Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Paramedic (integrated degree) standard?
Knowledge
K1: The HCPC regulated standards for paramedics: the ‘Standards of Proficiency – Paramedics’ and the HCPC ‘Standards of Conduct, performance and ethics’
K2: The statutory regulation and legislation that inform paramedic practice
K3: The principles and practice of gaining consent
K4: Data protection and confidentiality in relation to the role of paramedic
K5: The principles and practice of risk management, safeguarding and the duty of candour
K6: The range of theories and concepts that describe paramedic practice within emergency and urgent care
K7: The decision-making processes associated with paramedic practice
K8: The role and responsibilities of paramedics and that of other health and social care professionals including delegation and referral protocols
K9: Road safety legislation, high speed driving techniques and codes of practice
K10: Vehicle safety checks required for ambulances and rapid response vehicles including tyre pressure, oil, water and fuel levels
K11: Cleaning and decontamination protocols and processes used in paramedic practice
K12: The clinical, diagnostic, invasive and therapeutic equipment and resources required for paramedic practice including relevant safety checks
K13: Vehicle, stock and equipment recording and ordering processes and protocols
K14: A range of communication methods, strategies, interventions and media used in paramedic practice
K15: Verbal and non-verbal cues and how communication should be modified to address and take account of factors such as age, capacity, learning and physical ability and the condition of the patient
K16: The protocols and procedures required to ensure timely and efficient contact with the Emergency Operations Centre
K17: Various ways of communicating difficult and complex information in potentially challenging circumstances and how to check that it has been understood
K18: The importance of a person-centred approach, shared decision-making and the active involvement of the patient in their own care
K19: Your own professional accountability to share accurate and timely information with other healthcare professionals and services such as the police, fire service, social care or general practice
K20: Current regulation and protocols for recording patient data and the decisions you have taken regarding their care and transfer
K21: Reporting and escalation processes relevant to paramedic practice
K22: Clinical governance and ways to maintain standards, monitor and improve the quality and cost effectiveness of services provided by your team
K23: Own role and that of others in scene and incident management; continuing to develop knowledge as exposed to new third party roles
K24: The structure and function of the human body relevant to paramedic practice
K25: How paramedic principles are expressed and translated into action through a range of assessment, diagnosis and management approaches
K26: The conditions and care requirements frequently encountered in paramedic practice, covering the physiological, psychological and social needs of patients
K27: Current evidence-based practice decision-making and how working practices can be adapted or modified to meet the changing needs of the patient and/or environment
K28: The relevant course of action, based on a rational decision-making process and clinical safety including critical consideration of personal scope of practice and patient choice
K29: The equipment and procedures required to deliver care packages to resuscitate and stabilise patients
K30: Decision making processes for initiating, modifying or ceasing treatment or procedures according to the changing needs and condition of the patient
K31: Manual handling techniques including consideration of patient and situational needs
K32: Clinical leadership theories and strategies
K33: Coaching, mentoring, training and teamwork theories and strategies
K34: The role of a paramedic and other services in accidents and emergencies, disaster management, major incidents and public health emergencies
K35: Referral and transfer of care processes and protocols
K36: Principles of a ‘duty of care’, what this means for a paramedic and why it is important
K37: Strategies to promote, exchange and evaluate collaborative working within a multi-professional/disciplinary team
K38: Current legislation governing the use of medicines by paramedics
K39: Relevant pharmacology and the administration of therapeutic medications, including pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
K40: The processes and protocols for medicine management whilst in operation and on the station
K41: Infection prevention and control protocols and procedures
K42: Health and safety regulations relevant to paramedic practice
K43: Security measures relevant to paramedic practice including lone working, vehicle security and safe storage of medication
K44: The importance of an evidence-based approach, how to keep up to date with current best-practice and employ critical thinking when making decisions
K45: The importance of maintaining currency of knowledge and skills through continuing professional development in line with Health and Care Professions Council requirements
K46: The value of critical reflection, research and evidence-based practice and the need to undertake further study to continually improve the service and patient experience through career-long learning
K47: The importance of health, well-being, emotional intelligence and resilience for paramedics
K48: Quality assurance, audit and ways to continually improve your own clinical and operational performance and that of your team
K49: The importance of debriefing and review so that lessons can be addressed ready for future patient safety and management
Skills
S1: Practice autonomously, safely and effectively within the scope of practice and the legal and ethical boundaries of a paramedic
S2: Seek informed consent
S3: Be responsible and accountable for protecting data, maintaining confidentiality and sharing information in line with organisational policy
S4: Keep people safe, minimising risks, raising safeguarding concerns and reporting in line with organisational policy should errors or omissions occur
S5: Work within an unpredictable environment to carry out immediate and emergency care as required by the situation and patient
S6: Take professional accountability for your own practice and the decisions that you make
S7: Recognise the limitations of your own role and when to delegate or refer to others
S8: Use advanced driving skills to respond to emergency and routine calls and to safely transfer patients under emergency and non-emergency driving conditions
S9: Carry out vehicle checks, to ensure that the vehicle is road worthy, clean and stocked
S10: Clean, decontaminate and check equipment and stock to maintain a state of operational readiness
S11: Check and prepare diagnostic, invasive and therapeutic equipment
S12: Maintain accurate vehicle, stock and equipment records
S13: Communicate with patients and others in a professional, compassionate manner using methods, strategies, interventions and media relevant to the intended audience and context
S14: Communicate effectively using both written and verbal cues, modifying communication to address and take account of factors such as age, capacity, learning and physical ability and the condition of the patient
S15: Maintain regular and timely contact with the Emergency Operations Centre
S16: Explain and communicate information that may be complex, emotive or sensitive, maintaining a calm and professional manner to enable patients to make informed decisions and actively engage in their own care where possible
S17: Share relevant information in a timely manner with the wider multi-professional team, liaising with other services and giving your professional opinion as required
S18: Complete prompt, legible and accurate patient records, accurately recording observations, interventions, therapies and decisions taken, protecting data, maintaining confidentiality and sharing accurate information in line with organisational policy
S19: Report and escalate issues, risks and concerns in line with organisational policy
S20: Engage in the quality improvement of the service by sharing data, ideas, patient and colleague feedback in line with organisational policy
S21: Assess the scene, situation and environment and carry out risk management and/or mitigation
S22: Assess the physical and mental health needs of the patient and the criticality of their condition
S23: Diagnose and manage the patient’s condition, gaining consent, maintaining dignity and seeking to enhance well-being
S24: Apply evidence-informed treatment to currently accepted best practice
S25: Use critical problem-solving skills to make clinical decisions, adapting and modifying working practices as required for the patient and/or situation
S26: Provide an immediate course of treatment at the scene, in the patient’s home or on the way to the hospital or another service providing the highest standard of compassionate clinical care and personal care within the pre-hospital environment
S27: Use diagnostic, invasive, therapeutic and surgical equipment and procedures such as ventilation, defibrillation and airway management to resuscitate and stabilise patients
S28: Monitor the patient’s condition
S29: Move and handle patients safely in varied and uncontrolled environments
S30: Provide leadership in paramedic care, supervising and training others and acting as a role model
S31: Work in partnership with other health and social care professionals and agencies as part of the multi-professional, multi-disciplinary team to manage accidents, emergencies, disasters or incidents
S32: Ensure continuous duty of care, monitoring and maintain treatment until the patient is either discharged, referred or transferred to the care of another healthcare professional and agency
S33: Co-ordinate inter-professional and inter-disciplinary care, liaising with other services to secure patient-centred care
S34: Comply with current legislation on medicines management for paramedics
S35: Administer therapeutic medications to patients in the correct way for the patient’s condition and situation, recognising, recording and monitoring the effects
S36: Check supplies, request and dispose of medicines in line with organisational policy
S37: Ensure medicines are always stored securely when in operation and when at the station
S38: Apply infection prevention and control measures in line with organisational policy
S39: Adhere to current best practice for ensuring the health and safety of patients, self and others and relevant to the type of incident and location
S40: Ensure that the vehicle and contents are secure at all times
S41: Secure and keep safe patient’s property and/or belongings during treatment and transfer
S42: Make evidence-based decisions, thinking critically and drawing on experience in all situations
S43: Participate in continuous professional development and maintain a CPD portfolio
S44: Proactively seek and respond to feedback to improve own knowledge and skills and to improve the service and patient experience
S45: Monitor and evaluate the impact of your daily work on your own health, well-being, emotional intelligence and resilience and that of your team showing an awareness of your own responses to external stimulus
S46: Reflect on judgements and decisions taken in routine, complex and challenging situations by yourself and your team seeking to continually improve performance
S47: Objectively consider, evaluate and interpret information, actively monitoring and managing performance continually across a diverse range of situations
S48: Participate in de-briefings and reviews as required by the role, incident and situation
B3: Show respect and empathy for patients, their families and carers and those you work with
B4: Be adaptable, reliable and consistent
B5: Have the courage to challenge areas of concern
B6: Recognise and act within the limits of own competence seeking advice when needed
Duty 1
DUTY: Work in line with the Health and Care Professions Council statutory requirements and ethical boundaries
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5
K6
K7
K8
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Duty 2
DUTY: Drive an ambulance or rapid response vehicle under emergency and non-emergency driving conditions
K9
S8
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Duty 3
DUTY: Equip and maintain an ambulance or rapid response vehicle under emergency and non-emergency driving conditions
K10
K11
K12
K13
S9
S10
S11
S12
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Duty 4
DUTY: Communicate effectively with others
K14
K15
K16
K17
K18
K19
K20
K21
K22
S13
S14
S15
S16
S17
S18
S19
S20
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Duty 5
DUTY: Assess, evaluate, diagnose and manage the clinical and personal requirements of patients and situation
K23
K24
K25
K26
K27
S21
S22
S23
S24
S25
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Duty 6
DUTY: Provide effective treatment to patients providing the highest standard of clinical and personal care within the pre-hospital environment under emergency and non-emergency driving conditions
K28
K29
K30
K31
S26
S27
S28
S29
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Duty 7
DUTY: Work effectively as part of a team with other health and social care professionals, other services and agencies
K32
K33
K34
K35
K36
K37
S30
S31
S32
S33
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Duty 8
DUTY: Use, store and securely dispose of medicines in accordance with current protocols and legislation
K38
K39
K40
S34
S35
S36
S37
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Duty 9
DUTY: Oversee the health, wellbeing and safety of patients within the legal and ethical boundaries of a paramedic
K41
K42
K43
S38
S39
S40
S41
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Duty 10
DUTY: Maintain fitness to practice by ensuring own professional and clinical development is sustained
