PISCEs project helps student paramedics with care and communication skills
Paramedic Science students have been learning essential skills of caring and communication to complement their clinical training in social care settings around Kirklees.
The Paramedics in Social Care Environments (PISCEs) project was developed with funding from NHS Education (NHSE), and the 30 first year paramedic science students who took part will benefit from the care certificate gained from working in care home and other social care institutions.
The need for an improvement in what can be termed ‘soft skills’ was identified due to paramedics frequently being called out to attend incidents such as falls in care homes, where there is even more need for understanding and clear communications alongside their paramedic training.
Improving soft skills in a real world setting
The real-world environment of local care homes and social care facilities offered the Huddersfield students an invaluable insight into how to care for vulnerable people away from the incidents they might attend where direct lifesaving skills are in demand.
“The PISCEs project is something that I truly believe will help the paramedics of tomorrow,” says Tamsyn Westin, Head of Paramedic Practice Education.
“Since the majority of being a paramedic is talking and connecting to services users and their friends and families, the PISCEs project gives the learners the change to practice these fundamental skills whilst also learning about social care and the impacts they have upon residents lives.
"Not all jobs a paramedic goes to require paramedic skills, but all require caring and communication.”
Darren Whitehead from Meadow Court Care Home said, “The four students we have had with us were a credit to the scheme and wonderful with our residents. They have been able to observe and assist both nurse practitioner and visiting paramedics, and we have had nothing but a positive experience with the students.”
The PISCEs project was run with the cooperation of Kirklees Care Association (KirCA), a consortium of social care service providers and private organizations in the Kirklees area.