Community First Responder to Operations Manager

Jack Ansell started as a volunteer within the ambulance service and is now the Community Engagement Operations Manager at South Central Ambulance Service.

From an early age Jack wanted to help people and become a paramedic recognising the importance this role had on his local community. At the age of 18 he became a Community First Responder, responding to many patients within the area he lived. Over time the community recognised the role he was carrying out was important and supported his fundraising efforts to be able to buy a response kit. Alongside his CFR role he also worked within SCAS as a 999 call taker, listening and advising the callers on what to do prior to the arrival of an ambulance.

During this time Jack grew the CFR scheme and supported 4 further CFR volunteers and continued to provide many hours of cover himself. His passion for helping people and responding continued to grow and in 2005 an opportunity arose to apply for the first university Student Paramedic degree and he jumped at the chance.

Over 3 years he worked a shift pattern, attended Portsmouth University, attended placements throughout Health Care while continuing to be a supportive member of the CFR scheme and also volunteering for St John Ambulance as an First Aider, and then an Advanced First Aider – something he continues to support now.

Jack qualified as a Paramedic in 2008 and over the years has continued to develop both professionally and personally. Jack has been a member of the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) attending specialist response paramedics and has more recently been the Operations Manager for the Community Engagement Team – leading and growing the CFR scheme. His own experiences of being a volunteer plus his own practical response experience means he is well respected by both volunteers and the team, as he can understand frustrations and needs for all.

Jack hasn’t stopped volunteering and was a key member of SCAS when setting up a local British Association for Immediate Care Schemes (BASICS) team. As a BASICS volunteer Jack attends incidents to provide enhanced patient care, supporting paramedics who may not have enough experience or require support on scene. In order to set up the BASICS scheme Jack took on an active role to liaise with the Clinical Review Group and showcase why these volunteers would be an asset to SCAS. He worked through governance and safety plans to roll the scheme out and has worked with South Central Ambulance Charity to gain financial support and fundraising to buy equipment. Jack now volunteers regularly with the group, fitting it in between his own work and on call duty. Jack is respected throughout SCAS and is an advocate for how volunteering can lead into a career and can continue to support you within your professional life.

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