Critical Care Transport Assistant
St John Ambulance
From £34.00 per hour
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB21, United Kingdom
Full time
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Respectful managers
About St John Ambulance
St John Ambulance is a charitable organisation. They help teach people first-aid and support the emergency services.
Job description from St John Ambulance
Full time - 42 hours per week. Shift pattern
£28,068 (+ 20% USH and 20% overtime enhancement). Opportunity to earn up to £34K through unsocial and overtime enhancements
Our offer to you
We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive:
- Competitive salary and pension scheme
- 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
- Hybrid, Flexible working
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric Vehicle Scheme
- Health and Wellbeing portal - access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
- Discounts - you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping
About Us
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,200 employees and over 29500 volunteers, united by our goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning. As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, we are proud of our past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future.
St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance response, Falls response and Night Time Economy) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them (e.g. our Volunteers and Community Advocates, NHS Cadets and Young Responders programmes). There is also a buoyant social enterprise network which delivers first aid training and supplies medical consumables to businesses and consumers.
Job Summary
As a Critical Care Transport Assistant, you'll work in a co-located team including nurses, ANPs/ACPs, ODPs, doctors, and consultants to mobilise a critical care team to stabilise and transport patients between hospitals and Critical Care Units. You'll be an integral part of the team, not just safely transporting everyone, but being involved in hands on patient care whilst supporting families too.
Required Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Hold a full UK manual driving licence (with C1 category), a minimum of 1 years driving experience and no more than 3 penalty points
- Hold and maintain an SJA Critical Care Transport Assistant qualification (to be obtain within probationary period if not held already)
- Hold, and maintain, IHCD D1/D2 or a Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving (CERAD) (to be obtained within probationary period if not held already)
- Experience of working with customers, patients, or clients in a positive manner
- Experience of managing conflict and de-escalating situations
About the Role
- Provide safe, stable transport to the clinical team, patient, and relative(s) throughout journeys, paying attention to the impact of the journey on the patient's level of vulnerability.
- Achieve and maintain competence in all relevant skills and knowledge. Be aware of skill fade and knowledge gaps and actively engage in Essential Education & CPD events, maintaining a personal development portfolio. You must complete all mandatory learning, online learning or face-to-face during the probationary period and then annually thereafter.
- Ensure that the vehicle and equipment being used is fit for purpose, used correctly, is clean and report defects to the vehicle, equipment, and any other operational issues as soon as possible.
- Work as an integral part of the Critical Care Transport team, representing SJA in the very best light at all times and supporting the NHS Clinical Team with tasks and procedures to the level you are trained and inducted to.
- Render emergency aid, either as part of the clinical team or alone, or for incidents you encounter whilst in transit and support families of patients by providing accurate information, support, and advice whilst being sensitive to their emotional state.
- Accurately complete all documentation relating to patients, vehicles, and equipment and submit it via the correct channels in a timely manner.
Please see the job description for more detail (this can be viewed on our website or once you click apply)
To find out more about us visit www.sja.org.uk or follow us on our socials
If you are a current St John Ambulance employee, please apply here: Click here
For all other candidates, or St John Ambulance volunteers wishing to apply please apply below
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Please note: St John does not accept speculative CVs and will only review CVs sent in application for an advertised vacancy.
St John Ambulance are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and making sure we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. At St John, everyone is valued and supported to thrive, we have several networks including Multi Culture, Disability and Accessibility, Pride, Family and Carers and Women's groups. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and engender a sense of belonging for all, by creating an environment of mutual respect, where we value unique differences and demonstrate authentic allyship. We believe passionately in equality, diversity and inclusion.
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What employees say
Pay
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Okay
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Only some people are paid a living wage
Do St John Ambulance pay a living wage?
Some people are not paid a living wage.
How we know this
39% of people say they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 18 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Good
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Most people are paid market rates
Do St John Ambulance pay market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
73% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 15 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Okay
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Only some people get paid breaks
Do workers at St John Ambulance get paid breaks?
Sometimes. Only some people get paid breaks.
How we know this
58% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Good
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Most people get sick pay
Do St John Ambulance pay sick pay?
Yes. Most people get proper sick pay.
How we know this
68% of people say they would get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
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Some people do unpaid extra work
Do workers at St John Ambulance do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
43% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 14 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Good
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Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do workers at St John Ambulance worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
70% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do St John Ambulance workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
64% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
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Can be hard to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at St John Ambulance?
Some people find it hard to book holiday.
How we know this
37% of people report it’s hard to book holidays.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Okay
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Shifts can get changed at short notice
Do St John Ambulance managers change shifts at short notice?
Some managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
64% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Okay
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Some people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at St John Ambulance?
Some people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
35% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 17 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Workplace
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do people at St John Ambulance feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
74% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Okay
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Only some people get proper breaks
Do people at St John Ambulance get proper breaks?
Some people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
60% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at St John Ambulance?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
70% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
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Most people enjoy their job
Do people at St John Ambulance enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
71% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at St John Ambulance recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
59% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Okay
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Only some people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at St John Ambulance?
Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
40% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 20 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
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Only some people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at St John Ambulance?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 53% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think St John Ambulance head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
76% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how St John Ambulance is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
63% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 19 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2024 and December 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What St John Ambulance employees say about their job
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Best thing
Meeting pt some of the people i work with
Worst thing
Over runs
Urgent care assistant at St John Ambulance, July 2023
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Best thing
Helping people
Worst thing
Very bad management and pay
Patient transport at St John Ambulance, November 2022
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