HEMS Critical Care Paramedic

Part of The Air Ambulance Service. Registered Company No. 4845905. Registered Charity No. 1098874

saving time saving lives

I am frequently being asked: “What is special about The Air Ambulance Service? How does it feel to be a part of it? What difference would it make to me?” Well, I don’t think my own view would be sufficient so I asked my colleagues across the charity and this is what they said:

“As a small charity, we stand for something big and care about an awful lot. It’s not only about the state of the art helicopter and the amazing medical crew who rapidly come to help people in the most difficult time of their life. It is also about us supporting each other, us touching the lives of thousands of people and making sure they know the service is there if they ever need it.”

“It’s an exciting place. Challenging, but exciting. We work very hard and feel if we can do more, we should. I feel privileged to be part of this team; there are quite a few experiences I would not get anywhere else.”

“I’ve learnt a lot in my time here as a person and as a professional. Sometimes

it was daunting, sometimes funny. I found the strengths I did not think I had and close friends to take through life. I also know more about my job and was able to experiment, make mistakes, and achieve some amazing results”

To summarise, we don’t take it easy. We aim high, stretch to achieve and take change as constant. But we also have fun, see each other as Karen, Adam or Julie and try to make every day special.

We are a very driven and dynamic of people, and we have a common goal - we want to help save lives. To find out more about this opportunity and our charity, please look inside.

Working For Our Charity

Andy Williamson Chief Executive

Our charity began in 2003, with the foundation of Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA), providing helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) to the local community. In 2008 we launched Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA), expanding our services in these counties. At the end of 2011 the Children’s Air Ambulance, a dedicated national children’s critical care transfer service, came on board and at the same time The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) united all three services as one organisation. We are currently expanding our fundraising team for the Children’s Air Ambulance.

It is all about breaking boundaries, opening doors and achieving aspirational goals. Since our launch we’ve provided what we believe is the best air ambulance service in the country with our two HEMS Services, WNAA & DLRAA. Always striving for excellence, our air ambulance was not only one of the first to carry senior pre-hospital doctors on board but also the first to be registered with the Care Quality Commission. Our expertise, drive and commitment to making a difference to people’s lives led to ground-breaking success as we launched the Children’s Air

Ambulance, a service which had never existed before in this country. Our work is now recognised nationally and we are helping to provide advanced lifesaving emergency transfers to most vulnerable, little patients across the country.

Our charity has been acknowledged for its broad fundraising portfolio, including our award winning trading company, which has developed a remarkable chain of charity boutiques plus our ever growing recycling schemes, in record time. Bold initiatives to raising funds and developing new business ideas have enabled us to keep ahead of the increasing costs of the services we deliver and, more importantly, to ensure the future of The Air Ambulance Service.

With no government funding, we provide an outstanding service entirely through the generous donations from the public. Apart from professionals, we are made up of an army of fantastic volunteers, supporters, ambassadors and patrons. Governed by a board of trustees, who are volunteers and come from a wide variety of industries, we are driven by our purpose to save lives and make a positive impact on society.

Who We Are

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Our Vision:We want children to grow into adults, adults to live longer and bereavement through trauma to become rare.

Our Mission:Our rapid response services work tirelessly to save lives and alleviate sickness, wherever and whenever needed.

Our Values:Compassion – We succeed because we care. We care about our patients, our supporters, our partners and our colleagues. We act in dignity, humility and respect.

We are: Helpful. Giving. Supportive. Passionate.

Courage – We succeed because we dare. We are bold and pioneering. We are brave enough to ask questions of ourselves and other and take actions.

We are: Bold. Pioneering. Determined. Innovative. Resilient. Challenging. Learning.

Creativity – We succeed because we innovate. We recognise that new ideas, big and small are essential for our future.

We are: Curious. Flexible. Inventive. Resourceful. Imaginative. Experimenting.

RoleReporting to the Airbase Manager, this full time position (40 hours per week) is based at an Air Ambulance facility at either Coventry or East Midlands Airport. The role attracts a starting salary of £35K (Trainee HEMS) rising to £45K upon achieving HEMS Critical Care Paramedic status. The role also attracts a comprehensive range of benefits (details provided on request).

PurposeDelivery of an exceptional quality clinical service with undivided focus on patient care in a pre-hospital environment by air or land.

RelationshipsWorking in a multidisciplinary team that involves doctors, pilots and fundraising staff. Effective engagement with external stakeholders, including Ambulance Service Trusts, Hospitals, Airports, and myriad of supporters. Participation in high-profile engagements.

ScopeClinical Care

• Provideindustryleadingpatientcareinline with JRCALC and organisational SOPs;

• UndertakeeffectiveCrewResourceManagement in order to minimise human error;

• EnsuresafeandcomplianthandlingofPOMs and controlled drugs;

• ActivelyparticipateinMortalityandMorbidity meetings;

• ImplementfindingsofClinicalGovernance Group and contribute to its decision making;

• Ensureaccuratepatienttreatmentdatais generated and analysed;

• Undertakeauditandresearch,andimplement improvements;

• Completeincidentreportformswhereareas of improvement are identified.

Aviation

• ActasHEMScrewmemberonmissionsas defined in aviation rules;

• Maintainavalidlinecheck;

• Undertakeallmandatoryaviationtraining e.g. Fire, CRM, Medical, Dangerous Goods

• Undertakeeffectivenavigationondeployment;

• Ensureacleanandfunctionalaircraftinterior/exterior.

job description HEMS Critical Care Paramedic

Maintenance

• Ensureacleanworkingenvironmentonbase and on missions in line with IP&C requirement of the CQC;

• Undertakeregularstockchecksofdrugsand consumables and generate orders as required;

• Performdailyequipmentchecks;

• Maintainallequipmentinastateofreadiness.

Professional Standards

• MaintainunconditionalfullHCPCregistration and an up to date personal professional portfolio;

• Ensurethatinteractionwithotheremergency services and public is always in a polite and professional manner;

• Keepup-to-datewithcurrenttrendsinpre-hospital care and make evidence based recommendations to the Clinical Governance Group;

• Activelypursueprofessionaldevelopment through self-directed learning;

• Seekopportunitiestodevelopspecialism and expertise within scope of practice;

• MaintainnecessaryfitnesslevelsforHEMS work.

PR/Media & Fundraising

• ParticipateinPR/Mediaactivitiesasrequested;

• Responsiblyrepresenttheorganisationat all times.

PersonEssential

• Oncequalified,maintainHEMSCrewmember qualification with a valid operator’s line check on a HEMS aircraft;

• StateRegisteredParamedicQualification;

• ExcellentworkingknowledgeofJRCALC;

• HCPCregistrationwithnorestrictionsonpractice or pending investigations;

• HoldavalidfullUK/EUDrivingLicense

• StrongworkingknowledgeofMSOffice;

• Evidenceofon-goingpersonalContinuous Professional Development;

• Strongdesiretogrowprofessionally;

• Effectivecommunicationskills;

• Personalresilienceandemotionalintelligence;

• Maintaintherequiredphysicalfitnesslevels for the HEMS role;

• Genuinepassionandinterestintheworkof The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS);

• Flexibilityandadaptabilitytothechanging needs of the organisation.

Desirable

• Post-graduateDegreeorrelevantcourses;

• PreviousHEMSexperience;

• Experienceofundertakingaudit,governance and research in pre-hospital care;

• Experienceofteaching/mentoring.

The Environment:TAAS is an inclusive working environment where Equality, Diversity and Human Rights are guiding principles, individuals are respected and a value of having a diverse workforce is recognised. The recruitment, employment and development of people are based on qualifications, experience and competency to do the job, eliminating personal bias or prejudice.

job description