health and social care
- Understanding Of and demonstrable commitment to equal opportunities as an employee and as a provider of service to the public
- Awareness and understanding of the Trust's purpose and values and of the key objectives set out in the Trust's Plan
- Understanding of the key result areas against which the Trust performance is measured and an understanding of the role of the Ambulance Trusts within the wider NHS
Skills
Essential
- Proven clinical skills and a commitment to delivering high standards of patient care
- Ability to make sound clinical decisions often at short notice
- Ability to maintain high standards of clinical care and health and safety, even in stressful and challenging situations
- Understanding of the Trust's risk management system and ability to undertake A/I A/I A/I A/I A/I Dynamic Operational Risk Assessments and manage risk in accordance with these procedures
- Understanding of and demonstrable commitment to Equal Opportunities and Diversity, both as a colleague and as a provider of a service to the public
- Knowledge of HCPC requirements relating to professional registration, e.g. conduct, competency and duty of care.
- Excellent verbal and written interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide range of occupational and cultural backgrounds
- Strong written communication skills including the ability to produce written reports, patient report forms and handover clinical information to other healthcare professionals.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
