‘The College of Paramedics’ Governing Council and Executive team have been working with Professor Barry Hunt to establish a strategy document that will lead the College's activities and effort through the next few years. With the rapid development of the paramedic profession and the College itself, it is now vital to ensure that we continue in a well-targeted direction in representing our members and the wider profession. We are exceptionally grateful for the tireless efforts and the experience that Barry has brought to this project and look forward to continue working with him to achieve the goals set out in the Strategic Plan and other projects in the future’ David Hodge, chief executive, College of Paramedics.
About the College
There are currently more than 19 500 paramedics registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in the UK. In October 2013 approximately 19% of the current UK paramedic registrants with the HCPC were College members. The College, initially established as the British Paramedic Association in 2003, is a young professional body and will seek to grow substantially its membership base from this relatively low level. The aim is to be the national voice of the majority of professional paramedics and provide an essential component for the future development of the profession. To support this aim the College will continue to strengthen its employee base and the network of elected officials and external consultants whose effort, expertise and dedication will be essential to the future development of the profession through this challenging period. For example, the recently released report from the Paramedic Evidence-based Education Project (PEEP) (available by link both on Health Education England (HEE) and the College websites) illustrates the impact that the profession could have on healthcare delivery. The report offers the view that ‘engagement of the paramedic workforce with pre-hospital urgent care and prevention of (unnecessary) hospital admission should be of benefit to the wider community.’ This view is entirely supported by our College, whose members feel furthermore that this is consistent with the evolving role of our profession; it is imperative that we have a strong paramedic organisation to make our collective representation in any future debate related to the PEEP recommendations.
We want members to feel a sense of both pride in their College and a belonging to a professional community. We believe that there has never been a more important time for the profession to be united and our strategy is to work with employers, higher education, the professional regulator and Government bodies in the best interests of the profession and patients.
The strategic direction of the College is set by the Governing Council of elected representatives from all parts of the UK, from the independent sector, and the military who meet three times a year. The day-to-day business of the College is managed by the chief executive and employees. All of the Council members give their time on a voluntary basis and receive no payment for undertaking their duties. In recent times this Council has developed three main strands of strategic activity to ensure that the College is positioned to meet the intent of our mission.
Membership and members’ benefits
Our membership is our priority. We will actively listen and respond to their needs and aspirations. What we can deliver for our members and the paramedic profession is paramount. The fundamental business model of the College is that as a representative organisation, we deliver benefits for our members in return for their annual subscriptions as follows:
Professional standards
The College of Paramedics has strong relationships with the higher education providers of paramedic education and we will be proactive in ensuring that relevant continuing professional development, mentorship programmes and other professional activities are provided. Our professional body will exert influence and apply governance over the content and processes related to the training of future members of the profession through University-based pre-registration programmes. It will work closely with the regulator, the HCPC, on matters related to accreditation of educational programmes at all levels.
The College of Paramedics has recently released the third edition of its Curriculum Guidance as the indicator of best practice for paramedic education providers. This guidance is the single most important benchmark against which all educational programmes should comply. The Curriculum Guidance will be revised every three years. The third edition of the Career and Competence Framework, which will be reviewed annually and published at between one and three year intervals depending on the extent of change required.
Corporate status and operation
As a not-for-profit organisation, it is important that the College of Paramedics identifies its most appropriate status to ensure its viability as a small business. It has to consider the operating models apparent in other professional bodies such as charitable arms and Royal College status but recognises that each of these requires longer term planning and sustained growth. The combination of organisational growth and turnover in key positions also requires focused planning on all aspects of the internal operations of the business.
Membership of other professional bodies and trades unions may cost hundreds of pounds each year, whereas full membership of the College of Paramedics is currently less than £95 per year for full members and significantly less for associate members, with a further reduction for students. This increase subscription in late 2013, the first in over three years, has been essential for the College to be able to implement the strategic plan and deliver our intent of representing the paramedic profession on the issues that matter most to the membership. The alternative is that many issues will pass by without paramedics having a coordinated say or influence on what they consider to be of the utmost importance to both the profession and the well being of the general public.
Strategic Plan
The following sections illustrate how each of these main areas of activity is to be developed in preparation for graduate status for the profession as proposed in the PEEP report. This is intended to provide an indication of our plan as this will be dynamic and responsive to membership needs and feedback. The general intent within each area will be maintained but emergent issues and developments both internally and externally will require ongoing review and adjustment to ensure the College is correctly positioned to meet challenges, mitigate risks, and recognise and take opportunities.
The Governing Council will include this plan as a standing agenda item at its scheduled meetings and may arrange special meetings dedicated to review as part of the dynamic process.
‘We want members to feel a sense of both pride in their College and a belonging to a professional community’
Membership and member benefits
Over the next few years it will be essential that we further develop the benefits for our memberships as appropriate for an advancing profession. In the period of this plan we will:
Professional standards
The professional standards plan aims to ensure that the College has put in place all the relevant components to develop the profession to a position commensurate with its counterpart bodies in allied health. In the period of the plan we will:
Corporate status and operation
This section pays attention to the processes that need to be in place to ensure the College of Paramedics positions itself to effectively function as an organisation with the key challenges of ensuring growth for sustainability and the availability of the right people to manage personnel and staff turnover. Key considerations include charitable and Royal College status and the appointment of a high profile Patron. In the period of the plan we will: