About this role
Job summary
Kindly note: You MUST be within 30 minutes of our Barnsley base in S72 8RP to apply for this role.
SSGL Medical is looking for professional, resilient and caring individuals to join our secure mental health transport team as Mental Health Ambulance Care Assistants.
This is a specialist patient transport role supporting the safe movement of people experiencing mental ill health, including patients detained under the Mental Health Act. You will work as part of a trained crew, transporting patients between hospitals, mental health units, places of safety, secure services, private addresses, prisons and other healthcare settings.
This role may suit applicants from care, mental health support, ambulance care, patient transport, prison custody, policing, security, support work or other roles involving vulnerable people, challenging behaviour, safeguarding or professional boundaries.
The role is care-led, not enforcement-led. You will need to be calm, professional, respectful and able to communicate effectively with people who may be distressed, frightened, confused, verbally challenging or reluctant to travel.
Minimum guaranteed earnings: £24,360 per year Equivalent to £13.50 per hour, with a guaranteed minimum monthly pay of £2,030
If you are interested in this role, please review the DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION as a PDF on this listing, or on our website, for a comprehensive understanding of it.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of the role include supporting the safe, dignified and professional transport of mental health patients, including individuals detained under the Mental Health Act.
You will work as part of a secure ambulance crew, assisting with patient collection, handover, journey support, vehicle preparation, documentation and safe arrival at the destination. You will be expected to communicate calmly and professionally with patients, relatives, NHS staff, police, prison staff, ward teams and other professionals.
You may be involved in journeys where patients present with distress, paranoia, confusion, verbal aggression, risk of absconding, self-neglect, vulnerability or challenging behaviour. Full training will be provided, including mental health awareness, safeguarding, professional boundaries, de-escalation, restrictive practice, patient handling and relevant operational procedures.
The role requires emotional resilience, good judgement, confidentiality, reliability and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
If you are interested in this role, please review the DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION as a PDF on this listing, or on our website, for a comprehensive understanding of it.
About us
SSGL Medical is a CQC-registered ambulance service specialising in mental health and secure patient transport.
We work with NHS services, mental health hospitals, local authorities, independent hospitals and other healthcare providers to support the safe transport of patients who may require additional support, observation, reassurance or secure transport arrangements.
Our work is focused on dignity, safety, professionalism and respect. We recognise that many of the people we transport are experiencing some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and our crews play an important role in ensuring each journey is handled calmly, safely and compassionately.
We are a growing service with a strong focus on staff training, safeguarding, professional standards and high-quality patient care.
If you are interested in this role, please review the DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION as a PDF on this listing, or on our website, for a comprehensive understanding of it.
Job description Job responsibilities
Role summary
The Mental Health Ambulance Care Assistant role is a specialist secure patient transport position supporting people with mental health needs during planned and urgent journeys.
You will be part of a trained crew responsible for transporting patients safely, respectfully and professionally between healthcare settings and other locations. This may include mental health hospitals, acute hospitals, places of safety, private addresses, police custody suites, prisons, secure services and community settings.
Patients may be informal or detained under the Mental Health Act. Some patients may present with distress, confusion, paranoia, agitation, verbal aggression, risk of absconding, vulnerability, self-neglect or other complex needs.
The role requires a calm and professional approach, excellent communication skills, strong personal boundaries and the ability to work safely as part of a team.
Main responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for:
Supporting the safe and dignified transport of mental health patients.
Working as part of a trained secure ambulance crew.
Assisting patients before, during and after transport.
Communicating professionally with patients, relatives, carers and professionals.
Supporting patients who may be distressed, confused, reluctant to travel or verbally challenging.
Maintaining professional boundaries at all times.
Following company policies, procedures and risk assessments.
Supporting safe handovers with hospitals, wards, places of safety, custody suites and other services.
Completing accurate documentation and journey records.
Maintaining patient confidentiality.
Carrying out vehicle and equipment checks as required.
Supporting safe use of equipment, including wheelchairs, stretchers and other transport equipment where required.
Participating in training, supervision and ongoing development.
Working in line with safeguarding, dignity, respect and least restrictive practice principles.
Working environment
This role involves working in a secure mental health transport setting. Journeys may vary in length, complexity and risk. Some journeys may be local, while others may involve long-distance transport.
You may work with patients who are distressed, unsettled, vulnerable or presenting with challenging behaviour. You must be able to remain calm, follow training and work professionally as part of a crew.
The role may involve lone preparation tasks, but patient-facing work will usually be carried out as part of a crew.
Training
Full training will be provided. This may include:
Mental health awareness.
Safeguarding adults and children.
Professional boundaries.
De-escalation and communication.
Restrictive practice awareness.
Physical intervention and safe holding, where required for the role.
Patient transport procedures.
Moving and handling.
Basic life support and first aid.
Infection prevention and control.
Record keeping and incident reporting.
Vehicle and equipment procedures.
Who the role may suit
This role may suit applicants with experience in:
Mental health support work.
Care work.
Ambulance care assistant roles.
Patient transport.
Prison custody.
Police or public safety roles.
Security roles involving vulnerable people.
Support work.
Challenging behaviour support.
Healthcare or social care settings.
Previous mental health transport experience is helpful but not essential. The right attitude, professionalism and ability to work safely with vulnerable people are essential.
If you are interested in this role, please review the DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION as a PDF on this listing, or on our website, for a comprehensive understanding of it.
Person Specification
Person Specification Essential
MUST live within 30 minutes from our base, located at S72 8RP MUST have a UK Manual Driving Licence, held for at least 12 months, and no more than 6 points MUST be looking to commit to a permanent position, and for a minimum of 6 months Confident and comfortable with driving a variety of standard B licence vehicles across the UK, including PTS ambulances Aware and comfortable that the role is on-call and will involve being out overnight about 50% of your career
Desirable
If you are interested in this role, please review the DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION as a PDF on this listing, or on our website, for a comprehensive understanding of it.
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.
Employer details Employer name Secure Solutions Group
Address Secure Solutions Group Ltd
Snydale Road
Cudworth
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S72 8RP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.SSGL.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)