Role Characteristics
- Travel to locations in and around Leeds to provide medical care to people
- Listen to people, or respond to the emergency situation with treatment prior to taking them to hospital
- Use technical equipment in order to resuscitate and stabilise people in your care
- Work closely with other members of emergency services
- Deal with members of the public, inform and negotiate with family members
- Clean, decontaminate and check vehicles and equipment
Skills
- Decision-making
- Empathy
- Resilience
- Team work
- Communication
- Working under pressure
Day in the life
Watch Paul talk about his work as a paramedic.
Routes into this role
Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.
- GCSEs
- Undergraduate degree
- Degree apprenticeship
- BTEC, T-Level or A-Levels
How to become
To become a Paramedic, you will need a degree in Paramedic Science. There are many ways to access university level education and you can explore lots of current opportunities in the section below.
You might:
- Study A Levels, BTECs, or T Levels – useful subjects might include Biology, Health and Social Care, Psychology, Applied Science, Physical Education or Chemistry. Explore some current opportunities below.
- Complete an Access to Higher Education course – a college course designed for adults who want to access higher education but don’t have the traditional requirements like A Levels.
- Complete a Foundation course – a year-long university course designed to prepare you for studying Paramedic Science or a related healthcare profession if you do not have the required qualifications or grades to go straight into a degree.
You will then be ready to study at a university level. This can include:
- Studying an undergraduate degree in Paramedic Science.
- Complete a Degree Apprenticeship – gain experience in the workplace while also studying a qualification in Paramedic Science.
Alongside education, you may also want to build some relevant work or voluntary experience in healthcare, emergency services, community care, patient support roles or voluntary first aid organisations and think about developing your communication, teamwork, decision-making, resilience and ability to remain calm under pressure skills.
To work in this role, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Where can this role lead
From your role as a Paramedic, you could continue providing urgent and emergency care by specialising in areas such as Critical Care, Urgent and Emergency Care, or Mental Health Support.
You could also specialise in diagnosing, treating and supporting patients in other clinical settings as a Nurse, Occupational Therapist, or Physiotherapist.
Your assessment, decision-making and communication skills as a Paramedic would also translate well to sideways moves such as a Care Navigator or a Health Trainer.
Progression might look like becoming an Advanced Paramedic, seeking a leadership role within ambulance or urgent care service.
Location
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Ambulances
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GP Practices
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Hospitals
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Armed Forces
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Prisons
Working hours
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Full Time
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Nights
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Part Time
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Weekdays
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Weekends
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Casual Hours
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Overtime
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Flexible Hours
Opportunities
Leeds City College Public Services courses
- Organisation
- Leeds City College
Access to Higher Education (Science, Medical, and Health)
- Organisation
- Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
Leeds City College Health and Social Care courses
- Organisation
- Leeds City College
Yorkshire Ambulance Service Apprenticeships
- Organisation
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Virtual work experience
- Organisation
- Aspiring Allies
Volunteering in Health and Care
- Organisation
- Volunteering Opportunities