Get involved with us!
Fancy getting some work experience, undertaking our Young Ambulance Citizens Programme or volunteering with us? Here are the different options which you can choose from. You can also find out more about our partnership with the Prince’s Trust via our SCAS Jobs website.
Work experience
**Please note this is currently on hold. For further information please email recruitment@scas.nhs.uk
Not sure about what career path to choose? Worried about what to do when you finish school? Or simply excited by the prospect of working as a frontline, call taker or office person for the ambulance service? Then get some work experience with us via your secondary school or college
We are pleased to advise that we do offer work experience placements for students aged 16+, at the moment these placements are only available from our Education Simulation Centre based in Newbury, Berkshire.
We have designed our placement to widen your knowledge and understanding of our Trust, this is not an operational station, whilst you may meet some of our Paramedic’s you will not be exposed to any front line duties.
The placement that we have designed showcases the Educational training elements that our staff undergo during their career with us and the technology we use to support this.
We currently offer a week placement this is normally from Monday to Friday and working hours are usually 09.00 – 17.00.
If this sounds of interest to you and you would like to apply for a placement with us, please do let us know and we will send you the application form by return
Information to secondary school and college teachers
We recognise the importance of supporting work experience and we are proud to be able to provide students with an opportunity that allows them to strengthen their own knowledge and understanding of the Trust and key roles within the Ambulance Service which we hope will support students in making important decisions over their future education.
By offering Work Experience within the Trust we feel that we are able to influence the quality of future employees, build upon existing recruitment connections with local schools and colleges, influence career choices and raise the profile of the Trust in the community and finally, be a considered employer of choice.
We can also offer school/college talks to the students to give them a better understanding of how our trust works and for them to ask us any questions of what it is like in the life of working for the Ambulance Service.
For more information please contact recruitment@scas.nhs.uk
The Young Ambulance Citizens Programme
**Please note this is currently on hold. For further information please email recruitment@scas.nhs.uk
Fancy a career working in the emergency services and in particular with the ambulance service? Then why not get a taste of what it’s like working with us by getting your school/college to attend our Young Ambulance Citizens Programme. Here is what it entails:
The Enhanced Simulation Suite is a fully interactive and highly immersive training centre, where you and your fellow students will use hands-on experiences in true-to-life settings with real-life clinical equipment, state-of-the-art manikin technology (life-like manikins that breathe and speak), and actors serving as simulated patients.
The amazing scenarios are very educational and will allow you to discover first-hand what it’s like to work in the ambulance service and will entail the following:
- Road Accident Scene management
- Managing a child /older person with breathing difficulties
- Knife crime incident
- A Care and Compassion incident
- Ambulance Dispatch.
See what the students from Basingstoke College of Technology thought of this great programme at https://www.bcot.ac.uk/news-and-events/2018/03/partnership-with-south-central-ambulance-service-inspires-bcot-students/. See also our video about the programme.
Information for secondary school and college teachers:
Students will learn in an environment that is completely safe for patients and gets them directly involved in health care, encouraging them to consider it as a career and also to consider the impact their life choices have on their own and others’ health. If you would like your students to attend this programme please contact Recruitment@scas.nhs.uk
Save lives - Become a volunteer Community First Responder
Community First Responders (CFRs) are volunteers who are available to be dispatched by the ambulance Emergency Operations Centre to attend appropriate medical emergencies in their local area.
Volunteers undergo training at one of our training centres, explaining how to recognise and treat many serious and life-threatening medical emergencies, such as cardiac arrest and strokes.
The role of a CFR is to provide assistance to patients with a medical emergency, and most importantly to start and maintain the ‘chain of survival’ in cardiac arrest patients until an ambulance crew arrives. They make a real difference by saving seconds and minutes which can make the difference to the patient’s outcome.
Real life story
Jess Hill, Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) and Acting Shift Officer
I have been working as a dispatcher for South Central Ambulance Service for nearly 4 years. The job is demanding and challenging but we work with a great team of people and provide an excellent service to the public even when under extreme pressure.
I also volunteer as a Community First Responder in my spare time and I feel this has really helped me understand emergency medicine and build on my confidence massively.
Being a Community First Responder can be challenging as you are the first resource sent to a patient before an ambulance arrives. However, it is also exciting as every job is different and you never know what you are going to find!
To be a responder you undertake a training course with SCAS that includes basic and more advanced life support skills as well as how to administer oxygen, using a defibrillator, treating burns and administering aspirin for chest pain. Once training is complete you are given your own kit that stays with you in your personal vehicle, a pager and a mobile phone to receive job details on. You then log on and are available to respond whenever you want to in your spare time and will be sent to jobs in your local area. Basically you will be the first on scene with a patient and you could potentially save their life!
For anyone who is interested in becoming a paramedic or working for the ambulance service, like I was, I would say this is an invaluable experience and you will learn skills that are highly recognised throughout many organisations!
The ambulance service is a 24/7 365 day a year service that can be challenging and busy, which isn’t for everyone. However, if you have a passion for helping others, you strive to make a difference and you want to meet an amazing bunch of likeminded, friendly and often crazy people then I would definitely recommend volunteering for us!
Have you got what it takes? Then read on You must be 18 and over and have held a full UK driving licence for a minimum of one year. No previous medical experience is needed and the ambulance service will provide you with a comprehensive training course and continuous support, together with flexible hours.
You can join your nearest CFR scheme within our coverage area (Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Hampshire). Once you become a Community First Responders you will log on when you want to, for as long as you want to on the days that you want to.
Want to know more? Call us on 0800 587 0207 or email cfr@scas.nhs.uk
Become a fundraiser
Not 18 yet? Don’t have a driving licence or do not feel the role of a CFR is for you? Then why not get your parents/carers and/or school involved to help raise funds?
Our CFR schemes are 100% funded by public donation and a great way to support them in your area would be to help raise funds for them. Each scheme costs about £3,000 to set up, and we need to raise the money for new schemes, but also fund the ongoing work of these vital volunteers.
All the equipment used by local CFRs is paid for through voluntary contributions:
- £ 18 pays for a replacement set of defibrillator pads
- £156 pays for a defibrillator battery
- £180 pays for the annual rental charges on a CFR emergency pager
- £1000 pays for a new automated external defibrillator
- £2000 pays for a new, full first responder medical kit
Our Charity CEO Vanessa Casey would be happy to be contacted at Vanessa.casey@scas.nhs.uk if you and your family/school want to get involved.
Become a member
Whether you have used our services, or are interested in a healthcare career, being a Trust member is a way for you to have a voice on issues that matter to you. Being a member boosts your curriculum vitae when aiming for a job, or a university or college place. Members can learn about the trust, and take part in competitions, surveys and focus groups.
Furthermore you have the opportunity to be connected with other young members via our soon to be launched SCASYouth – The Buzz e-membership newsletter.