Ambulance call handler roles: how often are night shifts required?

[GoAdFree]

I'm contemplating applying to be an ambulance call handler.

Does anyone know how often one typically has to work night shifts?

It will probably depend on the Trust. I worked at one Trust quite a few years ago, and it was a 5 week rota, with a run of 7 seven nights one week, finishing on a monday morning, then not going back until an early start on friday. But I am certain that will have changed now, and each Trust will probably do it differently.

If its not advertised on the recruitment info, its worth emailing the contact email to ask before applying.

Good luck. It was the best job I ever had and often wish I hadn't moved on.

We used to do 2 days, 3 nights, rest days, then 3 days, 2 nights
something like 25% of your hours had to be anti social pnes

Dc1 is just applying for a job with ambulance service. The rota pattern was with the application pack. There's two sites dc is applying for they both do 5 week rotas but one does a block of 4 nights every 5 weeks (plus a week which could be either days or nights) the other does 2 or 3 nights three times in the 5 weeks.

Ds does this and absolutely loves it. He works his shifts around his uni work and they are pretty flexible.

@Springbuck and @DeltaAlphaDelta79 I'm curious to know what you (and your son in Springbuck's case) enjoy so much about it?

I'm 46, married with an 11 year old. I've only ever had corporate jobs (including as a corporate lawyer) but I'm in the process of being made redundant from my current role where I've been for 13 years. I'm conscious that it's the worst time to be job seeking now, so I need something where they're probably going to be hiring. I am very tempted by this as a job.

@GoAdFree I worked there 20 odd years ago, and wish I stayed. I have been looking to go back, but it's too much of a salary drop now unfortunately.

I still have calls that I remember vividly;

Giving a 12 year old girl CPR advice over the phone when her dad had electrocuted himself on a washing machine, the early CPR definitely helped save his life,

Delivering two babies over the phone, one of which was named after me,

Taking calls from people at serious, headline news incidents and being able to offer advice and often just support until people arrived on scene.

Yes, there was a lot of crap, time wasters and verbal abuse, but I dont remember the details of any of those.

Ds likes the variety. I know it can be stressful, taking calls where anyone (but particularly young people) dies is really tough for him. But they are looked after and their mental health is a priority.
But he feels so proud when he can talk a panicked family member through CPR to save a loved one which he has done quite a few times now. He messaged me last week to say he’d had a call from a woman who was giving birth and was able to talk to her and keep her calm until the ambulance arrived only minutes before she gave birth.
They get a huge amount of mental health calls which frustrates him because it’s always incredibly difficult to get the patient the right help.
He trained as a coach which he really enjoys.
I think it takes a certain type of person to do the job (turnover is high) it obviously has challenges but he really enjoys it.

Is there much training involved? Also in a similar position to OP.