Advanced Paediatric Life Support(APLS), 06-07/10/2026

The APLS course provides the knowledge and skills necessary for recognition and effective treatment and stabilisation of children with life threatening emergencies, using a structured, sequential approach. The APLS course is a 2 day face-to-face course.

Learning Outcomes

The APLS course provides the knowledge and skills necessary for recognition and effective treatment and stabilisation of children with life threatening emergencies, using a structured, sequential approach.

• The seriously ill and or injured child needs to be treated as an individual; there are four key differences that determine treatment: weight, anatomy, physiology, and psychology.
• The structured approach focuses the clinician on resuscitation, emergency treatment followed by stabilisation and transfer to definitive care.
• APLS aims to teach and assess the acquisition and use of technical skills. In addition, the course considers communication and other human factors, which are key to generating the highest quality and safest health care

Who is this course suitable for?

The Advanced Paediatric Life Support programme is for those from a medical, nursing, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Operating Department Practitioner, Resuscitation Training Officer, physician associates background for whom APLS is relevant to their working practice and are currently working or employed in a relevant role. ALSG recommend that nurses are senior staff nurses (band 6) and above. Experienced band 5 staff nurses may undertake the course but would benefit from attending PLS first.

APLS is an advanced course, and we strongly recommend that candidates have already acquired basic paediatric life support skills on a course such as PLS (PILS or local equivalent) before applying for and attending an APLS course.

**PLEASE NOTE YOU WILL BE REQUESTED TO SHOW A PHOTO ID UPON REGISTRATION**

Pre-Course Preparation

Four weeks prior to the course date:

• Candidates will receive/collect the APLS course manual
• E- Learning access- Candidates to enrol onto course as per the pre course candidate email sent by the course co-ordinator
• E-Learning modules to be completed 48 hours before the course
• If candidates attend without completing the e-learning modules, candidate eligible for an observer certificate
• No refunds will be issued back to candidates for non-compliance.

Course Structure

The APLS course is delivered as a standard 2-day face-to-face course which includes an additional 1 day flexible online component (VLE).

The online learning elements of the course deliver the knowledge components, preparing participants for the practical application of this knowledge during the face to-face course.

The 2 day face-to-face course incorporates updated lectures and clinical simulations covering the following:

- Assessing and managing the seriously ill child

- Structured approach to the seriously injured child

- The management of cardiac arrest

Assessment and Certification

Assessment takes place continuously throughout the course.

If you are successful, APLS certification is valid for four years and includes access to our VLE and a paediatric e-Library

Course Cancellation Policy

· Cancellations must be made at least 30 days prior to the course start date to be eligible for a refund or transfer. If you have already received your manual for the course, this fee will be deducted from the refund.

• Cancellations made within 30 days of the course date are not eligible for a refund or transfer, except in exceptional circumstances and at the discretion of the course administrator.
• Transfers to a future course may be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be subject to a transfer fee.
• Non-attendance without prior notice will result in forfeiture of the course fee.
• Should the course be cancelled by the centre, either a refund or alternative date will be provided.
• This policy is applicable to both internal and external candidates of Chelsea and Westminster NHS Trust

Further Information

For more details, please visit ALSG or contact the Admin Team on: chelwest.eduadmin@nhs.net