What is the FCP Pathway?

When you join Penrose Health, you may be required to undertake the First Contact Practitioner course through one of the HEE funded university (educational providers) Taught routes as a mandatory requirement of your employment, unless you are exempt (already FCP or higher trained).

You should apply and enrol on one of the courses within the first six months of your employment. The study leave hours for the course may take between 120 - 200 hours per semester, which will include study days, supervision time and self-study time. You’ll be required to sign a training agreement before enrolling to cover these hours - see our 📚Learning & Development page for more information. You will be supported with your application by your Lead and our L&D Coordinator.

Course Content

The FCP Pathway is designed to enhance your ability to complete a detailed assessment of undifferentiated and undiagnosed primary care presentations and provide you with the appropriate knowledge base to anticipate problems to manage patients accordingly.

The PGCert is the taught route to becoming a recognised FCP, and is underpinned by six main areas:

Application

Health Education England are currently providing funded places within a group of universities across the UK for the FCP Taught routes. The funding is available for a limited timeframe (tbc).

All FCP courses can be completed remotely, so you do not need to live in the same city as the university to undertake the full course.

The list of current funded education provider courses can be found here: Education Providers of FCP Training. Make sure to view the education providers who offer the FCP Roadmap supported for Paramedics.

Application Requirements

There are two types of application entrants, which are dependant on your longevity as a registered Paramedic and your highest level of qualification.

FCP Roadmap

The FCP for Paramedics Roadmap was introduced in 2021, with the most recent changes being made in 2023. It is designed to provide standardisation to assure governance and ultimately patient safety. The Roadmap is split into two stages, but requires pre-requisite training prior to starting the course.

Pre-requisite Training

Prior to applying for the course, you must complete some set e-learning modules. You’ll need to provide evidence of completion of these modules during the application process.

You will be assigned a module on the 🎓Penrose Academy containing links to these modules for your ease of access! It includes:

• 8 MSK-related e-learning modules from 🌐e-lfh
• 3 Personalised Care e-learning modules from 👤Personalised Care Institute (PCI)

You must also complete all of your mandatory training through Blue Stream Academy.

Stage 1

During Stage 1, you will need to demonstrate, in writing, how your experiences meet certain knowledge, skills and attributes (KSA) criteria.

Currently universities expect you to write between three to five essays (depending on university requirements) covering 12 capabilities, each with a set of different criteria. Your KSA essays should describe how you meet these criteria, however, it’s important to note that you do not need to meet every single piece of criteria in each or all essays.

Your essays can consist on your current experience working in primary care or of any other prior experiences in healthcare settings which reflect your knowledge, skills and attributes in relation to the capabilities. An easy way to prepare is for some of these essays in your current role to observe patients in primary care and keep a log of observations under supervision to use for the essays.

Stage 2

Stage 2 will require you to develop a professional portfolio of evidence which demonstrates a post-graduate level of practice in relation to First Contact Practice.

Your portfolio should contain a wide variety of evidence, demonstrating critical exploration and awareness of current evidence-based practice, scholarship and research, and quality improvement initiatives.

Your portfolio will developed using workplace-based assessments, using tools and gathered evidence, such as questionnaires, quality improvement projects and multi-source feedback.

Clinical Supervision

Designated Clinical Supervisor

You will have a designated clinical supervisor allocated to you prior to your application for the FCP course. Once you’ve started the course, the university will oversee the education process and work with your clinical supervisor to support you to meet the level 7 learning outcomes. Part of the course will be delivered within your clinical practice, where you will be able to undertake workplace-based learning under your clinical supervisor. You will be expected to work with your clinical supervisor, organising your diaries to have regular catch-ups and attend them, and agree clear milestones together.

You can receive support from more than one supervisor (but only your designated supervisor can sign-off).

Clinical Learning & Supervised Practice

The roadmap specifies that you will be required to attain a minimum of 75 hours of clinical learning and supervised practice over the course timeframe (these hours are part of the 120 - 200 required hours). 50 of these hours of clinical practice must be under direction and supervision of a clinical supervisor, who will contribute to your portfolio and competency sign-off.

This can consist of:

It’s your responsibility to discuss and set out your learning plan with your clinical supervisor.

Verification & Certification

Your clinical supervisor will be responsible for verifying and signing-off your portfolio of evidence. You can then submit your portfolio to the university for final assessment.

After completing the course, you will receive a PGCert in Paramedic First Contact Practitioner: Practice Development. The university will issue a certificate to you to indicate successful completion under the Taught route.