Nurses NEW to General Practice
Are you a Registered Nurse looking to become a General Practice Nurse? Or, are you about to qualify and looking for your first destination role in general practice?
All nurses NEW to general practice have access to either the Foundation or Academic GPN Trainee Programme offering a choice between short, skills-based training and a longer, academically focused programme, aimed at providing you with the unique knowledge and skill set required to work in primary care.
The North Central London Training Hub is working with the Borough training hubs, PCNs, and individual practices in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, and Islington, to:
coordinate the recruitment of nurses wanting to specialise in general practice
facilitate the delivery of the General Practice Nursing Training Programmes: Foundation and Academic
provide nurses NEW to general practice with support and development opportunities. Find out more about the GPN role and the career development opportunities it provides.
How is the GPN Trainee Programme structured?
Full Time/Part Time
The GPN trainee role can be taken as a full-time or part time role, however this would need to be discussed and agreed with individual employers during the recruitment process.
Academic Programme
It is expected that during the Academic programme, you will need to spend up to 2.5 days per week out of practice during term time for university classes and an average of 2.5 days per week working in the practice during term time (inclusive of 0.5 day set aside for clinical supervision in practice).
Foundation Programme
It is expected that during the Foundation programme, you will need to spend up to 1 day per week out of the practice during term time to attend university classes and to allow for study time. The specific schedule might differ and will be dependent on the chosen HEI.
Practice/PCN Employment
You will be employed by the practice/PCN, it is expected that towards the end of your university programme or when the university is closed, your hours in practice may increase to up to 5 days/week.
Practice Assessor and Supervisor
The Employer will provide a GPN Practice Assessor (NMC registered) and Practice Supervisors who will be available to support you.
Salary
As a GPN trainee (whilst you're training), it’s recommended that you receive a salary that's equivalent to midpoint band 5 (AfCh). However, this may vary depending on the employer and your experience.
Foundation programmes are available from two Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) serving London. The programmes vary from HEI to HEI (Level 6/7, 20-60 credits) and last between 3 and 8 months. Foundation programmes broadly offer ‘start up’ skills-based training for newly qualified nurses (NQNs) and/or nurses new to employment in General Practice.
Academic programmes (Level 6/7, 120 credits) are available from one HEI in London and offer an academic qualification in General Practice nursing. The programmes can be undertaken either part-time over 2 years or full-time in 1 year. The latter offers a ‘fast track’ progression in General Practice Nursing suited to NQNs looking to establish a career in General Practice.
FOUNDATION PROGRAMME | ACADEMIC PROGRAMME |
Duration: 3-8 months | Duration: 1-year full time or 2-year part time |
Programmes start in Sept and Jan-Feb-March every year | Programmes start in Sept and Jan-Feb every year |
Level: 6/7, 20-60 credits | Level: 6/7, 120 credits |
In Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington we work with the below Higher Education Institutes (HEIs):
| In Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington we work with the below Higher Education Institutes (HEIs):
|
Foundation programmes broadly offer ‘start up’ skills-based training for newly qualified nurses (NQNs) and/or nurses new to employment in General Practice. At the end of the programme the GPN will have gained skills in a number of areas, including cervical sampling, childhood immunisations and travel vaccinations and will be ready to work autonomously as part of the General Practice team. | The programmes can be undertaken either part-time over 2 years or full-time in 1 year. The latter offers a ‘fast track’ progression in General Practice Nursing suited to NQNs looking to establish a career in General Practice. At the end of the programme, the GPN will have achieved a Primary Care (Practice Nursing) BSc/PgDip, meet Level 6/7 competencies and be working autonomously as part of the General Practice team. |
The three components of the foundation package – the tuition fees, training grant and mentoring costs – are funded in full by HEE. The GP Practice can access the training grant and mentorship funding via the ICS Training Hub (i.e., the NCL Training Hub). | The three components of the academic package – the tuition fees, training grant and mentoring costs – are funded in full by HEE. The package arrangement allows an academic programme to be selected from the four education providers. Access to a training grant and mentorship funding is via the ICS Training Hub (i.e., the NCL Training Hub). |
Tuition fees: £2,000 (HEE London direct to HEI) Training grant: £1,500 (HEE London to practices via ICB Training Hub) Mentoring cost: £1,500 (HEE London to practices via ICB Training Hub) Total support for employers: £3,000 | Tuition fees: £9,000-£10,000 (HEE London direct to HEI) Training grant: £17,000 (HEE London to practices via ICB Training Hub) Mentoring cost: £3,000 (HEE London to practices via ICB Training Hub) Total support for an employer: £20,000 |
Attend all the course days as delivered by their education provider
Complete all the module competency documents and assessments in the designated time
Keep assessor updated after each course day to share learning and agree appropriate clinical experience to compliment that learning
Get fully involved in “practice life” and contribute when appropriate
Be aware of own limitations, working in line with the NMC code of conduct and not expected to work independently without approval from their mentor.
As a GPN you will typically work during the week days only, however, some practices offer extended service hours to patients so you may be asked to undertake some afternoon/evening shifts.
Whilst training as a GPN in North Central London NHSE recommends the following subject to employer negotiations:
Employed by a practice on a full-time basis (37.5h/week) but work part time whilst studying at a Higher Education Institute (HEIs) in London. You will be supported in the practice to develop core competencies and capabilities of a GPN.
Offered a salary that, at minimum, should be equivalent to a mid-point band 5 AfCh per annum + London weighting depending on the location of the employer + on costs. The final salary will also depend on your experience to-date.
NB General Practice clinicians are not included in the NHS' Agenda for Change and with most practices being individually owned businesses, terms and conditions are not standardised and can vary significantly. It will be important that you negotiate your terms and conditions when finalising your employment agreement once matched with a specific employer. Many practices will offer standard rates whilst you're training but will be more flexible to re-negotiate once you've completed your programme.
Recruitment process
We run two recruitment campaigns per year for NEW to general practice nursing cohorts commencing training in September/October and January/February/March.
The next intake will be for September/October 2025.
If your application is successful, you will be interviewed with a local employer - a practice or a Primary Care Network, and supported to enrol in the Foundation or Academic university programme.
Expressions of interest for candidates
The application period for the General Practice Nurse Trainee Programme September'25 is now open.