Monday 15 April 2013
JOINT FAQ FROM UNISON & YAS
Emergency Medical Technician to Paramedic Conversion Courses 2013-14 - Frequently Asked Questions
The Trust’s approved A&E Workforce Plan includes the provision of 70 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to Paramedic conversion training places during the 2013-14 financial year.
A number of queries have been raised about the conversion courses by EMTs over the last few weeks and the following question and answer document has been put together by YAS and UNISON.
Q1. Why do the Higher Education (HE) assessments have to take place? Many EMTs do not feel confident having to do assessments.
A1. The Observed Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) assessments are set at EMT level and are linked to skills that are practically related to the EMT role, are a requirement of the University, and have been a minimum requirement since the programme’s inception.
The EMT to Paramedic conversion programme is delivered by Sheffield Hallam University and is fully funded by the NHS within Yorkshire. It is formally linked to the two-year Diploma in Paramedic Science.
EMTs are given 60 Level 4 credits for their existing EMT qualification out of the 120 Level 4 credits needed to exempt them from the first year of the programme. This means that EMTs accessing the programme have to undertake the following to meet the 60 credit shortfall to be eligible to access the second year of the programme:
- Attend three Developing Academic Skills (DAS) days.
- Complete a practice related portfolio.
- Complete four OSCEs.
These aspects must be successfully completed before the student can formally attend the programme. Therefore the OSCE assessments are a requirement of the programme which cannot be removed.
Q2. What support will be offered up front to these EMTs?
A2. The Education and Standards Team will continue to provide support to everyone undertaking the OSCE assessment process through workshops and by providing practice sessions. You should contact your local training centre to discuss your individual needs for support.
In addition, specific OSCE assessment workshop dates for EMTs are being advertised through Operational Update.
Q3. When the Trust say full support will be given, what, how, to what level and who will give this support?
A3. Support will be offered in a number of ways, firstly through the Education and Standards Team offering pre-OSCE support, in the form of workshops and practical practice sessions. Once you have started the programme, a range of support packages can be accessed via both Sheffield Hallam University and Education and Standards in the form of workshops, an assigned personal tutor, drop-in centres and tutorials. The Trust is committed to providing the support needed to ensure you are able to meet the development opportunities linked to the A&E Workforce Plan.
Q4. There are some EMTs who have failed their conversion because of one OSCE. They do not feel they have been supported at all, and have been told their only option is to go through everything again. What does the Trust do to support these EMTs?
A4. The assessment process within the EMT to Paramedic conversion programme is linked to academic guidelines and formal requirements; they are an aspect of the assessment and therefore a strict process of attainment of standards and procedure is required. This is a quality assurance requirement that the University takes very seriously and is monitored by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as part of the formal accreditation process. Therefore, as with all educational programmes, students can and unfortunately do fail, sometime due to a single element.
There is a range of support options which are available and offered through the University which students can access through the course tutors. In addition, students can and have accessed support through their local training units. Clinical Development Tutors work closely with the University and also undertake the University OSCE assessments as part of their role; therefore they are able to provide support relating to the programme and the assessment requirements.
As part of the A&E Workforce Plan, and in conjunction with Sheffield Hallam University, a range of workshops will be available for students to attend. These will be facilitated by the Education and Standards Service within the YAS environment, the aim of which is to support students through the programme and help with assessment criteria.
Q5. If an EMT decided to do the conversion, are they guaranteed their base station as a Paramedic, or will vacancies be advertised as before and you apply with bias to the home station?
A5. The changes agreed in the Workforce Plan require us to increase the number of Paramedics across the A&E workforce. You will return to your base station and onto your rota line.
Q6. Why do I need to do the assessments? I find them daunting, why can’t I be assessed whilst doing my role on the road?
A6. This process is a requirement of the University and falls within the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process. There are specific aspects that must be demonstrated in order to meet the OSCE requirements which cannot be appropriately assessed in the operational environment, therefore the assessments must be undertaken in the simulated or classroom environment.
Q7. What help would I receive? I have not studied for many years (or never studied to this level). I have no knowledge of University courses or what is involved.
A7. The Education and Standards Team will provide a range of support options, including pre-assessment workshops, and skills centre revision. While on the University element of the programme, there are a range of support options which all students can access through their support tutor or the learning needs facilitator. In addition, Education and Standards will be offering support workshops for EMTs on the various modules and assessment processes to enable and support you to achieve the programme outcomes.
Q8. I am being asked to put my name forward to do the conversion to Paramedic but no vacancies are being advertised. How do I know my station has a vacancy for a Paramedic?
A8. As part of the A&E Workforce Plan which has been agreed with UNISON members, most EMTs are expected to convert to Paramedic. Consequently, the previous system of application linked to vacancies does not now apply because most of the existing EMT roles will become Paramedic roles as part of the changes required over the 5 years. There is provision within the workforce plan for a small number of EMTs to continue in their current role of employment recognising that not everyone will have the ability or is at a stage in their career where they do not wish to progress to become a paramedic. The overall effect is that there should be sufficient paramedic vacancies at each location.
Q9. Where will I be based during my training and more importantly, once qualified, if there is still no vacant line on the Band 5 rota, will I just go back to my existing rota line at my base station until a line becomes available?
A9. We will not be moving EMTs from their base station when they start their conversion course as we are encouraging all EMTs to do the training.
Q10. What are the start dates for the conversion courses? If I pass the assessments, can I decide which course I attend?
A10. The start dates as well as the days required in University have been published via Operational Update along with the dates of further assessments. Release will be managed by the Trust, based on the availability of operational cover across the whole county. If there is a personal reason why you cannot attend a specific course, you should discuss this at an early stage with your line manager. The dates for the remaining cohorts for 2013-2014 are below:
October 2013 Course
Developing Academic Skills Days
Wednesday 19 June 2013 (Enrolment Day)
Wednesday 17 July 2013
Wednesday 31 July 2013
Submission date is the end of August 2013.
|
W/c |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
07.10.13 |
UEEIP |
UEEIP |
UEEIP |
UEEIP |
UEEIP |
|
14.10.13 |
DCP |
DCP |
DCP |
DCP |
DCP |
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21.10.13 |
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PPP2A |
SB2/PP2A |
SB2/PP2A |
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28.10.13 |
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SB2/PP2A |
SB2/PP2A |
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04.11.13 |
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SB2/PP2A |
SB2/PP2A |
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11.11.13 |
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SB2/PP2A |
SB2/PP2A |
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18.11.13 |
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OSCE |
OSCE |
OSCE |
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W/c |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
|
31.03.13 |
PIP2 |
PIP2 |
|
SB2/PP2B |
PP2B |
|
07.04.13 |
PIP2 |
PIP2 |
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SB2/PP2B |
PP2B |
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28.04.13 |
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SB2/PP2B |
PP2B |
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05.05.13 |
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SB2/PP2B |
PP2B |
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12.05.13 |
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SB2/PP2B |
PP2B |
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19.05.13 |
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PP2B |
PP2B |
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26.05.13 |
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PP2B |
PP2B |
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02.06.13 |
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PP2B |
PP2B |
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09.06.13 |
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PP2B |
PP2B |
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W/c |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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30.06.13 |
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OSCE |
OSCE |
OSCE |
OSCE |
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February 2014 Course
Developing Academic Skills Days
Wednesday 11 September 2013 (Enrolment Day)
Wednesday 2 October 2013
Thursday 7 November 2013
Submission date is Friday 6 December 2013.
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W/c |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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03.02.14 |
PP2A |
SB2/PP2A |
SB2/PP2A |
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10.02.14 |
IPE |
IPE |
IPE |
IPE |
IPE |
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17.02.14 |
IPE |
IPE |
IPE |
IPE |
IPE |
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24.02.14 |
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SB2/PP2A |
SB2/PP2A |
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03.03.14 |
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SB2/PP2A |
SB2/PP2A |
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10.03.14 |
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SB2/PP2A |
SB2/PP2A |
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17.03.14 |
OSCE |
OSCE |
OSCE |
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W/c |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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26.05.14 |
Bank Holiday |
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SB2/PP2B |
PP2B |
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02.06.14 |
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SB2/PP2B |
PP2B |
PIP2 |
PIP2 |
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09.06.14 |
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SB2/PP2B |
PP2B |
PIP2 |
PIP2 |
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16.06.14 |
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SB2/PP2B |
PP2B |
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23.06.14 |
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SB2/PP2B |
PP2B |
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30.06.14 |
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PP2B |
PP2B |
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07.07.14 |
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PP2B |
PP2B |
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14.07.14 |
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PP2B |
PP2B |
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21.07.14 |
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PP2B |
PP2B |
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W/c |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
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27.07.14 |
OSCE |
OSCE |
OSCE |
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Key
- OSCE - Observed Structured Clinical Examination
- PIP2 - Professional Issues in Paramedic Practice 2
- UEEIP - Use and Evaluate Evidence to Inform Practice
- DCP - Developing Collaborative Practice
- PPP2A - Preparing for Paramedic Practice 2a
- PPP2B - Preparing for Paramedic Practice 2b
- SB2 - Scientific Basis for Paramedic Practice 2
