Retrieval Care Assistant

Bristol Ambulance (Part of EMED Group) have a fantastic opportunity for dedicated Retrieval Care Assistant to join our team based in Aztec West, Bristol.

We are seeking a qualified drivers to join our Retrieval Team. The Retrieval team operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and travel across the South West and Wales regions with Adult, Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care teams to stabilise and transport adult, children and babies to specialist care units. The role entails long drives as an emergency response and assisting the intensive care teams on access and egress from hospital intensive care units

You must have a positive can do attitude and conscientious about ensuring vehicles and equipment are maintained and thoroughly checked. This role would suit an experience Eca looking to obtain experience in an intensive care setting.

This role follows a unique 4 on, 4 off shift pattern (12 hour shifts, days & nights).

To be eligible, you must hold a C1 driving licence and blue light qualification for a minimum of 2 years.

What benefits can you expect?

• Additional overtime available
• Life Assurance – providing colleagues and their family financial peace of mind and protection to the value of £5,000.
• Company sick pay covering full salary for 20 days after 2 years’ service.
• 24/7 online/telephone GP Consultation and access to prescriptions.
• 2nd opinion medical support following diagnosis or where a colleague is on a treatment pathway.
• Hospital cash plan benefits with sickness protection scheme.
• Cash-plan benefits, providing colleagues the option of protecting themselves in case of illness and recuperation, including dental, optical, chiropody.
• Access to mental health consultations.
• Access to physiotherapy consultations.
• Access to legal advice on domestic issues e.g. motoring offences, wills and probate, and personal injury.
• Financial guidance re retirement planning, tax savings and state benefits.
• Long Service Recognition Scheme – recognising colleagues for their continued service after 5 years and at 5-year intervals with an increase in annual leave.
• Values-based Internal Recognition Scheme with financial reward, which will lead to an annual recognition event.
• Refer a Friend recruitment incentive scheme with financial rewards.
• The EMED foundation, to provide support to colleagues and our local communities.
• Pension Scheme.
• Blue Light Card.
• Uniform provided.
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) to support a range of health and wellbeing requirements.
• Flu vaccination (through an internal campaign in Autumn/Winter).

Role Responsibilities

• Work alongside the SWR lead to keep specialist retrieval teams ready 24 hours a day.
• Prepare and check the ambulance, clinical equipment, retrieval kits, trolley, Baby pod, monitor, ventilator, pumps, and medical gases.
• Drive safely under emergency-response conditions when clinically authorised, applying road-risk and fatigue controls.
• Support patient preparation, safe securing and loading under the direction of the clinical team.
• Assist with CPR, equipment preparation and other tasks within your competence when directed by the Retrieval Lead.
• Provide calm, compassionate support to parents and carers.
• Complete vehicle, equipment, infection prevention, and readiness checks and promptly escalate defects or shortages.
• Maintain accurate electronic records and communicate operational updates EMED control colleagues.
• Participate in simulation, reflective debriefs, incident learning and continuous service improvement.
• Support aeromedical tasking and flight stretcher preparation when required.

To be considered for the role, you will need:

• C1 driving licence (6 points maximum)
• To have held your blue light qualification for a minimum of 2 years. (essential)
• To be able to work a flexible shift pattern which consists of days and nights
• A reliable, safety-focused, and collaborative approach to working within a specialist clinical team.
• Clear, compassionate communication and the resilience to support critically ill Adult & Children and distressed families.
• Physical capability for patient handling, equipment movement, and prolonged emergency response duties.
• To be an effective communicator and experience of communicating with others in what can often be emotional circumstances.
• Ability to work well in a team and independently
• Pass an Enhanced DBS check (company funded)

If you’re calm under pressure, compassionate, and committed to excellence, we’d love to hear from you. Join us and make a real difference in people’s lives. We are committed to providing equal opportunities and we endeavour to provide an inclusive and safe working culture for all.

About Us

EMED Group is an established healthcare logistics provider that enables access to health and social care through our four specialist divisions. We are one of the largest health and care partners to the NHS with 4,000 colleagues across over 60 bases UK-wide.

EMED Group is committed to pro-actively improving the wellbeing of our communities by providing access to vital health and social care services across the UK.