The College of Paramedics has an active interest in providing strategic direction for the educational quality and standards of programmes that prepare paramedics for clinical practice. It is important to clarify that the statutory responsibility for setting and monitoring paramedics’ educational standards lies with the profession's regulator, which is the Health Professions Council (HPC). In its role as the professional body, the College of Paramedics is committed to ensure that programmes developing paramedics produce suitably equipped practitioners that meet the wide variety of contemporary practice requirements required by professionals, service users, employers and commissioners.
Whilst the College cannot force compliance with its educational standards, there is sufficient capacity to allow expansion of activities to assess, monitor and review the quality of education programmes for paramedics offered by higher education institutions (HEIs); a process known as academic approval. This allows comparison of the programme to the aspirations, curriculum and direction produced by the College of Paramedics (College of Paramedics, 2008). Formal approval allows the establishment and propagation of a partnership between the College and HEI; providing input into the course and support for students. The University of Greenwich has become the first programme to achieve approval.
Curriculum Guidance and Competencies Framework
The development of a suitable curriculum by the College has formed a major component of the College's work prior to 2012. Over the next 12 months the approval process will be complemented by curriculum development work by the College, allowing an appraisal of quality of its implementation, identifying and promoting best practice to enhance student learning experiences.
The College believes that curriculum guidance should be central to the planning, implementation and delivery of educational curricula for paramedics. It needs to reflect contemporary directions in paramedic practice by consulting with several parties who hold an interest, not only College members but employer's representatives, educators and service users. Currently work is in progress by College members to develop a third edition of its curriculum guidance for publication in mid-2012. It published a first edition in February 2006 with the second edition following in January 2008.
The Curriculum Guidance and Competencies Framework form an extremely important document for the paramedic profession; it represents expert opinion and direction from paramedic professionals. The input from frontline clinicians provides expertise, experience, perspective and context on behalf of the paramedic profession to institutions providing development courses. The foreword to the second edition of the College of Paramedics’ Curriculum Guidance and Competencies Framework (College of Paramedics, 2008) explains the synergy between curriculum guidance and other important drivers:
‘This curriculum guidance does not stand alone in achieving a curriculum that delivers a paramedic suitably and fully prepared for the role expected of them. Closely linked to this work and to the process of approvals for FE/HEIs are three other important documents that strongly influence the standards and quality of paramedic services that aim to be delivered:
The 2008 Guidance also provided explanation regarding the scope of practice for the paramedic profession (College of Paramedics, 2008: 4):
‘The section on scope of practice found in this guidance defines what is expected from paramedics at each level of their career development and acknowledges that while the depth of clinical knowledge and skills remain central to good practice these aspects must be complemented by appropriate knowledge and attitudes.’
Clearly identifying any professional's scope of practice is important. The paramedic role has evolved from provision of immediate life-saving treatment and routine transportation to that of a fully rounded and complex healthcare professional who is required to assess, diagnose and treat a broad range of conditions. The recent National Audit Office report (National Audit Office, 2011) and Taking Healthcare to the Patient I & II (Department of Health (DH), 2005; Association of Chief Ambulance Officers, 2011) illustrate the changing clinical workload encountered by paramedics. This has included a rapid growth in undifferentiated urgent and emergency patients encountered by paramedics in their clinical practice. Also recognised is the increasing role that paramedics have in directing patient flow through NHS urgent and emergency care networks, both in current pathways and in emerging strategies of care delivery.
In response to these drivers, the College has developed a revised career framework. This aims to provide a framework illustrating potential career pathways for paramedics. The framework maps development routes for paramedics in specialisms to manage the broad range of patients encountered in their practice. The career framework is underpinned by current curriculum development by the College; integrating a potential developmental pathway from paramedic to consultant that is mapped to the Allied Health Professions career framework. It should be noted that NHS pay bands are determined by employing trusts independently of the College; references to bands within the curriculum/career framework refer to qualification/level of practice by paramedics only.
As an organization acting on behalf of its members, we welcome comment on our proposed career framework and curriculum development. Please send these to: jim.petter@collegeofparamedics.co.uk.
Continuing Professional Development
Just as the curriculum guidance does not stand alone in contributing to a coherent education framework, the combined documents and processes noted in the previous section will not meet their intended degree of effectiveness without the individual paramedic engaging in CPD as part of their professional responsibility. As noted in the College's 2008 Edition Curriculum Guidance:
‘The delivery of the curriculum leading to qualification and registration will need to be supported by taking up the personal responsibility for continuous professional development and professional standards.’
During 2011 the College of Paramedics demonstrated its commitment to CPD by running a programme of 16 events throughout England and Wales with the support of its regional group members and its Corporate Partner, Bound Tree Medical Services. The regional groups planned the content of their respective events based on issues they knew to be topical either at their regional level or nationally. The events were attended by more than 700 full, student or associate members of the College as well as non-members, and the feedback from all regions strongly supports the continuation of a CPD programme on an annual basis.
The College also organized and ran two rolling CPD skill stations within the main exhibition hall at the Emergency Services Show 2011. The practical CPD sessions were led by College members and a member of the Royal College of Midwives. The stations covered ‘Emergency Childbirth’ and ‘Basic Life Support’, and over the two days 70 people (both members and non members) took part and obtained participation certificates for their portfolios.
In its planning for 2012, many regions have already confirmed their dates and venues and the College has also put together the programme for the Paramedic Day at Life Connections 2012 and Trauma Care 2012, and worked in partnership with SADS UK to produce the community responder day at Life Connections.
The College is aiming to increase its support and guidance to the members who organise CPD, particularly through the development of core national themes to be included in the events. At the time of writing, the College is exploring the level of support it would receive from key groups and organisations for a significant part of the 2012 CPD programme to be dedicated to the revised Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee Clinical Guidelines.
While the CPD events continue to be embraced with enthusiasm by members, the College has begun planning to add to the delivery options for CPD. Electronic alternatives are currently being investigated as either stand-alone DVDs or for possible delivery online.
The Governing Council of the College of Paramedics recognizes that the main contributory factor leading to the success of the CPD programme has been a combination of our partnership with Bound Tree Medical Services and the significant contribution made by members of the regional groups who have worked tirelessly to plan and organise the individual events. Several regions arranged two or more events during the year and were rewarded by healthy attendances. Finally, the Council would like to express it gratitude to the many individual professionals who gave their time and expertise to speak at the 2011 events. Their enthusiasm and support provided a varied range of subject matter which undoubtedly contributed to the overall success of the CPD Programme.