Ambulance firm investigated after allegedly warning driver applicant passengers would be ‘a bit mad’

A council’s ambulance provider is under investigation after a driving job applicant was allegedly told that some of his passengers would be “a bit mad”.

A member of the GMB union posing as a jobseeker also alleges that Impact – the company that supplies vehicles and drivers to Ealing Council – said that he could “start tomorrow”, despite the fact a criminal records check was needed for the role.

Impact said the alleged language used was “totally unacceptable” and pledged to investigate the allegation – as did Ealing Council.

However, Impact did concede that it would allow drivers to start work with vulnerable adults before their checks had come through from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).

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“While we may invite a new driver to start immediately, there would always be a period of induction, training and accompanied driving under the supervision of CRB-checked staff while the new member’s check is carried out,” said a spokeswoman.