The publication of the 3rd edition of the Paramedic Curriculum Guidance (College of Paramedics, 2013) signifies another milestone in the history and development of the professional body and the ‘paramedic profession’. During the past decade the professional body has synthesised and produced the curriculum and competency framework, (British Paramedic Association, 2006; College of Paramedics, 2008) providing paramedics with the curriculum and competency framework for paramedics, the latter of which gave the profession a career framework. However, a decision to separate the ParamedicCurriculum Guidance from the Paramedic Career and Competency Framework was taken by the College's Professional Standards Group in 2012, with the raison d'être being that the Paramedic Curriculum Guidance would exclusively relate to undergraduates and pre-registration, and be reviewed and updated on a tri-annual basis. However, the Paramedic Career and Competency Framework would distinctively relate to post-registration and career development, and be reviewed and updated on an annual basis as appropriate, and required in response to the continuing demands on the profession and the potential for future role development.
In response to the demands on current practice, the content of the 3rd edition of the Paramedic Curriculum Guidance has been updated and includes changes to the curriculum content; specific areas embrace:
‘The introduction of preceptorship… has changed the orientation and foundation process for newly registered practitioners into practice’
Other sections that have been incorporated into the curriculum to facilitate and take into account the attributes and characteristics of the requirements on the present day student paramedic, addresses the following topics:
Leadership
The College of Paramedics has adopted and integrated the ethos of the NHS Leadership Academy (2011a)Clinical Leadership Competency Framework (CLCF) into the curriculum guidance document and concurs with the supporting guidance introduced by the NHS Leadership Academy (2011b) for integrating the subject matter into the curricula by higher education institutions, particularly those that deliver paramedic science programmes.
Patient safety
This particular feature of patient care has always been an important aspect of paramedic practice; therefore, the professional body has incorporated and addressed the principles of evidenced-based practice of the World Health Organization (WHO) (2011) into the curriculum guidance to ensure that the recommended standards are addressed into practice throughout the UK.
Preceptorship
The introduction of preceptorship by the Department of Health (DH) (2010) has changed the orientation and foundation process for newly registered practitioners into practice within the UK National Health Service organisations. The curriculum guidance addresses the issues which the College consider relevant to paramedics during this transitional phase.
The College will provide a limited number of printed copies of the curriculum guidance. These will be made available to appropriate internal and external stakeholders, including: the College of Paramedics, council members, education advisory committee members, endorsement visitors, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Higher Education Institution (HEI) approved programme libraries, UK NHS Ambulance Service Trusts, Forum for Higher Education in Paramedic Science (FHEPS) members, and other allied health and non-medical professional bodies.
The College of Paramedics executive and council have already discussed and approved that following distribution of the printed copies of the Curriculum Guidance to internal and external members, an electronic pdf version of the 3rd edition of the Curriculum Guidance will be made freely available on the College website: www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/
As the College of Paramedics' Director of Professional Standards, I would implore all appropriate individuals, parties and organisations to integrate into their sphere of activity the ethos, principles and recommendations of the curriculum to ensure that paramedics are: ‘fit for award, fit for purpose, and most appropriately, fit for practice.’