EMERGENCY CARE OFFICER – KZN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Vacancy Overview
Department: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health
Component: Harry Gwala District Health Office
Centre: EMS Harry Gwala Health District
Position: Emergency Care Officer
Reference Number: KZNPG/20260831/4635
Advert Reference: HGHD 06/2026
Job Level: Level 06
Employment Type: Permanent
Vacancy Type: Internal & External
Number of Posts: 2
Salary: R226,701 per annum
Closing Date: 18 September 2026
Required Qualification: Intermediate Life Support / Emergency Care Assistant
Job Overview
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health is inviting suitably qualified and registered emergency care professionals to apply for two permanent Emergency Care Officer positions within EMS Harry Gwala Health District.
The Emergency Care Officer will provide emergency medical care to patients in accordance with the scope of practice for Intermediate Life Support (ILS) and applicable Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) protocols. The position requires individuals who can respond effectively to emergency calls, assess and stabilise patients, provide appropriate treatment and safely transport patients to the required healthcare facilities.
This is a demanding emergency services role requiring professionalism, sound clinical judgement, strong communication skills and the ability to remain calm and effective under pressure.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidates will be responsible for providing emergency medical services and maintaining the operational readiness of the assigned ambulance and equipment.
Emergency Patient Care
The Emergency Care Officer will:
- Treat, stabilise and transport patients according to the Intermediate Life Support scope of practice and applicable HPCSA protocols.
- Respond to emergency calls dispatched by the Communication Centre.
- Respond to requests from other medical professionals requiring Intermediate Life Support assistance.
- Implement appropriate emergency procedures according to the patient’s condition and applicable protocols.
- Maintain accurate and reliable patient and service records.
Clinical Standards and Professional Development
The employee must maintain high standards of clinical practice and comply with established quality standards.
Responsibilities include:
- Maintaining best clinical practices.
- Participating in Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
- Taking part in training and quality assurance programmes.
- Abiding by EMS Standing Operational Procedures.
- Ensuring that all patient-related documentation and required paperwork are accurately completed and submitted.
Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance
The Emergency Care Officer will be responsible for ensuring that the allocated emergency vehicle and medical equipment remain operational and properly maintained.
Duties include:
- Conducting inspections of the allocated vehicle and equipment.
- Completing the required vehicle and equipment checklists.
- Reporting losses, damage, discrepancies and deficiencies to the Shift Leader.
- Cleaning and disinfecting the interior and exterior of the emergency vehicle.
- Ensuring the ambulance remains clean, safe and in good working order.
- Replenishing medical supplies and surgical sundries.
- Replenishing medical gases and ensuring that supplies are used before their expiry dates.
- Handing over the vehicle and equipment to the next shift or relevant authority in a clean, fully replenished and operational condition.
General EMS Responsibilities
The successful candidate will also be expected to:
- Assist in maintaining a clean and tidy EMS base.
- Use government vehicles, medical equipment, buildings and other property responsibly and in accordance with government policies and procedures.
- Complete and submit all required paperwork before the end of the shift or whenever required.
- Perform overtime duties in accordance with EMS policy.
- Maintain accurate records at all times.
Minimum Qualifications and Requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
Education
- Senior Certificate (Grade 12) or equivalent.
Professional Qualification
- Intermediate Life Support (ILS) / Ambulance Emergency Assistant (AEA) qualification.
- The advert also refers to the qualification as Intermediate Life Support or Emergency Care Assistant.
Professional Registration
Applicants must have:
- Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as an Ambulance Emergency Assistant.
- Proof of current HPCSA registration.
- A valid HPCSA registration card will be accepted.
- A deposit slip will not be accepted as proof of current registration.
Driver’s Licence
Applicants must have:
- An unendorsed Code C1 driver’s licence.
- A valid Professional Driving Permit (PrDP).
- A receipt for renewal will not be accepted.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
Candidates should have knowledge of:
- Intermediate Life Support protocols.
- Emergency Medical Services and its operations.
- Rules and regulations relating to road traffic.
- Emergency procedures and patient care requirements.
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
- Good communication skills.
- Practical patient-management skills.
- Ability to implement emergency procedures.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure.
- Ability to operate in different EMS environments.
- Flexibility and adaptability.
- Professionalism and sound judgement.
Flexibility and Deployment Requirements
Emergency Medical Services requires employees to be flexible according to operational and service-delivery needs.
Successful candidates may be deployed to different EMS environments, including:
- Emergency ambulances
- Obstetrics ambulances
- Inter-facility ambulance services
- Communication Centres
- Rescue services
- Patient transport services
Candidates must also be willing to work any shift, depending on operational requirements.
In addition, employees must be available for Disaster Relief Emergency deployments nationally and/or internationally when required.
Important Application Information
The vacancy is advertised as Internal & External, meaning eligible applicants from within and outside the department may apply.
Applicants must ensure that they meet all qualification, professional registration and driver’s licence requirements before applying.
When applying through the KZN Provincial e-Recruitment system, applicants must clearly indicate the name of the post and reference number.
For applications to KZN Government Departments through the online e-Recruitment system, applicants must upload a copy of their CV. Certified copies of supporting documents do not need to accompany the initial application and will be requested from shortlisted candidates where applicable.
Only candidates who meet the requirements will be considered. Appointment is subject to relevant verification processes, including qualification and reference checks and, where applicable, security clearance.
Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Closing Date
18 September 2026
Applicants should ensure that their applications are submitted before the deadline.
Quick Summary
Position: Emergency Care Officer
Department: KZN Department of Health
Centre: EMS Harry Gwala Health District
Location: Harry Gwala District
Posts: 2
Employment: Permanent
Level: 06
Salary: R226,701 p.a.
Qualification: Intermediate Life Support / Emergency Care Assistant (AEA)
Registration: Current HPCSA registration as an Ambulance Emergency Assistant
Licence: Unendorsed Code C1 + PrDP
Main Focus: Emergency patient treatment, stabilisation, transport and EMS operations
Deployment: Various EMS environments and shifts; disaster relief deployments may be required
Closing Date: 18 September 2026