EMERGENCY CARE OFFICER: GRADE 3 (SHIFTS) (X5 POSTS)

This vacancy offers an opportunity for qualified emergency care professionals to join the Limpopo Department of Health as Emergency Care Officer Grade 3. The five posts are distributed across the province, with one position each at Donald Frazer EMS, Giyani EMS, WF Knobel EMS, Tzaneen EMS, and Sekororo Hospital. As the title indicates, these are shift-based roles, and successful candidates must be prepared for a working pattern that includes after-hours duty and being on call. The position is graded at the third level within the emergency care career progression and reports within the broader Emergency Medical Services environment, which is responsible for providing pre-hospital care, inter-facility transfers, and planned patient transport across the province.

Applicants must hold a National Senior Certificate or Grade 12 or Matric, along with a completed Intermediate Life Support Course that permits registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa as an Ambulance Emergency Assistant. Current HPCSA registration as a Basic Ambulance Assistant or an Ambulance Emergency Assistant is also required. In addition to the clinical qualifications, candidates need a valid C1 or Code 10 driver’s licence with a Professional Driving Permit for Passengers, as driving emergency vehicles is a core part of the role. The department seeks individuals who understand the emergency medical services environment and its core business, possess good communication and presentation skills, and are familiar with planned patient transport services. Sound clinical knowledge at intermediate life support level is essential.

The duties of the post are demanding and varied. The officer will treat and transport primary patients from the scene of an emergency to health facilities, as well as moving patients in-between health facilities according to the relevant protocols. Planned Patient Transfers form a significant part of the workload, requiring careful coordination and patient care during transit. Officers are also responsible for changing and replenishing surgical sundries and medical gases, ensuring that expired or used items are disposed of timeously and exchanged for fresh stock. Keeping the base and vehicles clean and tidy is another routine duty, alongside maintaining best clinical practice in line with quality standards. Shift work is performed in accordance with the emergency medical services policy, and participation in in-service training and refresher courses is expected to keep skills current.

Candidates interested in these posts must pay close attention to the conditions and requirements outlined in the full advertisement, as failure to comply with application instructions may lead to disqualification. All applications require the fully completed new Z83 form and a comprehensive curriculum vitae, and applicants should ensure that all relevant fields are correctly filled in. Those with foreign qualifications are responsible for obtaining a SAQA evaluation and providing proof of it. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews, where certified copies of qualifications, current registration with the relevant statutory body, and identity documents must be submitted. The selection process may also include practical exercises and integrity assessments. With five positions available across different centres, this is a substantial recruitment drive for emergency care personnel in Limpopo’s public health sector.