Anyone worked as an Emergency Care Support Worker (Ambulance service)?

[sim667]

It'd probably be worth having mandatory refresher training really. I have to do mandatory refresher training for things like safeguarding due to changes to the law etc.

For driving?

Yeah I think so, even a day course every 5 years or so would do it. Im not the best of drivers, also not the worst, but the last two days really made me aware of how complacent I'd become and also makes you realise just how shit some drivers are.

Mind you, I'll be doing roadcraft and blue light training at the end of November and beginning of December, so that could be another rude awakening.

 

[BigTom]

It'd probably be worth having mandatory refresher training really. I have to do mandatory refresher training for things like safeguarding due to changes to the law etc.

Lorry and bus drivers have a form of mandatory refresher training in the form of Periodic CPC training, which I assume sim will need to do in time. It's 5 days of training in a rolling 5 year period, some of it is only indirectly driving related, things like tachograph and driver hours training whilst other are directly driving related like the cycle and pedestrian safety awareness course. Most courses are either a half day or full day with the idea that people will do one day a year, but the reality is that a lot did nothing until the first 5 years was up and then did a week of courses. I think the rule was introduced 6 or 7 years ago.

 

[kalidarkone]

Driving test: Nailed it.

Starting on the 28th

Yeah knew you would! Well done

 

[Rebelda]

Any NHS types got suggestions about useful things I should think about getting? A fob watch for example? I doubt I'll be allowed to wear a watch... IIRC there's a nothing below the elbows policy for most ambulance workers, including sleeves.

I was thinking about making sure my glasses perscription is up to date and possibly getting photochromatic glasses if I'm driving for work.

Nothing below the elbow is correct. I love my fob watch - was told to get a cheap one cos they get washed by accident, but I haven't done that yet still going strong. You'll only really need the second hand anyway. Glasses prescription is a good idea but I'd avoid the photo ones cos you'll be going from daylight into gloomy houses and you won't want them dimming inside. A pair of prescription sunglasses maybe but probably not necessary until next year now. I think boots are part of the uniform. Flask is a must. Bunch of cheap pens - you'll have to write in black. I use the multi coloured ones for writing on my handover but you might only need black. I love my retractable ID fob cos I hate having a lanyard round my neck. Pretty sure they'll give you alcohol gel.

Driving test: Nailed it.

Starting on the 28th

YES!!! I'm so excited for you

 

[Rebelda]

You're not in the south are you?

No but heart attacks sometimes get brought to London for reasons.

 

[sim667]

Nothing below the elbow is correct. I love my fob watch - was told to get a cheap one cos they get washed by accident, but I haven't done that yet still going strong. You'll only really need the second hand anyway. Glasses prescription is a good idea but I'd avoid the photo ones cos you'll be going from daylight into gloomy houses and you won't want them dimming inside. A pair of prescription sunglasses maybe but probably not necessary until next year now. I think boots are part of the uniform. Flask is a must. Bunch of cheap pens - you'll have to write in black. I use the multi coloured ones for writing on my handover but you might only need black. I love my retractable ID fob cos I hate having a lanyard round my neck. Pretty sure they'll give you alcohol gel.


YES!!! I'm so excited for you

It’s not actually that safe to have a lanyard with I’d round your neck whilst driving apparently so retractable thingy is a good shout.

My ex housemate left a super expensive flask here when he left and it’s huge.

Are you in a union? It looks like a choice between GMB and Unison for me....

 

[sim667]

Lorry and bus drivers have a form of mandatory refresher training in the form of Periodic CPC training, which I assume sim will need to do in time. It's 5 days of training in a rolling 5 year period, some of it is only indirectly driving related, things like tachograph and driver hours training whilst other are directly driving related like the cycle and pedestrian safety awareness course. Most courses are either a half day or full day with the idea that people will do one day a year, but the reality is that a lot did nothing until the first 5 years was up and then did a week of courses. I think the rule was introduced 6 or 7 years ago.

Ambulance service is CPC exempt. But I’m thinking about doing it so I can do some 7.5t driving on the side for some extra pocket money.

 

[Lord Camomile]

My friend is currently on the course* and fucking loving it. Best of luck!



*or possibly a different course, still not 100% on the roles and who's doing what, but you're both gonna be driving around in ambulances getting covered in other peoples' goo.

 

[Rebelda]

It’s not actually that safe to have a lanyard with I’d round your neck whilst driving apparently so retractable thingy is a good shout.

My ex housemate left a super expensive flask here when he left and it’s huge.

Are you in a union? It looks like a choice between GMB and Unison for me....

Ah I hadn't thought of that. Plus they dangle which is no good when you're leaning over someone. You can get fun ones - mine's a hot air balloon.

RCN or unison for me. Currently rcn cos their student resources are good but then will decide based on what's best at my workplace. You do need to join one, cos if you do bank shifts you're not covered by NHS indemnity insurance but you get it via membership.

 

[sim667]

Ah I hadn't thought of that. Plus they dangle which is no good when you're leaning over someone. You can get fun ones - mine's a hot air balloon.

RCN or unison for me. Currently rcn cos their student resources are good but then will decide based on what's best at my workplace. You do need to join one, cos if you do bank shifts you're not covered by NHS indemnity insurance but you get it via membership.

Ah interesting..... they didn't tell us that.

It looks like we have a choice between GMB and Unison.

 

[Rebelda]

Hmm may apply differently of course, I don't know.

 

[kalidarkone]

Ah interesting..... they didn't tell us that.

It looks like we have a choice between GMB and Unison.

I'm in GMB. I noted that they were the only union that publicly disagreed with the crap and misleading 'pay rise' a few years ago. Later Unison admitted they had made a mistake in supporting it.

 

[sim667]

First week training down, and gotta say, I'm knackered but really liking it. We're actually being put through a level 3 diploma in 6 weeks and its the most engaged in educational stuff I've been in a long time, this will basically be our clinical training and then we've got the 4 weeks driving training. It also sounds like I'm the last round of recruitment for ECSW in this area for quite some time as they're going to start looking to upskill all ECSW's into AAP's quickly from here on in, so very glad I applied when I did.

Got my uniform today too

 

[Mation]

First week training down, and gotta say, I'm knackered but really liking it. We're actually being put through a level 3 diploma in 6 weeks and its the most engaged in educational stuff I've been in a long time, this will basically be our clinical training and then we've got the 4 weeks driving training. It also sounds like I'm the last round of recruitment for ECSW in this area for quite some time as they're going to start looking to upskill all ECSW's into AAP's quickly from here on in, so very glad I applied when I did.

Got my uniform today too

Well done, sim667 - this is brilliant!

Finding a job you love is amazing. Gives you superpowers to help you manage the rubbish times.

I know you said upthread that you're not the best at studying, but I think that often people haven't been shown how to do it or haven't had a chance to do it with something they're genuinely engaged with, so it's great to hear that you're feeling good about it.

Is there any chance for you to have a study mentor? I've got one for my current teacher training and it's a huge help. She gives me advice on how to approach tasks and feedback on my ideas. And instead of me just trying to sort through a gazillion YouTube videos related to what I'm doing, she unerringly points me towards stuff that's relevant and useful. Watching the right videos then makes my reading more focused and manageable.

Best of luck, anyway. You're going to smash it!

 

[Rebelda]

First week training down, and gotta say, I'm knackered but really liking it. We're actually being put through a level 3 diploma in 6 weeks and its the most engaged in educational stuff I've been in a long time, this will basically be our clinical training and then we've got the 4 weeks driving training. It also sounds like I'm the last round of recruitment for ECSW in this area for quite some time as they're going to start looking to upskill all ECSW's into AAP's quickly from here on in, so very glad I applied when I did.

Got my uniform today too

Aww YEAH this is so brilliant! studying feels so different when there's an immediate and tangible point to it doesn't it?

Facebook tells me I got my uniform 2 years ago today. Have you tried it on? Awesomely real isn't it

 

[Lord Camomile]

Got a very excited message/photo from my friend the day she got her uniform

Like you, she's been loving every minute of it

 

[sim667]

Well done, sim667 - this is brilliant!

Finding a job you love is amazing. Gives you superpowers to help you manage the rubbish times.

I know you said upthread that you're not the best at studying, but I think that often people haven't been shown how to do it or haven't had a chance to do it with something they're genuinely engaged with, so it's great to hear that you're feeling good about it.

Is there any chance for you to have a study mentor? I've got one for my current teacher training and it's a huge help. She gives me advice on how to approach tasks and feedback on my ideas. And instead of me just trying to sort through a gazillion YouTube videos related to what I'm doing, she unerringly points me towards stuff that's relevant and useful. Watching the right videos then makes my reading more focused and manageable.

Best of luck, anyway. You're going to smash it!

Study is ok for me when it’s varied and interesting and actually they’re doing it really well. I’ve got my first exams on Monday and Tuesday so planning to see how I get on (I have resits if I don’t pass) and then they’ll offer us support from there.

But yeah, honestly, if they had teaching this good when I did GCSE biology I’d have seriously considered it as a career then.

 

[sim667]

Got a very excited message/photo from my friend the day she got her uniform

Like you, she's been loving every minute of it

Aww YEAH this is so brilliant! studying feels so different when there's an immediate and tangible point to it doesn't it?

Facebook tells me I got my uniform 2 years ago today. Have you tried it on? Awesomely real isn't it

we had to start wearing uniform from the moment I got it. I’m very impressed with the soft shell jackets, they’re very comfy.

I’d post a pic but I don’t think it’s a good shout just in case a colleague ever stumbles across and links to online persona to the face, and maybe some of the stuff I’ve posted about in the past (serious partying for example)

 

[sim667]

Passed my 4 exams over the last two days, but they did complain about my hand writing messiness. I’m not really sure what they expected when they’re not allowing someone who’s both dyslexic and dyspraxic to use a computer and force them to hand write everything.

 

[hash tag]

Really pleased for you sim667.
At work (different job), we challenged ourselves to get the car mpg as low as possible. The ambulance crew equivalent was two guys I met who were cherishing their Biro. The challenge was for it to run dry before they could lose it.
very very best to you

 

[kalidarkone]

Passed my 4 exams over the last two days, but they did complain about my hand writing messiness. I’m not really sure what they expected when they’re not allowing someone who’s both dyslexic and dyspraxic to use a computer and force them to hand write everything.

If your writing is that bad then write in print on order that vital information is not missed.

Honestly one of the most infuriating things is not being able to read documentation or hand over notes because the writing is so bad.

 

[wiskey]

I always write in capitals now, the LAS was on paper still when I joined the service. It doesn't matter why your handwriting is messy really, as Kali said important information has to be understandable.

Well done on making it happen though sim667 I'm dead impressed and think you'll be ace at it

It’s not actually that safe to have a lanyard with I’d round your neck whilst driving apparently so retractable thingy is a good shout.

Our jackets had a pocket for ID like bouncers put their SIA card into.

You should never drive with keys on a lanyard around your neck, nasty injuries have been caused by airbags projecting them high speed into people in crashes.

 

[scifisam]

If your writing is that bad then write in print on order that vital information is not missed.

Honestly one of the most infuriating things is not being able to read documentation or hand over notes because the writing is so bad.

Yeah. If handwriting is a part of the job then there are ways around it but you do need to help people understand what you've written. My handwriting (in a different field) is atrocious so for things other people need to be able to read, I write in print. You get more accustomed to it over time, too, if you've spent years not having to handwrite anything more than a reminder on a post-it.

 

[Ming]

If your writing is that bad then write in print on order that vital information is not missed.

Honestly one of the most infuriating things is not being able to read documentation or hand over notes because the writing is so bad.

Totally. My handwriting isn’t aesthetically pleasing but it’s readable. When you have to try to understand a word from the context of the readable words around it, it’s really annoying. I’ve had to call people on the phone to find out what they meant.

 

[WouldBe]

, but they did complain about my hand writing messiness.

You'll have to write neater or they may mistake you for a doctor.

Congrats and good luck with the job.

 

[Rebelda]

Passed my 4 exams over the last two days, but they did complain about my hand writing messiness. I’m not really sure what they expected when they’re not allowing someone who’s both dyslexic and dyspraxic to use a computer and force them to hand write everything.

Well done! Did they offer you extra time at least?

Having to hand write is unavoidable but will you have a tablet for most of it on the job? One thing I'd say is make sure your numbers are legible. Written word is fairly easy to decipher with context etc. (but yeah write in caps) but not being able to read someone's numerals is infuriating...and actually really dangerous when you're handing over vital signs and doses given. I've worked with so many nurses that write the bloody weirdest numbers. It's quite scary when you don't know.

 

[scifisam]

Well done! Did they offer you extra time at least?

Having to hand write is unavoidable but will you have a tablet for most of it on the job? One thing I'd say is make sure your numbers are legible. Written word is fairly easy to decipher with context etc. (but yeah write in caps) but not being able to read someone's numerals is infuriating...and actually really dangerous when you're handing over vital signs and doses given. I've worked with so many nurses that write the bloody weirdest numbers. It's quite scary when you don't know.

You'd think there'd be a protocol for how to write numbers within the health service. Like do you cross the seven, do you put a line under a 1, what kind of four do you use. You all learn much harder things than that so it's not like it'd be difficult.

 

[sim667]

If your writing is that bad then write in print on order that vital information is not missed.

Honestly one of the most infuriating things is not being able to read documentation or hand over notes because the writing is so bad.

Its not my writing is illegible, its that I get letters muddled up under stress (which becomes problematic in exams and note taking at speed when they're rattling through slides at a rate of knots), and instead of correcting it over the top, I cross the word out and start again, which I thought would be better..... but apparently its too many crossings out. On the road our CPR's are on iPad anyway and actually when I'm writing shorthand and not being told to hurry up its OK.

 

[sim667]

Well done! Did they offer you extra time at least?

They said I could apply for it, but in all honesty the 90 min exam took thirty mins, and I did it twice through to make sure I'd done everything right. I got 98%, so next time I need to slow down, write it out rough on spare paper and write it in neat.

 

[Rebelda]

They said I could apply for it, but in all honesty the 90 min exam took thirty mins, and I did it twice through to make sure I'd done everything right. I got 98%, so next time I need to slow down, write it out rough on spare paper and write it in neat.

big up yourself.