Vinny never thought he could ever be a paramedic as he says he was never a high achiever at school. With the support of a brilliant boss who encouraged him to apply, he is now one of our highly specialist paramedics and has a very high level of clinical knowledge and skill.

Our consultant paramedics are heavily involved with developing new and innovative ways to help and care for patients and, like advanced paramedics, they provide clinical leadership and guidance to other clinicians. Vinny’s specialist core area is in education which means he ensures in-depth clinical skills are factored into all aspects of our staff training. We talk to Vinny to find out more about what he does.

Hi Vinny, what does a day in the life of you in your job role look like?

It is very varied which makes the job both challenging and rewarding. I am involved in several projects mostly related to either the education input which is required or from a clinical perspective. I am also able to balance the more corporate element of my work with responding to emergency calls; I feel patient contact is both important to the role and something I really enjoy.

What are your favourite parts of the job?

Most paramedics join the profession to help and care for others. This is by far the most rewarding element of the job for me. This can be when I attend to patients or if I am able to support a learner on their educational journey.

What do you find challenging?

There are still challenging clinical situations that I face, despite my years of experience there are still patient presentations that challenge my knowledge. There are also challenges in the education world however these are usually overcome through good communication with colleagues both within Team NWAS and externally.

What is the one thing you want people to know about you in your job that they might not know about?

Despite working in the education department, I always keep patients at the forefront of my mind. If I can support a clinician to improve their knowledge or skills this will ultimately lead to improved patient care that they are able to deliver.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue this as a career?

Preparation is key, whether that is for an interview, an exam or to manage a difficult incident. If you put the work in beforehand you can achieve anything.