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Frequently Asked Questions

Education

What first aid courses do you run?

We can deliver a broad range of first aid courses, including:

  • Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work (1 Day)
  • Level 3 First Aid at Work (3 Days)
  • Level 3 First Aid at Work Refresher (2 Days)
  • Level 3 Emergency Paediatric First Aid (1 Day)
  • Level 3 Paediatric First Aid (2 Days)
  • Combined Emergency First Aid at Work & Emergency Paediatric First Aid (1 Day)
  • Combined First Aid at Work & Paediatrics First Aid (3 Days)
  • Level 2 Activity First Aid (2 Days)
  • Basic Life Support and AED (1/2 Day)
  • Basic Life Support and Management of Anaphylaxis (1/2 Day)
  • Basic Life Support for Adults & Children (1/2 Day)

What pre-hospital care courses do you run?

We currently deliver:

  • Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3) – (newer replacement to the old First Person on Scene qualification)
  • Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3) Requalification
  • Level 4 Certificate in First Response Emergency Care (FREC 4) – (foundation for ECA jobs, require blue lights to be full ECA qualified)

We will be delivering in the near future:

  • Level 5 Diploma in First Response Emergency and Urgent Care (FREUC 5)
  • Level 4 Diploma for Associate Ambulance Practitioners (AAP)

Can I book directly on to a FREC 4?

If you have an in-date FREC 3 certificate, you can book directly on to a FREC 4.

If you hold an equivalent qualification such as FPOS, we would request a copy of your certificate and submit it to Qualsafe for their approval/decision.

All learners must complete 118 hours of study and/or contextualised practice before they can begin the FREC 4.

Your FREC 3 or equivalent qualification must be in date at the time of booking the FREC 4.

My FREC 3 has expired, do I need to sit the full course again?

Yes, if the date on your FREC 3 certificate has expired, the course must be completed in full (all five days).

To qualify for a three-day requalification course the certificate must still be in-date on the first day of the course.

Can I complete my FREC 3 and 4 in consecutive weeks?

In short, no. You must complete 118 hours of CPD between completing your FREC 3 and starting your FREC 4.

We can apply for special consideration from Qualsafe outlining the circumstances of the application to complete consecutive courses, but ultimately the decision is not ours.

Do you do a discount for booking more than one course?

We offer 10% discount on FREC 4 for those who complete FREC 3 with us.

We are able to offer corporate and group booking rates for organisations training multiple employees, please contact [email protected].

I have a medical condition that means I cannot get down on to the floor, can I still complete a First Aid Course?

Ambutech Pre-Hospital Care and Qualsafe Awards support and comply with the requirements of the Equalities Act 2010. Any Learner assessment should be a fair test of their knowledge and the skills they have obtained however, for some Learners, the usual format of assessment may not be entirely suitable.

We are committed to making sure individuals with special educational needs, disabilities, temporary illness or injury or other adverse circumstance outside their control are not unfairly disadvantaged when undertaking qualifications or assessments.

With a view to removing barriers which prevent Learners from undertaking assessments, reasonable adjustments may be made, and special consideration may be given.

However, in some cases, reasonable adjustments may not be permitted due to published legal criteria. For example, if a Learner is unable to meet the requirements of a qualification that are outlined in Health & Safety legislation (which takes precedence over Equality legislation). In this scenario, we may issue learners with a certificate that details the Learners attendance and specific achievements on the course.

Our offices have access for wheelchairs and easy-access toilet facilities.

I have a learning disability which makes it difficult for me to complete written examinations, what support will I get?

The Equality Act 2010 defines disability as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

The aim of a reasonable adjustment is to reduce the negative impact of a disability on a Learner’s ability to achieve a qualification. The objective is that a Learner with a disability (as defined) experiences no discernible disadvantage through training delivery and assessment compared to a Learner that does not.

Examples of reasonable adjustments we can make for a Learner during a theory assessment include supporting Learners with dyslexia or other reading or writing disadvantages by:

  • Using coloured overlay on written questions
  • Giving additional time (usually 25%)
  • Reading the questions to the Learner and/or writing down the Learner’s answers.

Adjustments that are not “reasonable” may not be approved. For example, if the adjustment:

  • Incurs an unreasonable cost
  • Cannot be achieved in a reasonable timescale
  • Negatively impacts the integrity or security of the assessment

I have become unwell during my course and cannot continue/attend, what should I do?

Contact the office at your earliest convenience to discuss your circumstances. The guided learning hours set out by the awarding organisation must be met in order to meet the assessment criteria. We will take advice from Qualsafe where there is a significant reduction in guided learning attended and a decision will be made on a case-by-case basis.

What time does my course start and finish?

Course times are specified on the individual course pages on the website.

In addition, after booking your course, you will be issued with a set of joining instructions which detail the specifics of your course. If you have not received them, please contact [email protected]

Each course will finish at slightly different times at the discretion of the trainer, this can be dependent on the experience of the group, number of learners on the course etc but the course GLH should be met in all circumstances.

Where will the course take place?

The majority of our courses take place at our training centre:
Grafix House, 6 Boundary Road Swinton, Manchester, M27 4EQ.

Where a course is onsite at your workplace, specific information will be sent to you.

Is there parking at your training centre?

Free parking is available on site at our training centre. Further details are sent out in the course joining instructions.

I am attending a course, what should I wear?

Each of the modules involves a combination of classroom and practical sessions therefore comfortable dress is advised. We don’t recommend flip flops/open toe shoes/wedges/high heels or equivalent. Your clothing should be loose enough to be comfortable when moving around on the floor, lifting and carrying equipment and should protect you in these circumstances.

Are there kitchen facilities?

There are kitchen facilities including a fridge, microwave, toaster, kettle and coffee machine. You will be provided with hot beverages (tea, coffee and hot chocolate) semi-skimmed milk, oat milk, drinking water and a good selection of biscuits. We do not provide meals and advise that Learners bring lunch with them where possible. There are supermarkets and fast-food restaurants within a 5-minute walk.

How quickly will I receive my certificate?

We aim to issue certificates within 1 working day of completion of the course.

Certification may be subject to the quality assurance process and can take up to 21 days from completion of the course, although this is rare.

Digital certificates are issued by email, to the email address provided for the Learner on the Booking. Printed certificates are issued to the billing address.

I’d like to make a complaint about training I’ve received, what should I do?

If you feel you have reason to complain about the training offered or you have been unfairly assessed, you should access and follow the appeals and complaints procedures as outlined at the beginning of your course.

Initially, complaints should be raised with the course tutor, if this has been unsuccessful or remains unresolved, please complete this form: https://ambutech.co.uk/feedback.

If having followed our complaints and appeals procedure, you feel your complaint hasn’t been resolved, you may contact the awarding organisation, details are in the course joining instructions. Please note that the awarding organisation will not deal with your complaint if you have not followed our internal procedures.

Any non-training related complaints should be directed to [email protected]

Event Medical

Can you provide a medic for my event?

This is the most common email enquiry we receive, and we always reply with the same answer – “We can, but what kind of medic do you require?”

In the event industry the term medic is widely used, but what exactly is a ‘medic’?

You’d be surprised how many people think that everyone in a green ambulance uniform has the same clinical ability. This is far from the truth.

We have a little guide to help you know the difference – What is a medic?

What level of medical provision can you provide?

We can provide medical cover for events of all sizes. From one First Responder in a TV studio, through to multidisciplinary medical teams at music events.

Can you provide a medical area?

Yes. Depending on the size and location of your event, we can supply a suitable treatment area. This could be anything from a small gazebo through to a multi-bed medical centre.

What is your onboarding procedure for new staff?

We ensure we only employ the best people to represent Ambutech by having a robust and thorough onboarding process. The steps in this process are as follows:

  • Application form submitted
    • CV must have full working history
    • Clinical qualification check
  • Social media check
  • Interview (face to face)
  • Clinical assessment
  • References
    • Two references one of which must be the last employer
  •  DBS check
    • Enhanced check with adult and child barred lists
  • Driving licence check
  • Immunisation and immunity check
  • Mandatory training
    • All mandatory training modules must be completed prior to starting
  • Confidentiality agreement signing
  • Contract signing
  • Induction day
  • Uniform and ID card issuing

As you can see, there are a lot of steps to being onboarded with Ambutech. It’s hard to work for us, and we make no apologies for that.

This robust process ensures that only the best people are providing care at your event.

What training do your staff complete?

In addition to their relevant clinical qualification, all of our staff must complete our mandatory training prior to becoming operational. This training includes:

  • Autism Training and Awareness Course
  • Basic/Immediate/Advanced Life Support (Grade Dependant)
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Consent
  • Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
  • Dementia Awareness
  • Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
  • Equality, Diversity & Human Rights
  • Fire Safety
  • Health, Safety & Welfare
  • HM Government Prevent
  • Infection Prevention and Control Level 1: Non-Clinical
  • Infection Prevention and Control Level 2: Clinical
  • Information Governance
  • Mental Capacity Act
  • Moving & Handling Level 1
  • Moving & Handling Level 2: Patient
  • Person Centred Approaches Steps 1 and 2
  • Resuscitation Level 1
  • Resuscitation Level 2: Adults
  • Resuscitation Level 2: Paediatrics
  • Safeguarding Children Level 1
  • Safeguarding Children Level 2
  • Safeguarding Children Level 3
  • Safeguarding Adults Level 1
  • Safeguarding Adults Level 2
  • Safeguarding Adults Level 3
  • Level 3 Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk

Do you have robust clinical governance?

We’re proud to say we probably have one of the most robust clinical governance frameworks in the independent ambulance sector.

We have a Governance Committee which is comprised of our Managing Director, Clinical Lead, Safeguarding Lead and Education Lead as a minimum. This ensures that all decisions are multilateral and there is a clear and traceable audit trail.

What insurances do you hold?

As a minimum, we hold the following insurances:

  • £10m Employers Liability
  • £10m Public Liability
  • £2m Professional Indemnity

Plus blue light fleet insurance for our vehicles.