ECA/EAA - Apprentice Paramedic Programme

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 19 January 2025

Job summary

The Trust runs an internal education pathway, the Paramedic Apprenticeship Programme, in conjunction with two different Universities for those aspiring to train to become a paramedic. This programme is open to staff with a minimum of two years service as an emergency care assistant (ECA/EAA) with SWASFT.

Higher level and degree apprenticeships are a great option for people of any age. As long as you're committed and passionate, then you could benefit from the opportunity to learn and earn alongside your job in the Trust.

Apprenticeship programmes are designed to be studied whilst working, to help you progress academically and professionally in your programme of study and in your career. On the apprenticeship programme, you will benefit from a workplace mentor and a university personal tutor, who will work together to monitor your progress regularly.

Every individual is different, but someone who is well organised, hardworking, resilient, able to work in a team and conduct themselves as a confident individual stands a great chance of being successful as an apprentice. Your programme will not just provide an academic education, but help you develop as an individual.

Main duties of the job

The Paramedic Apprenticeship is a BSc level-6-degree programme - an exciting and rewarding journey that will require a lot of commitment, dedication, and hard work.

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will have a BSc Hons in Paramedic Science with eligibility to apply to the HCPC for registration as a Paramedic.

  • The apprenticeship is a distance learning programme in collaboration with one of two Universities. During your time on the course, you will be provided with opportunities of blended learning with virtual lessons and some mandatory face-to-face contact days at training locations. These are set locations within the southwest region.
  • There is a prerequisite bridging module to successfully complete before you can commence on the apprenticeship.
  • On your commencement of the Apprenticeship programme, you will need to move to structured relief to allow flexibility in planning your placements accordingly. Your university days will be scheduled on to GRS and will count towards your hours worked.

Programme outline

  • 41 academic university days per year
  • 5 days of non-ambulance placements per year
  • Individual hours for studying in own time

This is only an overview of the programme. Please refer to the for more detailed information about the programme. Paramedic Apprenticeship Prospectus 2025

About us

You will be expected to adhere to the HCPC Code of Conduct of Performance and Ethics, as well as the Student Code of Conduct, from your commencement on the programme, otherwise you may face a Fitness to Practice hearing or review with the University which will determine your continuation on the programme.

Guidance on the HCPC Student Code of Conduct and Ethics can be foundhere

Date posted

06 January 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£24,071 to £25,674 a year per annum - progress to Band 4 six months into Apprenticeship

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

202-6864480

Job locations

Trust HQ

Various

EX2 7HY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Paramedic Apprenticeship Programme- BSC (Hons) in Paramedic Science

Programme duration

  • 6-month prerequisite bridging module
  • 2-years on the apprenticeship

Fees

  • The apprenticeship- funded by the levy and tuition will be covered by the Trust
  • Prerequisite bridging module- £1670 self-funded payable to the trust on graduation

Contract type: 37.5 hours

Salary: As per your current contract

Job description

Job responsibilities

Paramedic Apprenticeship Programme- BSC (Hons) in Paramedic Science

Programme duration

  • 6-month prerequisite bridging module
  • 2-years on the apprenticeship

Fees

  • The apprenticeship- funded by the levy and tuition will be covered by the Trust
  • Prerequisite bridging module- £1670 self-funded payable to the trust on graduation

Contract type: 37.5 hours

Salary: As per your current contract

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Be able to evidence (within 7 days of applying) certificates of GCSE in Maths and English (Grade 4 or above, historically A-C) or an equivalent Level 2 functional skills certificates for the same.
  • Any level 4/5/6 awards that related to Paramedicine or Health science
  • Completion of Head start plus module

Length of Service

Essential

  • Have a minimum of two years' experience as a front-line SWAST NHS ECA/EAA. (your period of ECA training can count towards satisfying the experience requirement); the two years experience must be completed before 20th October 2025.

Working Hours

Essential

  • At commencement of the apprenticeship, to be working a minimum of 30 contracted hours per week (you must have a minimum of 3150 operations hours prior to applying);
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Be able to evidence (within 7 days of applying) certificates of GCSE in Maths and English (Grade 4 or above, historically A-C) or an equivalent Level 2 functional skills certificates for the same.
  • Any level 4/5/6 awards that related to Paramedicine or Health science
  • Completion of Head start plus module

Length of Service

Essential

  • Have a minimum of two years' experience as a front-line SWAST NHS ECA/EAA. (your period of ECA training can count towards satisfying the experience requirement); the two years experience must be completed before 20th October 2025.

Working Hours

Essential

  • At commencement of the apprenticeship, to be working a minimum of 30 contracted hours per week (you must have a minimum of 3150 operations hours prior to applying);

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust HQ

Various

EX2 7HY


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust HQ

Various

EX2 7HY


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

Apprenticeship Administrators

Apprenticeship Team

paramedicapprenticeship@swast.nhs.uk

Date posted

06 January 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£24,071 to £25,674 a year per annum - progress to Band 4 six months into Apprenticeship

Contract

Apprenticeship

Duration

2 years

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

202-6864480

Job locations

Trust HQ

Various

EX2 7HY


Supporting documents

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