• Job Description

  Req#: C9202-25-0111?language=en&page=355&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Exciting volunteering opportunities have arisen within South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust for Community First Responders to join Community First Responder schemes across Dorset.

  We welcome applicants from across Dorset, but specifically interested in expanding groups in the general areas of Bridport, Blandford, Lyme Regis and Sturminster Newton. We also have a Community Responder Vehicle, currently based in the Bournemouth area, for anyone preferring to volunteer for pre-agreed periods, covering calls across all Dorset.

  Please be aware, if there is not currently a Community First Responder scheme running within a 3 mile radius of your home postcode you may not be short listed. Should you wish to respond from your work place as well as or instead of your home address, please detail this in the additional information section.

  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.

  More information is available in the video below and on our website:

  https://vimeo.com/850656312/b68f4798d1?share=copy

  https://www.swast.nhs.uk/welcome/community-first-responders/community-first-responders

  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 and have access to a vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for your use. 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.

  When applying for this position, please be aware that youmust be able to attend the following interview dates and all four days of training course:

  PHASE ONE

  • Interviews WC 12th -16th May
  • Initial Induction will be 31st May

  PHASE TWO

  • Interviews WC 2nd June - 6th June

  • Initial Induction will be 21st June

  PHASE THREE

  • Interviews WC 23rd June - 27th June
  • Initial Induction will be 12th July

  There will then be ONE COURSE

  The five-day training course is scheduled to be held at St Leonards Ambulance Training College

  • Weekend 1 = 9th/10th August
  • Weekend 2 = 22nd/23rd/24th August

  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

  Details

  Date posted

  07 May 2025

  Pay scheme

  Other

  Salary

  Depending on experience Unpaid

  Contract

  Voluntary

  Working pattern

  Part-time, Home or remote working

  Reference number

  202- 4640304 - A2

  Job locations

  Dorset

  Dorset

  BH21 1AS

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

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

  If you are currently a ECA for SWASFT or are in the ECA Holding Pool please do not apply via this advert, please contact Jacob Maddams directly.

  Please be aware, if there is not currently a Community First Responder scheme running within a 3 mile radius of your home postcode you may not be short listed. Should you wish to respond from your work place as well as or instead of your home address, please detail this in the additional information section of your application.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

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

  If you are currently a ECA for SWASFT or are in the ECA Holding Pool please do not apply via this advert, please contact Jacob Maddams directly.

  Please be aware, if there is not currently a Community First Responder scheme running within a 3 mile radius of your home postcode you may not be short listed. Should you wish to respond from your work place as well as or instead of your home address, please detail this in the additional information section of your application.

  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

  Dorset

  Dorset

  BH21 1AS

  
  

  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

  Dorset

  Dorset

  BH21 1AS

  
  

  Employer's website

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

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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