Job overview

Exciting volunteering opportunities have arisen within South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust for Community First Responders to join Community First Responder schemes across North and East Devon.

This Includes North Devon, Mid Devon, East Devon, Torridge, Exeter, Lundy Island, Parts of Exmoor, and Northern parts of West Devon.

 A Community First Responder (CFR) scheme is made up of a group of trained volunteers who within the community in which they live or work attend emergency calls on behalf of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust to provide patient care, including basic life support, until the arrival of an emergency ambulance.

This voluntary role is highly rewarding and offers opportunities to meet new people and learn valuable lifesaving skills through the training provided by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

We welcome applicants from throughout North and East Devon, however we are particularly interested in people from the following areas:

Axminster

Beaworthy

Braunton

Chagford

Cheriton Fitzpaine

Chulmleigh

Combe Martin

Crediton

Cullumpton

Culmstock

Hartland

Hatherleigh

High Bickington

Holsworthy

Honiton

Ilfracombe

Lynmouth

Lynton

Moretonhampstead

North Molton

Okehampton

Ottery St Mary

Seaton

Shebbar 

Sidmouth

South Molton

Tedburn St Mary

Torrington

Uffculme

Winkliegh

Witheridge

Woolacombe

Yelland

Main duties of the job

As a volunteer and a member of a Community First Responder Scheme you would provide this community-based service willingly and without pay.

Applicants will have a good all-round education; a full driving license held for at least one year, with no more than 6 current penalty points and have access to a vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for your use.

Following shortlisting, applicants will be invited to attend a formal interview whereby they will be expected to have some knowledge of the role and South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust.

Candidates will be required to attain the Level 3 Award for First Responders on Scene during training in order to complete the recruitment process.

More information is available here: https://www.futurequals.com/qualifications/faq-level-3-award-for-first-responders-on-scene-ambulance-service-community-responder/

When applying for this position, please be aware that you must be able to attend a face to face interview scheduled the week commencing Monday 18th August 2024 and the course in full.

The six-day (three weekends) training course is scheduled to be held in Exeter on the below dates:

20/09/2025

21/09/2025

04/10/2025

05/10/2025

11/10/2025

12/10/2025

You must attend all six dates - If you are unable to make all of the training days please do not apply for this intake.

Working for our organisation

At South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) we have a culture where everyone is valued for being themselves. Our aim is to work together to promote the most inclusive environment possible, which attracts people from the widest range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work that we do together, for the benefit of all of our employees, our patients and the communities we serve. We offer flexible working opportunities, inclusive policies and a range of feedback mechanisms to support individuals and to enable a positive, welcoming environment where our people and their careers can thrive in.

We employ over 5,000 employees mainly clinical, operational and emergency response staff as well as supporting roles. We also employ Doctors and volunteers which include community first responders and fire co-responders.

We take all the steps needed to provide the most compassionate patient care possible whilst also providing an enjoyable and safe place to work. We actively promote a positive set of behaviours as being key to our performance both individually and collectively. Our recruitment, selection and screening processes are designed to uphold these standards and we invite all our candidates to actively share with us through these processes how they will bring these behaviours to life.

To view the Trust's Mission, Vision, Values and Goals click here