Information regarding Technician-to-Paramedic progression pathways: FOI release

Information requested

This request relates specifically to discussions concerning progression from ambulance technician roles into paramedic qualification and is not intended to include general ambulance workforce planning unrelated to progression routes.

Please provide recorded information, including correspondence, meeting minutes, briefing papers, discussion papers, and options papers involving the Scottish Government and the Scottish Ambulance Service relating to:

1. Technician-to-paramedic progression pathways in Scotland, including any structured progression model for existing ambulance service staff.

2. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), advanced entry, accelerated routes, employment-based routes, apprenticeship-style approaches, or other flexible pathways into paramedic qualification for experienced ambulance service staff.

3. Any discussion, proposal, evaluation, consideration, support, rejection, postponement, or discontinuation of technician-to-paramedic progression models in Scotland.

4. Discussions concerning barriers to progression for ambulance technicians into paramedic qualification, including, where discussed in relation to technician progression:

• university admissions arrangements;
• commissioned university places;
• funding arrangements;
• workforce planning considerations; or
• retention and workforce sustainability.

5. Correspondence or discussions between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Ambulance Service concerning whether experienced ambulance technicians should have a structured or alternative route toward paramedic qualification or registration.

To assist in keeping this request within statutory cost limits, I am content for searches to be limited to material involving the Scottish Ambulance Service and relevant Scottish Government policy teams only.

I am also content for electronic searches to prioritise records containing terms such as:

• “technician to paramedic”
• “ambulance technician”
• “paramedic pathway”
• “RPL”
• “Recognition of Prior Learning”
• “advanced entry”
• “accelerated route”
• “employment-based”
• “earn while you learn”
• “grow your own”
• “paramedic workforce pipeline”’

Response

I enclose a copy of the information you requested.

Exemption under sections, s.38(1)(b) personal information, s.30(b)(ii) Free and Frank exchange of views and s.30(b)(i) Free and Frank exchange of advice of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested.

The reason for this is that some of the information requested is exempt from disclosure under FOISA as it contains personal information and records the free and frank exchange of advice and views between officials, where disclosure would be likely to inhibit such discussions in the future.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

FOI 202600520647 - Information released - Documents

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FOI 202600520647 - Information released - Document 14

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