INTERMEDIATE LIFE SUPPORT PARAMEDIC

PURPOSE OF POSITION

To deliver emergency medical care and safely transport patients requiring ambulance services, providing appropriate treatment within the authorised scope of practice to preserve life, minimise complications, and promote positive patient outcomes through professional and compassionate care.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

CLINICAL PRACTICE AND PATIENT CARE

• Apply sound clinical judgement in the assessment, treatment and management of patients, in accordance with HPCSA-approved protocols, standards and best practices.
• Deliver safe, effective and patient-centred care that is appropriate to the patient's clinical condition and needs.
• Administer medication in accordance with approved protocols, ensuring dosages are titrated appropriately to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome while maintaining patient safety.

CLINICAL CONSULTATION AND ESCALATION

• Seek guidance and consult with ILS colleagues, ALS practitioners or medical practitioners when managing complex, high-risk or challenging clinical situations.
• Facilitate appropriate escalation of care to support optimal patient outcomes and continuity of care.

DOCUMENTATION AND MEDICO-LEGAL COMPLIANCE

• Ensure all patient care records, treatment documentation, incident reports and related medico-legal documentation are completed accurately, comprehensively and within required timeframes.
• Maintain compliance with organisational, statutory and regulatory documentation requirements.

REGULATORY AND PROFESSIONAL COMPLIANCE

• Maintain current knowledge of and adherence to the latest HPCSA-approved standards, protocols, guidelines and scope of practice requirements.
• Demonstrate ongoing professional accountability by ensuring all clinical practices comply with applicable legislation, regulations and professional standards.

SCOPE OF PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

• Perform only those clinical procedures, interventions and professional acts that are authorised within the approved HPCSA scope of practice and relevant clinical protocols.
• Ensure all patient care activities remain within the limits of professional competence, training and regulatory requirements.

PATIENT HANDOVER AND ACCOUNTABILITY

• Ensure the safe and effective transfer of patient care responsibilities to appropriately qualified and competent healthcare professionals.
• Maintain accountability for delegated tasks and oversight of patient care when responsibilities are assigned to less experienced personnel, where applicable.
• Promote continuity of care through clear, accurate and timely patient handovers.

QUALITY AND PATIENT SAFETY

• Uphold the highest standards of patient safety, clinical governance and professional conduct in all aspects of service delivery.
• Identify, report and mitigate clinical risks to ensure quality patient outcomes and continuous improvement in service delivery.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

PATIENT ASSESSMENT, CLINICAL MANAGEMENT AND PATIENT CARE

• Conduct comprehensive patient assessments and provide appropriate emergency medical care within the authorised ILS scope of practice.
• Apply a systematic approach to patient assessment, treatment, monitoring and reassessment.
• Deliver professional, compassionate and patient-centred care that promotes patient safety, recovery and positive clinical outcomes.
• Maintain effective communication with patients, families, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE AND HPCSA PROTOCOL COMPLIANCE

• Adhere to all HPCSA-approved ILS protocols, clinical guidelines and scope of practice requirements.
• Perform patient assessment and emergency management using recognised clinical approaches, including:
• Scene safety assessment.
• Responsiveness assessment.
• Airway management and cervical spine protection where required.
• Breathing, ventilation and oxygenation management.
• Circulation assessment and haemorrhage control.
• Defibrillation and resuscitation where indicated.
• Disability and exposure assessment.
• Secondary patient surveys, history taking, vital signs monitoring and physical examination.
• Ensure clinical interventions remain within authorised scope of practice and seek higher-level clinical support when required.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

• Maintain HPCSA registration and CPD compliance requirements.
• Participate in ongoing training, education and competency development programmes.
• Remain current with developments, legislation, clinical guidelines and changes to HPCSA protocols.

Clinical Documentation and Record Management

• Complete all patient care reports, hospital records and company documentation accurately, comprehensively and within required timeframes.
• Ensure all patient encounters are documented in accordance with legal, organisational and professional standards.
• Maintain accurate records of clinical interventions, medication administration and operational activities.
• Ensure all incidents attended are appropriately logged and recorded.

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND SERVICE EXCELLENCE

• Contribute to continuous quality improvement initiatives and clinical governance processes.
• Maintain professional standards of conduct, integrity and accountability.
• Identify and report clinical, operational or service delivery concerns to management.
• Support community outreach, training and health promotion initiatives where required.

OPERATIONAL READINESS AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Ensure ambulances, vehicles, medical equipment and consumables are operational, clean and ready for service at all times.
• Conduct pre-shift and post-shift vehicle and equipment inspections.
• Maintain appropriate stock levels and ensure timely replacement of medical supplies.
• Safeguard company assets and immediately report any damage, loss or theft.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT

• Comply with all Occupational Health and Safety requirements, infection prevention measures and emergency response procedures.
• Utilise appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when required.
• Ensure scene safety prior to initiating patient care and take appropriate action to mitigate risks.
• Report all injuries, incidents, hazards and unusual occurrences in accordance with company procedures.
• Operate company vehicles safely, responsibly and in accordance with road traffic legislation and company policies.

COMPLIANCE WITH ORGANISATIONAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

• Adhere to all company policies, procedures, operational standards and regulatory requirements.
• Perform duties in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Carry out any reasonable operational duties assigned by management that are consistent with the role and scope of practice.

TEAMWORK AND PROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION

• Work collaboratively with colleagues, healthcare facilities, external agencies and emergency services to ensure continuity of patient care.
• Escalate patient care requirements appropriately and request additional clinical support when patient needs exceed the ILS scope of practice.
• Foster positive working relationships and contribute to an effective multidisciplinary healthcare environment.

COMPETENCIES (The following will be advantageous)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

(Educational Qualifications & Experience)

• Successful completion of a recognised Intermediate Life Support (ILS) qualification that meets the requirements for registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
• Current registration with the Professional Board for Emergency Care Personnel (PBECP) of the HPCSA as an Intermediate Life Support (ILS) Practitioner.
• Valid Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) for the transportation of passengers.
• Valid Code B (08) driver's licence.
• Proof of registration and licensing must be maintained and remain valid for the duration of employment.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Ability to remain calm, composed and effective in high-pressure and stressful situations.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and personalities.
• Demonstrated empathy, respect and professionalism when interacting with patients, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Ability to foster a positive, collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with healthcare personnel, external agencies, patients and community members.
• Resilience and emotional stability when dealing with serious injuries, illnesses and traumatic incidents.

CRITICAL THINKING AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS

• Ability to analyse, assess and interpret complex patient care situations.
• Exercise sound clinical and operational judgement within established policies, procedures and protocols.
• Ability to anticipate, identify and resolve problems proactively.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while maintaining accountability.
• Ability to retain, apply and adapt professional knowledge, concepts and principles in practice.

COMPLIANCE AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

• Ability to understand, interpret and comply with relevant legislation, policies, procedures and professional standards.
• Ability to follow lawful instructions and directives from supervisors and senior personnel.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Computer literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, is advantageous.

COMMUNICATION

INTERNAL

• Driver Co-ordinator
• Operations Manager
• Nurses
• JMH staff

EXTERNAL

• Doctors
• Patients
• Patient families

YEARS/ MONTHS OF RELEVANT EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• 2 years post graduate patient care experience in an operational environment would be beneficial

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/ DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY

• Net Profit – No
• Sales - No
• Assets – No
• Salaries and wages – No

OTHER JOB SPECIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.
• The position requires significant physical strength and dexterity and the ability to function in very adverse environments with exposure to numerous safety risks typically found at emergency scenes.
• The following guidelines are used to describe the frequency of activities in this position: Occasionally equals l%-33%; Frequently equals 34%-66%; and continuously equals 67%-100% of a typical work day.

STANDING/WALKING

• Frequently walking and responding to calls.
• Standing or walking is optional while at rest at the facility.
• This usually includes: going to and from the emergency vehicle, getting patients from their locations, and rendering treatment.
• Most walking would be for short distances, as emergency vehicles are allowed to get as close to the location as possible.
• The incumbent must also be able to run these same distances, in case of an emergency where time is of the essence.
• Walking and running may vary, however, as the patient may be located inside a large, multi-floored facility.
• Standing, walking and running could be on all types of surfaces, including but not limited to: asphalt, cement, concrete, soft/packed dirt, linoleum, wood, hardwood floors, etc.
• The individual must be able to go up and down slight inclines or declines that may be found at roadsides, agricultural areas, etc.
• At a location, standing would occur more often than walking or running.
• Standing would occur on the wide variety of surfaces mentioned above.
• Standing could last from a few minutes to hours, depending on the situation.
• Standing in the standard erect position.
• Kneeling or squatting position.

SITTING

• When responding to a location, the individual will frequently sit in the emergency vehicle.
• The emergency vehicles are equipped with a standard installed vehicle seat.
• The time performing the sitting activity on a call would depend upon the specific situation.

LIFTING AND CARRYING

• Will be required to lift and carry weights ranging from a few kgs and above.
• Occasionally required to lift and carry weights scaled at above 45kgs or more.
• Incumbents will need to lift and carry, with one team member, adult patients, lifting them from various positions (such as a bed or a chair) onto various patient movement devices, such as an ambulance stretcher, a stair chair, long back boards, etc., and then efficiently move them into an ambulance.

• Other heavier objects in the high range category would be 1.6m, 30cm diameter oxygen cylinders, and medical equipment boxes.

• The oxygen cylinders can be made of quarter-inch steel and weigh up to 50kgs.

• The medical equipment boxes can weigh approximately 22 kgs or more.

BENDING AND STOOPING

• Throughout a work shift the incumbent will be required to bend in a range of 1 to 90 degrees.
• The average situation will require the individual to work in a range of 35 to 65 degree bends.
• This would involve: lifting a patient, lifting equipment, treating a patient at ground level, sitting on a bench located in the ambulance.
• This activity may be prolonged and last up to 30 minutes or more.
• During any given call, the provider may bend and/ or stoop 1 to 15 times per incident.

CROUCHING AND KNEELING

• Frequently, crouching and kneeling may be performed when on the scene picking up equipment or assisting patients.
• The actual number of times this is done depends on the particular incident but may be up to 15 times for a duration up to 30 minutes or greater.

CLIMBING

• Climbing steps up and down with a patient on a stretcher or other device, and when entering or exiting the emergency vehicle.
• Generally, the climbing would be that the incumbent will be lifting and carrying heavy objects such as a stretcher or other device with a patient on it.
• Balancing may be required when backing down staircases.

REACHING

• Reaching frequently and continuously throughout the work shift in order to operate communication equipment, administer oxygen and operate equipment.
• The incumbent may also be required to reach in precarious positions, such as in a vehicle, which has been crushed in an accident, or in other confined spaces.
• If working inside the ambulance en route to a medical facility, the incumbent will need to reach to access the patient and supplies.
• Reaching will involve partial to full extension of the arms.

PUSHING AND PULLING

• The activities that would require the most force in pushing and pulling, is when removing or returning a gurney to the emergency vehicle with and without a patient on the gurney.

• The weight required to push/pull will vary, depending on the weight on the gurney.

• Slight pushing will be required if the incumbent is performing CPR, which can require repetitive pushing and may range from a few minutes to hours.

• Pushing and pulling is required when operating and closing vehicle doors.

HANDLING OR GRASPING

• Continuously, while working at any given location, continual bilateral gross manipulation is performed in this position.
• This may be involved when: opening/closing doors; and using, handling, carrying and /or operating medical equipment boxes that may weigh approximately fifty (50) pounds or more, such as stretcher rails, various handles attached to equipment, and tools.
• The arm and hand must be able to perform all types of positions, including supination and pronation.
• Hyperextension, extension and flexion of the fingers will be involved, ulnar and radial deviation, abduction and adduction of the hand and wrist will be required.
• A wide variety of grasping will be required, such as cylindrical grasping, palmer grasping, hook grasping, tip grasping and lateral and spherical grasping.

HAZARDS

• The incumbent, when responding to emergencies, can be exposed to dust, fumes, gases, fire, smoke, adverse weather conditions, and chemicals.

• There is potential for bodily harm or death from violent patients, bystanders, or other dangers.

• At all times the incumbent is expected to adhere to all applicable policies and procedures concerning safety and the prevention of contamination and infection due to blood borne pathogens.

OTHER PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to maintain physical strength, balance and agility while providing patient care in challenging or restricted environments.

Speak clearly, even under stressful circumstances

Ability to communicate clearly, accurately and professionally in English, both verbally and in writing.

Capable of rapid physical response in emergency and high-pressure situations

Speak at proper volumes for appropriate situations

Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships

JMH VALUES

(Commitment)

• We respect the dignity of an individual.

• We are committed to giving our doctors top quality service.

• We are committed to building an atmosphere of trust, and to train and develop our staff to their fullest potential.

• We are committed to providing our shareholders with a fair rate of return on their investment.

• We will act in a responsible manner towards our physical and social environment.

Please apply via: https://jmh.co.za/career

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select Internal Applicant

NB: Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

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Preference will be given to employees from the designated group in line with the

Employment Equity Act.

Closing date for applications 11 September 2026