Community First Responder - Cornwall

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 30 March 2025

Job summary

Exciting volunteering opportunities have arisen within South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust for Community First Responders to join Community First Responder schemes for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall.

We welcome applicants from across Cornwall, but specifically interested in expanding groups in the areas of:

Looe,Launceston, Fowey, Padstow, Bude, St Ives, Camelford, Newquay, St Austell, Wadebridge, Helston, Penzance and Torpoint. Also, Isles of Scilly, including a new group for St Mary's and enhancing the groups on the other islands.

We also have a Community Responder Vehicle, based at Bodmin and Redruth, for anyone preferring to volunteer for pre-agreed periods, covering calls across all Cornwall.

A Community First Responder (CFR) scheme is made up of a group of trained volunteers who, within the community in which they live or work, attend emergency calls on behalf of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to provide patient care, including basic life support, until the arrival of an emergency ambulance clinician.

Main duties of the job

As a volunteer and a member of a Community First Responder Scheme you would provide this community-based service willingly and without pay. This role is highly rewarding and offers opportunities to meet new people and learn valuable lifesaving skills through the training provided by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

Applicants will have a good all round education; a full driving license held for at least one year, with no more than 6 current penalty points as they will be expected to use their own vehicle or Community Responder vehicle. Following shortlisting, applicants will be invited to attend a formal interview, whereby they will be expected to have some knowledge of the role and South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust.

Candidates will be required to attain the Level 3 Award for First Responders on Scene during training in order to complete the recruitment process.

They will also need to complete some online Mandatory Training Modules before starting the role.

Please note that if you are applying for the Isles of Scilly, Interviews and training will be at separate times and locations.

Mainland Cornwall - When applying for this position, please be aware that you must be able to attend the following interview dates, and all of the days of training listed:

About us

At South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) we have a culture where everyone is valued for being themselves. Our aim is to work together to promote the most inclusive environment possible, which attracts people from the widest range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work that we do together, for the benefit of all of our employees, our patients and the communities we serve. We offer flexible working opportunities, inclusive policies and a range of feedback mechanisms to support individuals and to enable a positive, welcoming environment where our people and their careers can thrive in.

We employ over 5,000 employees mainly clinical, operational and emergency response staff as well as supporting roles. We also employ Doctors and volunteers which include community first responders and fire co-responders.

We take all the steps needed to provide the most compassionate patient care possible whilst also providing an enjoyable and safe place to work. We actively promote a positive set of behaviours as being key to our performance both individually and collectively. Our recruitment, selection and screening processes are designed to uphold these standards and we invite all our candidates to actively share with us through these processes how they will bring these behaviours to life.

To view the Trust's Mission, Vision, Values and Goals clickhere

Date posted

03 March 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience Unpaid

Contract

Voluntary

Working pattern

Part-time, Home or remote working

Reference number

202-5190603 - A1

Job locations

Cornwall

Cornwall

TR1 3LJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see attached the job description and person specification attached.

Recruitment will take place in two phases:

PHASE ONE - 1st April until 3rd May 2025 (To include Interviews, HR checks and Initial Induction)

  • Interviews are scheduled to be held 14th -16th April
  • Initial Induction will be 3rd May

PHASE TWO - 24th April until 31st May 2025 (To include Interviews, HR checks and Initial Induction)

  • Interviews are scheduled to be held 5th 7th May
  • Initial Induction will be 31st May

There will then be ONE COURSE

The five-day training course is scheduled to be held at Roche, St Austell.

  • Weekend 1 = 14th & 15th June
  • Weekend 2 = 27th, 28th,29th June
  • There will be a final Induction Day on Saturday 20th July

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ALL OF THE TRAINING DAYS PLEASE DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS INTAKE. FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES. The next Course will be January 2026

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information about this role please see attached the job description and person specification attached.

Recruitment will take place in two phases:

PHASE ONE - 1st April until 3rd May 2025 (To include Interviews, HR checks and Initial Induction)

  • Interviews are scheduled to be held 14th -16th April
  • Initial Induction will be 3rd May

PHASE TWO - 24th April until 31st May 2025 (To include Interviews, HR checks and Initial Induction)

  • Interviews are scheduled to be held 5th 7th May
  • Initial Induction will be 31st May

There will then be ONE COURSE

The five-day training course is scheduled to be held at Roche, St Austell.

  • Weekend 1 = 14th & 15th June
  • Weekend 2 = 27th, 28th,29th June
  • There will be a final Induction Day on Saturday 20th July

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO MAKE ALL OF THE TRAINING DAYS PLEASE DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS INTAKE. FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES. The next Course will be January 2026

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Full driving licence held for at least one year, with no more than 6 current penalty points.
  • Have a vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for your use.

Desirable

  • Current advanced driving qualification.
  • Up to date First Aid Qualification.

Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)

Essential

  • Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)

Desirable

  • Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)

Skills, knowledge, ability

Essential

  • Commitment to volunteering for a minimum of 12 hours a week.
Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Full driving licence held for at least one year, with no more than 6 current penalty points.
  • Have a vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for your use.

Desirable

  • Current advanced driving qualification.
  • Up to date First Aid Qualification.

Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)

Essential

  • Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)

Desirable

  • Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)

Skills, knowledge, ability

Essential

  • Commitment to volunteering for a minimum of 12 hours a week.

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

Cornwall

Cornwall

TR1 3LJ


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

Cornwall

Cornwall

TR1 3LJ


Employer's website

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


For questions about the job, contact:

HR Services Officer

Nick Chown

nick.chown@swast.nhs.uk

Date posted

03 March 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience Unpaid

Contract

Voluntary

Working pattern

Part-time, Home or remote working

Reference number

202-5190603 - A1

Job locations

Cornwall

Cornwall

TR1 3LJ


Supporting documents

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