The College of Paramedics is committed to developing the paramedic profession and recognises that education represents a significant ingredient to prepare and equip paramedics for the challenges presented by evolving healthcare. This article describes work currently underway by the college to update the curriculum guidance and to develop an evidence-based business case for the standardisation of paramedic education in the UK.
The curriculum guidance
Since 2004, the college has made a key contribution to paramedic education through its curriculum guidance and competencies framework, which is currently undergoing its third revision and reflects the rapid evolution of the paramedic role. It will provide higher education institutions (HEIs) and other stakeholders with a comprehensive curriculum to prepare paramedics in the UK as they move through education, training and the early stages of professional practice.
A great deal of paramedic expertise from across the UK has been put into the development of the third edition which will be published in March 2013. This includes stakeholder consultation events attended by representatives from higher education institutions and ambulance service employers. The Governing Council of the College firmly believe that this document provides the best available advice for those delivering paramedic education and training and that adherence to it by education providers and employers of new registrants will enhance the quality of paramedical services; throughout the UK. In addition, and perhaps most importantly, this guidance can give service users wherever they are in the country, the information they need to ensure that paramedics have been prepared for practice through an effective collaboration that has involved education providers, employers, and the paramedics’ professional body.
The curriculum guidance and competencies framework has developed rapidly from the first (2004) and second (2008) editions that have reflected the transition to and development of the profession. This third edition brings with it some important changes. Firstly the curriculum guidance will be published separately to the competencies framework since the latter requires more frequent review and updating than the former. Second, it acknowledges the expansion in the breadth of care delivered, with particular reference to specialist paramedic management of undifferentiated care needs, and the knowledge and skills of paramedic practitioners who provide this function. It also carries out a similar role in respect of critical care paramedics. These two new specialist roles are likely to be joined by further role development in the future.
Education providers will recognise that the curriculum guidance has been significantly revised and reflects the expanding scope of practice of paramedics, whether at registration level or in specialist practice. It also contains guidance in relation to the leadership and support necessary to the development of effective registrants. The guidance aims to assist employers by ensuring student paramedics and newly qualified registrants have the opportunities to better adapt to their new professional role in a supportive environment that increases their confidence and promotes autonomous practice, while minimising the risk of unsafe practice. Most importantly, the curriculum guidance complements statutory requirements by providing guidance from the paramedic professions’ perspective. In this sense the College of Paramedics acts as the guardian of the uniqueness and distinctiveness of the profession. It also enables the experience and expertise of paramedics to be directly assimilated into document form.
The Council of the College of Paramedics appreciates the many contributions made to the development of the third edition. Senior members of the college and their colleagues in national and regional groups have worked voluntarily and tirelessly to produce this guidance. Equally important to the process has been the guidance from key stakeholders from education providers and employers.
In summary, this third edition expands on previous work, not only by providing a significant updating of the core curriculum but through the inclusion of new sections which reflect the expanding role of paramedics throughout the UK.
Paramedic evidence-based education Project
The Council of the College of Paramedics has commissioned Allied Health Solutions to undertake a six-month project being delivered through Allied Health Enterprise Development Centre (AHEDC) which is a joint venture between Allied Health Solutions Limited and Buckinghamshire New University. The aim of the project is to develop an evidence-based business case for the College to progress the strategic direction of standardisation of education and training, including fair access to funding support and enhancing the threshold of entry to the profession.
The project, which is being led by professor Mary Lovegrove OBE and June Davis, was originally scheduled to be completed by the end of February 2012, and has been expanded to enable more data to be collected from Wales and Northern Ireland. The business case will focus on the positive impact that paramedics make to health service performance, in particular more appropriate care pathways, the prevention of unnecessary admissions and readmissions. The project’s key themes are:
The project is steered by a project advisory board (PAB) chaired by Professor David T Sines CBE, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University. The constituent membership of the advisory board is representative of key stakeholders and in addition to representatives from the College of Paramedics there are representatives from organisations such as Ambulance Foundation Trusts; Education Commissioners; Health and Care Professions Council; DH Allied Health Professions team; the Patients Forum and Allied Health Professional Leads.
A key event associated with this project is a Department of Health sponsored summit to be held on 7 February 2013 in London. The summit will be independently facilitated.
The project team have undertaken key interviews to capture information to address the themes listed above. The original case study sites identified were: North East and North West Divisions, Scotland; North West Ambulance Service; South East Coast Ambulance Trust. In addition the project team have engaged with key personnel from East Midlands Ambulance Trust and South West Ambulance Service. The project team have yet to formally engage with the London Ambulance Service although they have discovered some really innovative developments in the paramedic services in the capital. The approaches to gaining an insight to the other two countries: Northern Ireland and Wales have been agreed. The next key development is to meet with representatives from the main trade unions that support the paramedic workforce.
Karen Middleton, the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, has noted this important project in the recent issue of the Allied Health Professions Bulletin (ahp.dh.gov.uk/2012/12/17/paramedics) and Professor Mary Lovegrove has commented in the College of Paramedics December newsletter that
‘The project is being very well received and there is real engagement from a widerange of stakeholders in this work. It is too early in the life of the project to draw out any key messages arising from the project. However, it is important to note that the willingness of the profession to help with this project is remarkable and testament to the professional commitment that paramedics have to the work that they do, the responsibility they have, and the importance of appropriate education and training to enhance the standard of care for the benefit of the service user.’
Through the third edition of the curriculum guidance and the investment in the paramedic evidence-based education project, the Council of the College of Paramedics continues to demonstrate its commitment to developing the paramedic profession.
The College is grateful to Professor Mary Lovegrove for giving permission to reproduce some of her article in the December issue of the College of paramedics Newsletter on the Paramedic Evidence-based Education Project.