Level 4 Award in Out of Hospital Adult Immediate Life Support
Course Overview
The Level 4 Award in Out of Hospital Adult Immediate Life Support, a Qualsafe Award, is designed to optimise learners’ performance when managing deteriorating patients, resuscitation attempts, and related out-of-hospital emergencies. The qualification builds on existing clinical knowledge and skills in patient assessment, recognising deterioration, devising working diagnoses, and effective management. Learners will develop teamwork and resuscitation skills for patients in medical or traumatic cardiac arrest in prehospital environments. The course aligns with Resuscitation Council UK, JRCALC Clinical Practice Guidelines, Skills for Health CSTF, and the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care (PHEM) Framework.
Intended Audience
This course is suitable for healthcare professionals, emergency care providers, ambulance care support workers, associate practitioners, and others with responsibilities for delivering out-of-hospital emergency care. It is relevant to:
- Registered nurses, paramedics, and allied health professionals
- Emergency care providers and ambulance support staff
- Specialist roles within emergency services or military operations
- Individuals required to provide urgent or emergency care in prehospital environments
Topics Covered
Learners will engage in both theoretical and practical content, including:
- Patient assessment and recognising deterioration
- Performing immediate life support interventions
- Resuscitation of patients in medical and traumatic cardiac arrest
- Clinical decision-making in out-of-hospital emergencies
- Teamwork and communication during resuscitation events
- Applying CSTF Level 1–3 Adult Immediate Life Support competencies
Entry Requirements
Learners must be at least 18 years old at the start of training and have prior clinical skills training at or above Level E on the PHEM framework. Candidates must have completed a Qualsafe Level 4 Certificate in First Response Emergency Care (RQF) or hold a higher clinical qualification/grade (e.g., registered nurse, paramedic, or allied healthcare professional) with experience in prehospital care.
Progression
Completion of this Level 4 Award may support further professional development in prehospital and out-of-hospital emergency care, including advanced clinical practice, specialist emergency response roles, and higher-level prehospital qualifications.
Requalification Requirements
This Qualsafe Award is valid for 1 year. Learners must retake the qualification before the certificate expiry date to remain qualified. Requalification requires successful completion of the full original course, ensuring competence across CSTF Level 1–3 Adult Immediate Life Support outcomes.