Emergency care assistant (ambulance)

Emergency care assistants (ECAs) work with paramedics, making up the accident and emergency ambulance crew. They respond to emergency calls, helping the paramedic to treat people at their home or the scene of an accident. They drive the patient to hospital if they need to.

Also known as:

Ambulance emergency care assistant
Emergency medical technician (ambulance)

Work activities

Emergency care assistants (ECAs) work with paramedics as part of the accident and emergency ambulance crew. They help the paramedic to give people the urgent care and treatment they need, and get them to hospital quickly and safely. ECAs can be based at a local ambulance station or at a large hospital. They use advanced driving skills to reach the scene as quickly as they can. Once at the scene, they help the paramedic assess patients’ injuries. They use equipment to observe things such as respiratory rate, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. They report any changes to the paramedic. Then, they help the paramedic to carry out a variety of emergency and first aid procedures. For example, they help paramedics to keep patients’ airways open during resuscitation. They also help to control blood loss and treat fractures, wounds and burns. ECAs can also give patients oxygen.

ECAs have to calm and reassure patients, also dealing with their families and carers. A very important part of their work is to check the ambulance for roadworthiness, reporting any faults. They must make sure that equipment is carefully stored and is always in good working order. Apart from paramedics, ECAs have to work well with a variety of people, including ambulance control room staff, healthcare staff such as doctors and nurses, and people working in the fire and police services. ECAs use radios and telephones to keep in touch with hospitals and ambulance control rooms.

Personal qualities and skills

To be an emergency care assistant (ECA), you’ll need:

To be highly practical.
To enjoy working with people.
Strong communication skills.
The ability to act calmly and take the lead in an emergency.
Sympathy and tact to deal with patients and relatives in distress.
Emotional strength to cope with distressing situations; you can’t be squeamish.
Common sense and initiative.

Pay and opportunities

NHS employees are paid on a rising scale within defined pay bands, according to their skills and responsibilities. Emergency care assistants (ECAs) usually start on band 3 of the NHS Agenda for Change payscale, earning £22,816 (as of Jan 2024).

ECAs usually work 37.5 hours a week, which may include shifts, early starts, late finishes, weekend work and working on public holidays.

Employers are NHS and private health company ambulance services. Opportunities for ECAs occur in ambulance teams in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on the NHS Jobs website, on job boards, on the Government’s Find a Job service, and in local newspapers.

Entry routes and training

Entry requirements for trainee positions vary between ambulance service trusts but you’ll need a good general education. Some trusts ask for GCSEs or equivalent qualifications. Entry can also be possible for people who can demonstrate skills and knowledge gained through relevant work experience.

You will need a full manual driving licence. If you passed your driving test after 1996, you might need to take an extra driving qualification for larger passenger-carrying vehicles. Some services support people who need extra driving training; please check this with your local ambulance service trust.

A level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship in the role of ambulance support worker (emergency, urgent and non-urgent) is a great place to start.

Training is through a six- to nine-week course. You will learn moving and handling techniques, first aid, basic patient skills and safe driving techniques. There are assessments and written exams. You will then be attached to an ambulance station, working under the supervision of a trained supervisor for a probationary period, before being allowed to work unsupervised.

After more training, experience and entrance exams, it might be possible to apply for a student paramedic position.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

If you wish to enter this career through an advanced apprenticeship, you will need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these alongside your programme.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Entry can be possible for people who don’t have qualifications but who can demonstrate relevant knowledge and skills gained through work experience.

Related careers

Ambulance care assistant
Ambulance paramedic
Coastguard watch officer
Firefighter