WMAS are seeking to introduce and develop a new paramedic development and career pathway to enable a specialism in mental health crisis care within the pre-hospital ambulance setting which will see paramedics working autonomously as mental health professionals. In doing so it has identified a requirement for formal education and qualification, provided by a UK Higher Education Institution, to ensure that clinicians have sufficient knowledge to support specialist clinical practice.

West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust (WMAS), working in partnership with West Midlands Integrated Care Boards, is committed to delivering improvements in the delivery of care to patients presenting with mental health needs. The NHS Long Term Plan identifies an intent to both further ambulance clinicians understanding of mental health and introduce mental health response vehicles. In delivering against the above national strategic objections, WMAS are seeking to introduce and develop a new paramedic development and career pathway to enable a specialism in mental health crisis care within the pre-hospital ambulance setting which will see paramedics working autonomously as mental health professionals. In doing so it has identified a requirement for formal education and qualification, provided by a UK Higher Education Institution, to ensure that clinicians have sufficient knowledge to support specialist clinical practice.

The Authority (WMASUNHSFT) is procuring a single supplier for the provision of delivering a Post-Graduate Diploma (PgDip) Specialist Mental Health Paramedic qualification. This will be for seventeen (17) staff 'students’ with the option to increase in future with the needs of the Authority.