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Ambulance Newly Qualified Paramedics (NQP) Survey 2024

NQP Survey

This survey is for Newly Qualified Paramedics (NQPs) working in ambulance Trusts or those who have completed the NQP programme in the last 5 years to find out more about the issues you’ve faced/are facing at work as an NQP.

We want to hear your views on the Newly Qualified Paramedic programme, the impact it has had on your career thus far and what support you might need from UNISON as the lead trade union in the ambulance sector.

The survey should take no longer than 5-10 minutes to complete and the results will be used in discussions we have with employers regarding issues affecting our NQPs and the delivery of the NQP programme.

This survey is open to members and non-members. If you’re not a member of UNISON, you can join online: http://join.unison.org.uk/.

1. Which ambulance service do you work for:

2. Are you a member of UNISON?

3. How old are you?

4. Did/do you work part time or full time as an NQP?

If you work part time, has your employer extended the NQP period beyond the two years proportionate to your contracted hours?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

5. When did you begin working for your Trust as an NQP?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. How familiar are you with the NQP programme?

7. Does your employer offer a NQP fast track programme?

Yes
No
Don't know

If you answered yes above, are you on the fast track programme?

Yes (please provide details if known) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.
No

8. As an NQP, you automatically transition from a band 5 to a band 6 after a 24-month period unless in exceptional circumstances.

Do you anticipate any issues arising in your transition from a band 5 to a band 6?

Please also answer this question if you are someone that has recently completed the NQP programme.

Yes (please provide details) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.
No
Don't know

9. Did your employer provide you with an induction when you entered the workforce as an NQP?

10. Please rate the following statements. My employer:

If you’ve already completed the programme, please answer the questions based on the support you received from your employer.

Space Cell	Always	Often	Sometimes	Never	Don't know
Provides me with a committed period of time working alongside a paramedic	Provides me with a committed period of time working alongside a paramedic: Always	Provides me with a committed period of time working alongside a paramedic: Often	Provides me with a committed period of time working alongside a paramedic: Sometimes	Provides me with a committed period of time working alongside a paramedic: Never	Provides me with a committed period of time working alongside a paramedic: Don't know
Provides me with a dedicated clinical mentor or practice educator (or equivalent person) who is suitably qualified to provide further support and guidance as necessary	Provides me with a dedicated clinical mentor or practice educator (or equivalent person) who is suitably qualified to provide further support and guidance as necessary: Always	Provides me with a dedicated clinical mentor or practice educator (or equivalent person) who is suitably qualified to provide further support and guidance as necessary: Often	Provides me with a dedicated clinical mentor or practice educator (or equivalent person) who is suitably qualified to provide further support and guidance as necessary: Sometimes	Provides me with a dedicated clinical mentor or practice educator (or equivalent person) who is suitably qualified to provide further support and guidance as necessary: Never	Provides me with a dedicated clinical mentor or practice educator (or equivalent person) who is suitably qualified to provide further support and guidance as necessary: Don't know
Provides me with a formal review of progress against the programme themes and expectations set at a minimum of every 6 months	Provides me with a formal review of progress against the programme themes and expectations set at a minimum of every 6 months: Always	Provides me with a formal review of progress against the programme themes and expectations set at a minimum of every 6 months: Often	Provides me with a formal review of progress against the programme themes and expectations set at a minimum of every 6 months: Sometimes	Provides me with a formal review of progress against the programme themes and expectations set at a minimum of every 6 months: Never	Provides me with a formal review of progress against the programme themes and expectations set at a minimum of every 6 months: Don't know
Works with me to identify and create an individual development plan to support required areas of development	Works with me to identify and create an individual development plan to support required areas of development: Always	Works with me to identify and create an individual development plan to support required areas of development: Often	Works with me to identify and create an individual development plan to support required areas of development: Sometimes	Works with me to identify and create an individual development plan to support required areas of development: Never	Works with me to identify and create an individual development plan to support required areas of development: Don't know
Gives me constructive feedback	Gives me constructive feedback : Always	Gives me constructive feedback : Often	Gives me constructive feedback : Sometimes	Gives me constructive feedback : Never	Gives me constructive feedback : Don't know
Provides required input to develop necessary skills, required locally or to support achievement of competences	Provides required input to develop necessary skills, required locally or to support achievement of competences: Always	Provides required input to develop necessary skills, required locally or to support achievement of competences: Often	Provides required input to develop necessary skills, required locally or to support achievement of competences: Sometimes	Provides required input to develop necessary skills, required locally or to support achievement of competences: Never	Provides required input to develop necessary skills, required locally or to support achievement of competences: Don't know
Identifies gaps in learning and seek to provide experiences to enable application of all skills	Identifies gaps in learning and seek to provide experiences to enable application of all skills: Always	Identifies gaps in learning and seek to provide experiences to enable application of all skills: Often	Identifies gaps in learning and seek to provide experiences to enable application of all skills: Sometimes	Identifies gaps in learning and seek to provide experiences to enable application of all skills: Never	Identifies gaps in learning and seek to provide experiences to enable application of all skills: Don't know
Provides access to clinical support on each shift to support decision making	Provides access to clinical support on each shift to support decision making: Always	Provides access to clinical support on each shift to support decision making: Often	Provides access to clinical support on each shift to support decision making: Sometimes	Provides access to clinical support on each shift to support decision making: Never	Provides access to clinical support on each shift to support decision making: Don't know
Provides access to health and wellbeing support	Provides access to health and wellbeing support: Always	Provides access to health and wellbeing support: Often	Provides access to health and wellbeing support: Sometimes	Provides access to health and wellbeing support: Never	Provides access to health and wellbeing support: Don't know
Provides me with an environment in which I can practice my skills safely	Provides me with an environment in which I can practice my skills safely: Always	Provides me with an environment in which I can practice my skills safely: Often	Provides me with an environment in which I can practice my skills safely: Sometimes	Provides me with an environment in which I can practice my skills safely: Never	Provides me with an environment in which I can practice my skills safely: Don't know

11. Are/were you provided with thematic milestones to be discussed at your reviews?

12. Have you been expected to exercise independent clinical practice as the sole registered clinician on an ambulance from day one as an NQP?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

13. Are/were you expected to supervise students as part of your NQP programme?

Yes
No
Don't know

If you answered yes to the question above, do/did you feel comfortable supervising students?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

14. How would you rate the standard of the NQP programme in your trust?

15. How important do you consider the NQP programme to be for newly registered paramedics?

Vital
Fairly important
Not very important
Not important at all

16. Do/did you think providing a preceptorship like the NQP programme should be mandatory for employers of newly qualified paramedics?

17. Do you believe you have the knowledge, skills and competencies to undertake your paramedic role from the moment you entered the ambulance workforce as an NQP?

18. What do you think are the three main factors affecting access or the quality of the NQP programme in your Trust? Please tick all that apply

Lack of preceptors (clinical mentor, practice educator or equivalent)
Lack of time
Workplace pressures (e.g handover delays)
Not a priority of senior management
Funding
Lack of awareness around the programme (from NQPs)
Other Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

19. In your opinion, what would a good NQP programme involve? Tick all that apply

A named preceptor
Regular meetings between preceptor and
Clinical supervision
Time with ambulance/paramedic clinical leaders
Opportunities for self-reflection
More awareness of my employer’s obligations when it comes to the programme
More awareness of my own obligations when it comes to the programme
I'm not sure
Other Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

20. Once you’ve completed the NQP programme, do you intend to continue working as a paramedic in your ambulance Trust?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

21. Is there anything else you would like to share with us on the NQP programme?