PL/pgSQL and PHP 5

I'm having this problem inserting data from my form using PL/pgSQL.
Here is the simplified version of my table and function (this example
does not work,  also ):

CREATE TABLE theirry.sample (
    staff_id serial PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL,
    firstname varchar(100),
    lastname varchar(150),
    username varchar(35),
    identifier varchar(40),
    address2 varchar(180),
    activated boolean,
    activated_keys varchar(32)
);

CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION insert_staff_b
    (insert_firstname varchar)
RETURNS VOID AS
$$
    DECLARE
    BEGIN
            INSERT INTO theirry.sample
                (firstname)
            VALUES
                (insert_firstname);
        RETURN;
    END;
$$
LANGUAGE plpgsql;


I have a form with a value firstname then call the query in php

select insert_staff_b('$_POST['firstname']::varchar)


Still I get this error:
Warning: pg_query(): Query failed: ERROR: function
insert_staff_b(character varying) does not exist HINT: No function
matches the given name and argument types. You may need to add explicit
type casts.

Suggestions or maybe a place to read up on this problem.

Thanks in advance,
J