EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Panel of Assessors for PHECC RI/ATI Applications

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI)

Panel of Assessors for PHECC RI/ATI Applications
9th May 2024

The Role of PHECC

The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is an independent statutory agency with responsibility for standards, education and training in the field of pre-hospital emergency care.
PHECC is the regulator for Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Practitioners in Ireland and our role is to protect the public. Council publishes clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and recognise institutions to provide pre-hospital emergency care training and education. In addition to maintaining a statutory register of practitioners, the Council also approves pre-hospital emergency care service providers to implement CPGs.

Title and Role

Assessor Panel member for Recognised Institution (RI) and Approved Training Institution (ATI) Applications and Course Approvals at Responder and Practitioner Levels.

Summary

You are invited to apply to be appointed to a panel of assessors that will participate in reviewing and assessing applications and supporting documentation submitted from organisations and individuals (sole traders) seeking recognised institution (RI) or Approved Training Institution (ATI) status to deliver PHECC Education and Training Standards at Responder or Practitioner levels. Assessments are also required for course approvals for established RI/ATIs.

Internal Assessment

In all awarding the main purpose of the assessment is for PHECC to verify compliance with the requirements of the Teaching Faculty Framework (TFF), the Education & Training Standards, and the PHECC Quality Review Framework (QRF) which have been approved by Council. Assessors play a key role in this crucial activity.

Roles and Responsibilities

Conduct each assessment to confirm the relevant criteria are in place for:
• Application for RI/ATI status
• Responder level to include provider and instructor courses – Cardiac First Response (CFR) Community and Advanced, CFR and Medications for Listed Organisations, First Aid Response (FAR), Emergency First Response (EFR), EFR and Basic Tactical Emergency Care (BTEC)
• EMS Call-Taker and EMS Dispatcher courses
• Practitioner level – Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic and Advanced Paramedic
• Faculty forms in support of responder and/or practitioner course

Assessment Detail

• Critical review of the relevant forms and supporting documentation submitted by the applicant or RI/ATI via SharePoint.
• Collecting, analysing and synthesizing of this information and relevant Quality Review Framework documents (i.e. Self-assessment reports (RISAR), Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) and onsite review reports) and making judgements and recommendations regarding the applications.
• Liaising with PHECC administrative support staff, Programme Development Officer for Education and Standards, ICT department staff and others as required, to effectively carry out responsibilities.
• Developing and finalising reports for the assessment of the relevant application.

Time Commitment

This will be subject to the number/volume of applications received and reviewed by PHECC RI. Applications are stored securely on PHECC SharePoint and as an assessor, you will be given a unique log in details to review individual applications and submit outcome reports. Successful applicants will be required to attend mandatory training, one day initially, with continuous monitoring and updates as required. Successful applicants should be in a position to commence the assessor position within 2 weeks of their appointment.

Tenure

Membership of the RI/ATI assessment panel will be for an indefinite period so long as both PHECC and the assessor are satisfied with the output. Induction and Training A comprehensive induction programme will be provided by PHECC to equip you to undertake the assessor role competently.

Remuneration

▪You will be paid per schedule of payments (fees differ per level of application reviewed. Assessors also earn an additional 8% holiday pay and travel/subsistence if required).

▪ Training/induction activities will attract travel payments only.
▪ Payment is made via a PHECC appointed third party payment service (if a limited company invoice PHECC directly).

Conflict of Interest

This role requires integrity and sensitivity in dealing with confidential matters. Successful applicants must maintain confidentiality of information about applicants and pertinent stakeholders on the application documentation.
Personal or professional relationships with Council or Committee members, Recognised Institutions, Approved Training Institutions and/or licensed CPG providers, or with PHECC staff, may be perceived as a conflict of interest and should be declared on application.
Successful applicants will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement and immediately declare any conflict (or perceived conflict) of interest regarding any assigned assessments.
Failure to declare conflicts of interest may lead to removal from any assessor panel that has been formed. PHECC reserves the right to remove assessors from the panel at the annual review point.

Application Process

Applicants will be required to submit a cover letter of application describing how their skills and experiences meet the requirements of the role (see Appendix 1– Assessor Specification) and a current Curriculum Vitae should be included.
Shortlisting of candidates may take place based on the information detailed in their application and CV. An informal interview may take place.
Applications (and any informal queries) should be emailed to Brendan Cawley at b.cawley@phecc.ie.
Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday May 31st, 2024.

APPENDIX 1 – ASSESSOR SPECIFICATION

1. Essential Requirements

1.1 Assessments at responder level (CFR C, CFR A, CFR & MLO, FAR, EFR):
Be a current PHECC certified instructor at EFR level or higher.
OR
Be a current Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic or Advanced Paramedic registrant and be an Educational Award Holder (Assistant Tutor, Tutor or Facilitator level).
OR
An appropriately qualified practitioner with extensive experience at that level.
OR
Be appropriately qualified in a similar area with extensive experience.
1.2 Assessments at practitioner level (Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic and Advanced Paramedic) courses:
Be a current EMT, Paramedic or Advanced Paramedic registrant and be a current Educational Award Holder (at Assistant Tutor, Tutor or Facilitator).
1.3 Be proficient in the use of digital technology, including IT literacy particularly MS Office and SharePoint with ability to navigate technology.
1.4 Be adaptable, open to feedback and critical appraisal and have the ability to follow the guidance of PHECC staff.

2. Essential Experience and Knowledge

• Knowledge of the PHECC Quality Review Framework, Teaching Faculty Framework and Education and Training Standards and ability to apply them to the assessment process.
• Knowledge and experience of developing, implementing and monitoring quality assurance and improvement programmes.
• Familiarity with the concepts of assessment, quality management systems and quality standards for education and training.
• Effective information-handling skills, absorbing complex information, making decisions based on evidence and logic, as pertaining to the PHECC standards and policies.
• Ability to apply objectivity and scrutiny to the governance of the assessor role.

3. Desirable Experience and Knowledge

• Have experience of reviewing and judging the performance of a peer or organisation for example as an assessor, reviewer or examiner.
• Display significant knowledge of the business and regulatory environment in which PHECC operates or demonstrate the capacity to acquire this knowledge.
• Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate effective judgement, decision making, analytical thought and initiative.
• Have a strong sense of ethics and integrity.
• Prior experience developing, reviewing and analysing policies and procedures.
• Ability to work as a team player.
• Conduct assessment and produce reports within the agreed timelines.