About this role
Job summary
Exciting volunteering opportunities have arisen within South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust for Community First Responders to join Community First Responder schemes across BSW (BANES, Swindon and Wiltshire).
We are particularly interested in hearing from people who live and/or work in and around the following areas:
Malmesbury, Devizes, Ludgershall, Westbury, Warminster, Amesbury, Tisbury, Ramsbury, Paulton and Calne.
Please be aware, if there is not currently a Community First Responder scheme running within a 3 mile radius of your home postcode you may not be short listed. Should you wish to respond from your work place as well as or instead of your home address, please detail this in the additional information section of the application form.
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.
Applicants will have a good all round education; a full driving licence 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.
Main duties of the job
As a volunteer CFR you would provide this community based service willingly and without pay. This 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. When applying for this position, please bear in mind that youmustbe able to attend one of the interview dates and all of the training course dates.
Interviews are scheduled to be held during the week commencing Monday 28th September 2026. The training course location is SWASFT Methuen Park, Chippenham and is held over three weekends as follows:
Saturday 17th October 2026 & Sunday 18th October 2026
Saturday 24th October 2026 & Sunday 25th October 2026
Saturday 7th November 2026 & Sunday 8th November 202
If you are unable to makeall of the training days please do not apply for this intake. The next intake is provisionally planned for Spring 2027, please get in touch if you would like to register your interest for a later course.
About us
We take all the steps needed to deliver the most compassionate patient care possible whilst also providing an enjoyable and safe place to work and volunteer. 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.
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 theLevel 3 Award for First Responders on Scene during training in order to complete the recruitment process.
For further information about this role please see attached the job description and person specification attached.
Please do however re register your interest to be notified of future recruitment campaigns:https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=1Jr8HAsL0ECdxOdKjT0WUjryOBEWEoFGoolRy68IBA1UNU5ZRU9YUDBDUEFWQkdaRkhNUUtDQkg2UCQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl
To make your application stand out it is vital you include what would make you a exceptional Community First Responder and how you meet the person specification for the role.
More information including a video is available on our website:https://www.swast.nhs.uk/volunteer-recruitment
Job description Job responsibilities
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.
For further information about this role please see attached the job description and person specification attached.
Please do however re register your interest to be notified of future recruitment campaigns: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=1Jr8HAsL0ECdxOdKjT0WUjryOBEWEoFGoolRy68IBA1UNU5ZRU9YUDBDUEFWQkdaRkhNUUtDQkg2UCQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl
To make your application stand out it is vital you include what would make you a exceptional Community First Responder and how you meet the person specification for the role.
Please be aware, if there is not currently a Community First Responder scheme running within a close proximity to home postcode you may not be short listed.
More information including a video is available on our website: https://www.swast.nhs.uk/volunteer-recruitment
Person Specification
Education and qualifications Essential
Full driving licence held for at least one year, with no more than 6 current penalty points. Have a vehicle with current tax, MOT and insurance for your use.
Desirable
Current advanced driving qualification. Up to date First Aid Qualification.
Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role) Essential
Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)
Desirable
Previous experience (Paid/ Unpaid relevant to role)
Skills, knowledge, ability Essential
Commitment to volunteering for a minimum of 12 hours a week.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Address Wiltshire
Wiltshire
SN15 5LN
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.swast.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)