Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanised Devices, or Equipment Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanised equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

The Work

Previously called Ambulance Care Personnel, Intermediate Care Operatives (ICO) provide a comprehensive and dedicated Patient Transport/Intermediate Care Service within the National Ambulance Service.

Some of the Clinical/Patient Care Responsibilities of ICOs include:

• Safe transportation of non-emergency patients to hospital and any other location as required.
• Deliver care to patients in an emergency situation while awaiting the arrival of or in support of Paramedics or above up to their level of competence .i.e. Emergency Medical Technician.
• Provide safe and secure transportation of specialist teams including multiple incubator situations using specialised moving and handling equipment.
• Provide the logistical, support and transport needs of retrieval and transport medicine teams.

ICOs are employed in the safe transportation of patients, walking and assisted walking, wheelchair, and stretcher to and from Out Patients Departments, Clinics, Day Hospital, Day Centres and any other locations as required.  
 
Persons employed in the Patient Transport Service operate minibus type vehicles but may be required to work as a second person on non-emergency two-person vehicles or to operate Multi-purpose Vehicles which will include wheelchair and stretcher access. They may also need to administer intervention injections and other drug treatments.  
 
ICOs also check vehicles and equipment daily on taking up duty. They have to keep up-to-date records of their journeys, and of their patients. They stay in touch with Ambulance Control Centres by radio all day, so that the control centres know where they are and can give them instructions.  
 
ICO personnel drive the vehicle, help the patients into and out of the vehicle, and make them comfortable and secure. Some patients need to be lifted from wheelchairs. Ambulance Care Assistants may have to enter people's homes to collect patients. They can be faced with distressing situations and work can be physically demanding and can also be emotional.  
 
Note: This job may not exist in some Energency Service Areas. Those interested in this work should check with the HSE.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Remove and replace soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions.
• Drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.
• Report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials.
• Place patients on stretchers and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants.
• Accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls.
• Replace supplies and disposable items on ambulances.
• Perform minor maintenance on emergency medical services vehicles, such as ambulances.
• Clean and wash rigs, ambulances, or equipment.
• Earn and maintain appropriate certifications.
• Administer first aid, such as bandaging, splinting, or administering oxygen.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Eligibility Criteria for the Grade:  

• Current registration on the Emergency Medical Technician Register held by the Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC)
• Possess the National Qualification in Emergency Medical Technology and the PHECC EMT Practitioner’s Licence
• Hold of a current, Full Class C1 Driving Licence – (Note Irish 78 Restriction is not acceptable)
• Possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability, for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

See: National Ambulance Service Recruitment Information

You can register your interest for specific grades by emailing [email protected]. When a competition for this grade of staff is about to be launched you will receive an email notification, alerting you to the campaign advertisement.

You can also register for alerts on www.publicjobs.ie where all HSE and NAS recruitment campaigns are advertised.

Campaigns are also advertised on the HSE website

See also: National Ambulance Service

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €28k - €41k

Salaries vary by dutires, role, shift pattern, experience, scale and employer. 

Data Source(s):
HSE Salary Scales/ Salary Export/ (NAS)

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was strong for this occupation, with an additional 2,800 persons employed between 2021 and 2022. There was a large volume of new employment permits issued in 2022, primarily for healthcare assistants, with a number of mentions of difficult-to-fill vacancies in the Recruitment Agency Survey also for healthcare assistants.

There has been a decline in the number of healthcare awards in FET over the period 2017-2021, falling from 3,081 to 2,159. A recent report by SOLAS indicates that approximately half of FET graduates from healthcare courses who were in substantial employment were employed in the health sector.58 The fall in the supply from FET, along with increased demand across the hospital and nursing home sectors for healthcare assistants given the ageing demographics in Ireland, is resulting in shortages.

• Health Service Executive (HSE)

  • Dr Steevens' Hospital, Steevens Lane, Dublin, 8
  • 041 685 0300
  • Click Here

• National Ambulance Service

  • Rivers Building, Tallaght Cross, Tallaght, Dublin 24
  • (01) 4631624
  • Click Here