Applicant Guidance Document
SWASFT want you!
Why South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust?
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) was the first Ambulance Trust in the country registered as a NHS Foundation Trust (FT) demonstrating the highest levels of service quality, performance and financial management. We deliver high performing emergency and urgent care to the 5.3 million resident population of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, plus an estimated 17.5 million influx of visitors every year. We cover a predominantly rural region, with some main urban areas such as Bristol, Plymouth, Bournemouth, Exeter and Swindon.
We employ a workforce of over 4000, the majority in clinical and operational roles (Paramedics, Emergency Care Assistants, and Emergency Care Practitioners) and around 2800 volunteers – Community First Responders, BASICs doctors and fire co-responders - working from 96 local ambulance stations, 6 air ambulance bases, 3 clinical hubs, 3 training colleges, and large support services functions working at Trust Headquarters in Exeter.
The core operations of SWASFT cover:
- Emergency ambulance 999 response (A&E)
- UCS Out Of Hours GP care – covering Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Somerset
- Patient Transport Service (non-emergency transport) – covering Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire
- NHS 111 call handling for Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset
Our Mission
To respond to patients’ emergency and urgent care needs quickly and safely, to save lives, reduce anxiety, pain and suffering
Our Vision
To be an organisation that is committed to delivering high quality services to patients and continue to develop ways of working to ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place at the right time.
Our Values
Respect and Dignity – we value each person as an individual, respect their aspirations and commitments in life, and seek to understand their priorities, needs, abilities and limits
Commitment to Quality of Care – We earn the trust placed in us by insisting on quality and striving to get basics of quality care – safety, effectiveness, and patient experience – right every time.
Compassion – we ensure that compassion is central to the care we provide and we respond with humanity and kindness to each person’s pain, distress, anxiety or need
Improving Lives – We strive to improve health and well being and people’s experiences on the NHS
Working Together for Patients – We put patients first in everything we do, by reaching out to our staff, patients, carers, families, communities and professionals inside and outside the NHS.
Everyone Counts – We maximize our resources for the benefit of the whole community, and make sure nobody is excluded, discriminated against or left behind.
The Recruitment Process
All our vacancies are advertised via the NHS Jobs website at www.jobs.nhs.uk. Details of vacancies, job descriptions, closing dates, and access to the electronic application form can be found here. You can also access further details about the Trust and vacancies on our recruitment website at http://jobs.swast.nhs.uk.
Application
If you would like to apply for a position with SWASFT, please access the online application form at www.jobs.nhs.uk. If you experience any problems, please contact a member of the HR Services team on 01392 261500, or at .
The application form is split into seven sections:
1. Personal information
The information provided within this section will not be used for shortlisting but will be kept separately for administrative purposes, monitoring and reporting.
2. Monitoring information
The information provided within this section will not be used for shortlisting but used for monitoring purposes only.
3. Qualifications/training
Please ensure that you provide information on the education and professional qualifications you have gained and/or are currently studying, in order of most recent. If you are invited for an interview, you will be asked to produce original certificates as proof of the qualifications held; particularly those that confirm you meet the essential criteria in the job description.
4. Employment history
Please ensure you provide your full employment history in order of current or most recent first. Your employment history may include job placements, work experience, voluntary work and/or training. Please give a brief description of your duties and responsibilities for each role.
5. Supporting Information
The supporting information section of the application form is extremely important. This is your opportunity to sell yourself and to provide evidence to the selection panel that you have the competencies they are looking for. When completing this section, please ensure that you use the person specification, and detail how you meet these criteria.
6. References
It is important that you provide, as a minimum, references covering the last three years of employment (paid or unpaid), and/or training and study. You should include a referee for each of your employers over the last 3 years, either your line manager or a person in a position of responsibility. If you have never been employed, or have been employed by the same company for over 3 years, you should provide a referee who can comment on your work experience, competences, personal qualities and suitability for the post. Please provide full contact details including their title, initials and correct email address. Please note that we cannot accept family members or relatives as referees.
7. Submit
Before submitting your application, ensure that you proofread and fully check each section for errors. Once you are happy with your application, click submit.
What happens next
You will be contacted following your application via either the NHS Jobs messaging service, or via email directly, therefore please ensure the details provided on the application form are up to date and accurate, and that you check your emails regularly.
Shortlisting
Once the advert closes, anonymised applications will be sent to the Recruiting Manager for shortlisting against the job description. The duration of shortlisting depends on the number of applications for the role, but should take no longer than 4 weeks from advert close. You will be contacted with the shortlisting decision, whether your application has been successful or not.
Interview
If your application has been successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted next with the details of the interview stage. You will be contacted via the email address provided on your application form. Please ensure that you read this invitation carefully, as it will detail the date, time and location of your interview. You may also be asked to give a presentation, undertake a computer literacy assessment, or another test of skills relevant to the role. Details of any assessments will be included in the invitation.
You should be prepared to take the originals of your qualifications to interview – you must be able to provide proof that you meet the essential criteria in the job description.
You must also take identification documents with you, to confirm your identity at interview, and for copies to be taken for your personal file. Ideally you should bring two versions of photographic ID (passport, driving licence card etc.) and one confirmation of your address (driving licence counterpart, utility bill etc.)
Job Offer/Feedback
All applicants will be notified of the interview outcome via telephone call from the Recruiting Manager. If you are unsuccessful, you will also receive a confirmation email from the HR Services team.
Successful candidates will receive a conditional offer of employment from the HR Services team. This will detail the formal job offer, confirmation of salary, base station, start date if available, and any pre-employment checks required before the offer can be made substantive (non-conditional). Pre-employment checks required for SWASFT roles are:
- ID checks – you should have provided these at interview stage, to confirm your identity and right to work in the UK
- Qualifications – you should have provided these at interview stage, to confirm that you meet the essential requirements in the job description
- Occupational Health clearance – all roles require a level of non-clinical clearance. Clinical roles also require a vaccinations review and driver medical
- Disclosure and Barring Service clearance - job dependent
- References – we require references to cover the last 3 years of employment or study
Other documents that will be included with your offer letter are:
- Pre-existing leave – where possible, your new manager will try to honour any pre-booked leave commitments you have
- NHS Service Declaration form – this will ensure that any NHS service related entitlements are honoured
- New Starter paperwork (SR1)
The conditional offer pack is large and contains a number of important forms. Please be sure to read through it thoroughly, complete the forms accurately, and return the required documents to the HR Services team, at Trust HQ, Exeter as soon as possible. Speedy return and accurate completion of these documents will ensure everything can be put in place ready for your first day.
The HR Services team are available on 01392 261500 for any queries you have regarding these forms, the recruitment process, and your employment with SWASFT.
Before You Start
In the week prior to your start date with SWASFT, you will receive a phone call from the HR team to check that everything is in place ready for day one, and that you know where you are going and who you are meeting. Where the HR team are unable to answer your last minute questions, they will make contact with your new manager to contact you directly.
Should you have any questions during the recruitment process, you are welcome to contact the HR Services team on 01392 261500, who are able to advise, or signpost to the most appropriate person.