Delivering Qualsafe Awards’ FREC® Qualifications

At a glance:

At Qualsafe approved Training Centre East of England Ambulance Service, paramedics and trained clinicians deliver a wide range of courses, including the sector leading First Response Emergency Care (FREC®) qualification range to its own staff and multiple organisations across the East of England.

FREC® is a progressive qualification range which focuses on empowering learners to deliver high quality patient care, by carefully balancing theoretical and practical based learning.

Highlights from the past decade from Lecturer Practitioner, Jess Butwright:

“We had the pleasure of delivering a Level 4 FREC® course to a group of volunteers, as part of a wider Trust initiative called Volunteer to Career. The learners were all Community First Responders looking to start their careers in the ambulance service. Qualsafe were very supportive of this, firstly negotiating a recognition of prior learning route, so the learners could move straight into Level 4 FREC®. The course was a big leap up in knowledge for the learners, but the resources and lessons provided by Qualsafe gave me confidence that I could encourage the learners through the course.

A couple of the learners were absolute stars, evidencing fantastic skills and dedication to passing the course. As a result of passing the Level 4 FREC®, we now have volunteers starting their ambulance service careers at frontline staff.”

What else stands out for you over the last 10 years?

“I delivered another memorable course to Luton Airport Fire Brigade. With a cohort of around forty learners, we delivered multiple FREC® 3 courses over a 4-week period. Qualsafe’s resources supported delivery. This FREC® delivery has led to an ongoing relationship with our blue light colleagues, who we continue to visit with FREC® course delivery and collaboration with frontline services.”

Key qualification information;

• The Level 3 FREC® qualification celebrated its 10th birthday in 2025.
• East of England Ambulance Service has delivered FREC® qualifications since 2015.
• Over 58,000 learners have been certificated with Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (RQF).
• The qualification range is designed by experienced clinicians for those working, or aspiring to work, in wide range of first-responder roles in independent or NHS ambulance services, event medical teams, or private medical organisations.

Why choose to deliver FREC®?

1. In 2023, the nationally recognised, regulated Level 3 FREC® qualification was fully updated to reflect contemporary, evidence-based practice. The changes continue the tradition of an evolving qualification, ensuring it remains fit-for-purpose.
2. Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (RQF) meets the staffing requirements detailed in the Purple Guide for Health, Safety, and Welfare at Outdoor Events. It is the only Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCS Ed) – Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (FPHC) endorsed qualification listed in the Purple Guide at PHEM D.
3. The FREC® pathway of qualifications are used across various industries to give learners the confidence, competence and credentials to thrive as a prehospital care provider.

Take a look:

Find out more about the work of East of England Ambulance Service and their professional health training courses: www.traineeast.org

Take a look at the FREC® qualifications in the Qualsafe Prehospital Care qualification suite:
👉 www.qualsafe.org/qualifications/prehospital-care