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Job summary

Main area
Voluntary
Grade
Voluntary
Contract
Voluntary
Hours
  • Home or remote working
  • Other
4 hours per week (Volunteer 20 hours per month)
Job ref
278-CFRSussex-0425-AS
Employer
South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Sussex
Town
Sussex
Closing
11/05/2025 23:59
Interview date
31/05/2025

Employer heading

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust logo

Community First Responder- Sussex

Voluntary

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) has a vision to ‘support our staff to provide a caring, high quality and efficient urgent and emergency care service to our communities’. We are rated ‘Good’ for care by the Care Quality Commission and while the other areas under their most recent report require improvement, our aim is to continually improve and to reach outstanding across all areas of the Trust.

Our 4,000+ workforce provide services to 4.9m people across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and North East Hampshire. We handle over 1 million calls to 999 and 1 million calls to NHS 111 every year. More information regarding our services and locations can be found on our website.

Job overview

Community First Responder (CFR) Sussex Voluntary

Do you want to make a difference in your community, learn new skills, and be part of a team of volunteers who give up their time to save lives?

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) are offering an exciting opportunity for caring, compassionate members of the community to become a volunteer Community First Responder (CFR).On successful completion of your training, you will receive a Level 3 First Responder on Scene (FROS) qualification accredited by Future Quals, which meets and exceeds all of the requirements of the Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work and can be used where that certificate is required

SECAmb provide services across Surrey, Sussex and Kent to an area covering 3,500 square miles and a population of 4.2 million; we handle over 500,000 emergency calls every year. We aspire to be a patient centred, high performing, efficient and clinically led organisation that provides services to meet the needs of our patients and public, today and tomorrow.

Community First Responders have made a substantial difference to many lives and by joining us as a CFR, you would be part of a voluntary support service for SECAmb, working alongside frontline ambulance crews, often first on scene with some of our most seriously ill patients and those who have suffered a cardiac arrest, responding to often very distressing and challenging situations all within a short distance of where you live.

Main duties of the job

Therefore, you will need to be an effective communicator, a team player and through your caring disposition, demonstrate real sensitivity to the needs of others, helping to deal with and support people during some of the most difficult times in their lives.

You will be providing emergency care and reassurance as required until the arrival of an ambulance. This is a highly rewarding role helping those who are sometimes at their most vulnerable. You will be given the latest up to date comprehensive training to equip you to deal with the emergencies that you respond to and will receive support from SECAmb and your local team.

If successful at interview you will be put in touch with your local CFR team leader who will engage with you prior to the FROS course.

We have introduced a Volunteer to career pathway, so if you wish to join the ambulance service in the future, and you meet the criteria, we will guarantee you an interview to start your paid career with the Trust.

Please include the following details in your supporting information

  1. Why do you want to be a Community First Responder with SECAmb?
  2. What strengths and talents can you personally offer
  3. Do you hold a category B driving licence with no more than 3 points
  4. What is your hometown?
  5. Are you able to commit to a 2-year period of volunteering for the Trust with ideally a minimum of 20 hours monthly

Working for our organisation

First Responder on Scene Training Dates: September 13th 14th 27th 28th

 Location: SECAmb Crawley HQ

 Interviews will take place: Saturday 31th May 2025

              

We are looking for people who:

·       Display kindness and compassion in all that they do

·       Have a good all-round education and level of fitness

·       Want to make a positive difference to their community

·       Can ideally volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per month

·       Can commit to a 2-year minimum term of volunteering

·       Who may wish to take up our Volunteer to Career pathway, so should you wish to join the ambulance service in the future, and you meet the criteria, we will guarantee you an interview to start your paid career with the Trust

Applicants must:

·       Understand and uphold SECAmb’s values (details in the attached document)

·       Be at least 18 years old

·       Have a valid UK full driving license held for at least one year with no more than 3 penalty points

·       Have access to a B class vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for their use when volunteering

·       Be able to attend monthly training activities within your local area and undergo annual clinical competency assessments and online statutory and mandatory training

·       Attend the interview date as detailed above and all 4 training days

·       Commit to a minimum term of volunteering of 2 years

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

What happens after you submit an application?

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend a formal interview. You will be expected to have some knowledge of the role and our Trust.  Successful candidates will then be required to complete an enhanced DBS check, references, and an occupational health screening check. Completion of a series of online learning modules must be completed prior to the 4-day training course.

Please ensure ALL sections within the application form are fully completed. Incomplete application forms will not be shortlisted.

The Trust is committed to equality of opportunity of all staff. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, any disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, The Trust aspires to reflect the diversity of our community in our workforce and guarantees an interview to candidates with disability who meet the essential criteria specified. We particularly encourage applications from black, Asian, ethnic minority, and disabled applicants and those from other under-represented groups.

When completing the application please use your passport name and please ensure you include email addresses and contact numbers for your referees to avoid delay in the recruitment process.

Should you require an application form in an alternative format off line, please contact [email protected] stating the vacancy reference number and we will be happy to provide this.

please include details to cover the last 3 years history.

Due to the high volume of applications at SECAmb, we regret that we will only be able to contact those applicants who are shortlisted for interview. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days of the closing date, then please assume you have not been shortlisted for interview on this particular occasion.

Please be aware that the trust reserves the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applicants are received.

Follow our recruitment on Twitter @SECambRecruit and check out our Facebook page - SECAmb Recruitment

Person specification

assessment method

Essential criteria
  • Hold a driving licence for at least a year. Their driving licence must not have more than 3 points.
  • Full Uk Driving Licence and access to a Class B vehicle
  • The Name of the Town you live in
  • Good Commutations Skills (written and verbal)
  • Compassionate and Caring
  • Ability to work alone and as part of a Team
  • Ability to stay calm and work under pressure in stressful situations
  • Good Level of fitness – be able to undertake CPR
  • Ability to donate a minimum of four hours per week (20hrs per month)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Mindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.The Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Care Quality Commission - Requires improvementStep into healthEmployers Network for Equality & InclusionArmed Forces CovenantCycle to Work

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Archana Shettigar
Job title
Recruitment Advisor
Email address
[email protected]
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