CERAD Sheffield – Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving is a regulated and nationally recognised emergency response (blue light) driving qualification which has been developed by industry experts and reviewed by the Driver Training Advisory Group (DTAG). This qualification enables learners to prepare, drive and manoeuvre ambulance vehicles in both emergency and non-emergency situations.

This qualification has been designed to meet high speed driver training regulations and allows ambulance service drivers to claim exemptions under the road traffic act

Over a 17 day period, learners will undertake theory and practical sessions which gives learners the knowledge and skills to drive an ambulance routinely and respond to incidents in a range of environments under emergency and non-emergency conditions.

What’s more, the QA Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving (CERAD) also forms part of a progressive suite of prehospital care qualifications and can be undertaken alongside out FREUC 5 (QA Level 5 Diploma in First Response Emergency and Urgent Care (RQF).

CERAD is for people who work within an ambulance service who have a requirement to respond to incidents both
under routine and emergency (Blue Light) conditions, including those that work on behalf of an NHS Ambulance Service
This qualification should give Learners the sufficient level of knowledge and skill to drive an ambulance routinely
and respond to incidents in a range of environments under emergency and non-emergency conditions.

QA Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving (CERAD) run from our Sheffield, South Yorkshire location is made up of three mandatory units of 165hrs not including breaks attended over 17 days. There is pre-course reading and completion of workbooks. Lambda Medical provides each student with a personal professional development portfolio and all required learning materials.

CERAD- Unit 1 Preparing for Advanced Ambulance Driving

• Know traffic signs, markings and furniture in order to drive safely.
• Understanding relevant legislation, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Understanding how human, physiological and situational factors affect driver behaviour.
• Be able to respond to confrontational and non-confrontational driver behaviour.
• Understand the legal and organisational requirements of carrying out a pre-driving check on service vehicles and incident reporting procedures.
• Be able to carry out a thorough pre-driving check on service vehicles.

CERAD- Unit 2 Fundamentals of Advanced Driving.

• Be able to manoeuvre a service vehicle in a safe professional manner.
• Be able to utilise vehicle braking systems.
• Be able to apply the system of car control.
• Be able to vary the speed of a vehicle.
• Be able to effectively use a vehicle’s transmission.
• Be able to smoothly accelerate.
• Be able to safely drive on a multilane carriageway
• Know how to safely overtake vehicles.
• Understand the effects of adverse weather conditions whilst driving.
• Be able to navigate to a given destination.
• Understand what is involved when carrying out a collision investigation

CERAD- Unit 3 Fundamentals of Emergency Response Driving

• Be able to formulate and implement driving plans under emergency response conditions.
• Be able to drive under emergency response conditions in a variety of circumstances and environments.
• Be able to drive to the system of car control under emergency conditions.
• Know how to legally and safely overtake vehicles whilst under emergency conditions.
• Be able to safely overtake whilst driving under emergency conditions.
• Know how to carry out incidental convoy driving.
• Know how to react to vulnerable road users whilst driving under emergency conditions.
• Know how to respond to and arrive at an incident on a
  multilane carriage way.
• Be able to drive on a multilane carriageway whilst under emergency response conditions.
• Be able to drive under emergency and nonemergency conditions in the hours of darkness.
• Be able to navigate to a given destination whilst under emergency driving conditions.
• Be able to manage
  confrontation and non-confrontational behaviour whilst driving under emergency response conditions.

QA Level 3 Certificate in Emergency Response Ambulance Driving (CERAD) For people who work within an ambulance service who have a requirement to respond to incidents both under routine and emergency conditions, including those that work on behalf of an NHS Ambulance Service.

Students must be willing to attend the full course and have the enthusiasm to get the most out of it.

Learners must;

•  Be 18 Years old
• Hold a full valid DVLA licence for the class of vehicle to be driven (must be valid for the full duration of the
  course) and
• Be working or have an agreed training placement with an NHS Ambulance Service Trust or organisation contracted to an NHS Trust and is CQC Registered
• Have a contract of employment or evidence of authorisation from an NHS Ambulance Service Trust or CQC Registered Ambulance Service (Independent or Voluntary Aid Society) or CQC equivalent for devolved nations. This must state the Learner (employee) can undergo training in emergency response ambulance driving prior to be registered on and working towards this qualification.
• Have adequate numeracy and literacy skills to under take the assessments.