Great healthcare requires great people. That’s why we are doing everything we can to recruit committed, skilled people – and to make sure we support our new and existing employees, so they choose to stay with us.
#WeAreEEAST
We encourage you to ensure that your application relates to the Person Specification (provided as part of the Job Description or as a separate attachment).
Please visit our recruitment support page for advice on completing your application.
Job overview
Volunteer Car Drivers required, do you have spare time and what to make a difference? Are you prepared to rise to the challenge of supporting us and volunteering with EEAST and feel ready to work with us to deliver the high standards that we are committed to provide our patients? If so, please apply now!!
The role of a volunteer car driver with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) requires you to collect patients from their home, ensuring that they have their appointment card with them, any medications they may need, ensure that they have secured their home, have the door key with them, then assist them safely into your vehicle.
The patients will be able-bodied individuals, capable of getting into your vehicle with the minimum of assistance.
You are required to have a valid, full driving licence, with no more than THREE penalty points.
You are required to have your own vehicle, with at least four seats, four doors and seat belts fitted in the front and rear.
The Trust will reimburse you for mileage driven for the purposes of volunteering and this will be paid at rates which are designed to be compliant with HM Revenue and Customs amounts for mileage allowance payments, being in September 2023: 45p per mile up to 10,000 miles and then at 25p per mile above 10,000 miles, with a per patient passenger allowance of 5p per passenger per mile.
Main duties of the job
Safe transfer of patients to and from their home/hospital appointments
You are required to always treat patients, colleagues and all staff with dignity, respect, and courtesy at all times, presenting a professional and caring image.
You need to be a careful driver, who considers the comfort and safety of their passengers at all times.
To maintain high standards of patient safety and care, punctuality, politeness, and courtesy at all times
To be honest, reliable, a safe and conscientious driver, punctual and polite and respect patient and staff confidentiality.
Working for our organisation
We deliver the patient transport services in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, North, and West Essex.
Our vision is underpinned by four goals:
1. Be an exceptional place to work, volunteer and learn.
2. Provide outstanding quality of care and performance.
3. Be excellent collaborators and innovators as system partners.
4. Be an environmentally and financially sustainable organisation.
We will aim to make the Trust a place where all who work and access our services are free from all forms of discrimination and where the diversity of our staff patients, visitors and service-users is recognised as a key driver of our success and is openly valued and celebrated.
The Trust will reimburse you for mileage driven for the purposes of volunteering and this will be paid at rates which are designed to be compliant with HM Revenue and Customs amounts for mileage allowance payments, being in September 2023: 45p per mile up to 10,000 miles and then at 25p per mile above 10,000 miles, with a per patient passenger allowance of 5p per passenger per mile.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a volunteer car driver, you are expected to work with us to deliver and maintain the high contractual standards that EEAST are contracted to deliver.
You are required to maintain good basic levels of personal hygiene and although there is no strict dress-code, clothing must be clean and of a smart-casual style (beach shorts, vests and flip flops are unacceptable).
Your car must be clean and tidy when transporting EEAST patients. At no time is smoking/vaping permitted by yourself or any passenger in the vehicle whilst carrying out EEAST duties
You will be required to assist the ambulance service as part of their commitment to reducing cross-infection (Infection, Prevention and Control Guidelines)
Please read the attached Role Description for full details and responsibilities of the role you are applying for.
Person specification
Driving Licence
Essential criteria
5. Full UK driving licence (max of 3 penalty points)
Knowledge
Essential criteria
6. Knowledge of Geographic areas
Skills
Essential criteria
7. Excellent communication skills
References and Employment History: All references from current and previous employers, will be sought via their Human Resources Department and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and email address of the Human Resources Department and indicate your current/previous line manager and their departmental details.
All appointments will be subject to currently having a clean disciplinary record.
Please be advised that a No Smoking Policy is in operation throughout the Trust.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme - Under the Trust's commitment 'Positive about Disabled People', if you consider yourself as having a disability and you meet the minimum selection criteria for any post, you will get an automatic interview. By minimum selection criteria we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application form which demonstrates the essential requirements as set out in the person specification and advertisement for a post.
We aim to represent and value the diversity of our local communities through our workforce and service provision. We therefore positively encourage applications, regardless of age, race, religion & belief, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marriage & civil partnership, pregnancy & maternity or disability.