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?
The NCL Training Hub works with the borough training hubs 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, to provide new GPNs with the unique knowledge and skill set required to work in primary care,
provide nurses NEW to general practice with support and development opportunities, including preceptorship and fellowship programmes, nursing forums, and CPD training events.
GPN training programme
All nurses NEW to general practice have access to training programmes aimed at providing them with the unique knowledge and skill set required to work in primary care. Find out more about the GPN role and the career development opportunities it provides.
The two types of training programmes available to nurses NEW to general practice are: Foundation and Academic, offering a choice between short, skills-based training and a longer, academically focused programme.
As a trainee, you will be 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.
If undertaking an Academic programme, you will usually work 2.5 days/week and spend the remainder, i.e. 2.5 days/week studying.
If undertaking a Foundation programme, you will typically work 4 days/week and spend 1 day/week studying.
Whilst in training, you will be offered salary that, at minimum, is equivalent to a mid-point band 5 AfCh i.e., minimum £30,639 per annum + London weighting depending on the location of the employer + oncosts. The final salary will also depend on your experience to-date.
From the onset, you will have full access to a broad range of training and development opportunities for nurses, coordinated by the NCL Training Hub.
Upon completion of your training, you will also be invited to access the NCL-coordinated fellowship programme focused on meeting the learning and development needs of new GPNs.
You will be able to access multiple career development opportunities available to GPNs - read more about career development opportunities available to GPNs.
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 two HEIs 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 very 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 |
You can find more detail about the individual courses available in the HEE guide and on the university websites.
Nurses on the programme are expected to:
• attend all the course days as delivered by their education provider
• complete all the module competency documents and assessments in the designated time
• keep their 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.
Full time/part time
The GPN trainee role is usually taken as a full time role (37.5h) that combines work and study study. It is also possible to complete the initial training programme working part-time but this needs to be discussed and agreed with individual employers during the recruitment process.
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.
Study/work time
As a GPN trainee you will attend your university course/training for 2 days/week. You will also have 0.5 day of study time per week. You will spend the remaining time working in your practice (2.5days/week) - this, at times, can increase to up to 5 days/week when the university is closed.
Salary
As a GPN trainee (whilst you're training), you will receive at minimum a salary that's equivalent to midpoint band 5 (AfCh) (so a minimum of £30,639 pa + HCAS) though this can increase depending on your experience. You will be eligible for a relevant HCAS enhancements, depending on the location of your practice.
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. NB 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.
The next intake will be for January/February 2024 GPN trainee starters.
If you're a candidate - get in touch to express interest.
If your application is successful, you will be matched with a local employer - a practice or a Primary Care Network, and supported to enrol to a university programme (read more about the foundation and academic training programmes below).
Recruitment process map
Download the below NHSE/WTE guide for a full overview of:
programmes and the HEIs available in London (NB NCL Training Hub works closely with a selection of the listed providers)
responsibilities/expectations
FAQ
Nurses accepted onto an Academic or Foundation programme in North Central London, or NEW to general practice, have access to the following support programmes:
Fellowship Scheme
The General Practice Nursing Fellowship Scheme is a National Programme, supported locally by the North Central London Training Hub. This programme is a national commitment in the NHS Long Term Plan with a number of benefits to support d GP nurses at the start of their career. The programme encourages working within and across Primary Care Networks leading to opportunities for integrated working and varied portfolio work experience.
Available to all GP nurses who have graduated within the last 12 months (exceptional circumstances such as sick leave or maternity leave may affect this). To become a fellow you must be looking for or currently be in a substantive role; it is expected that individuals will have a minimum of a 2-year contract which includes their Fellowship sessions which will need to be reviewed and amended at the end of the programme.
The programme offers support with PCN portfolio working and learning and development post-registration, supporting nurses to take up substantive roles, understand the context they are working in and become embedded in the PCN, as well as increase and maintain high levels of participation in the primary care workforce.
Participants could receive funded mentorship and funded CPD opportunities of one session per week (pro rata), and rotational placements within or across PCNs to develop experience and support transition into the workforce.
Find out more about the NCL Fellowships programme here.
Contact Charlotte Cooley, the NCL Training Hub GPN Fellowship Lead, to find out more about the support available through the NCL Training Hub.
You can also read more about the General Practice Fellowship programme on the NHS England website.
NCL Preceptorship programme
The main aim of preceptorship is to welcome and integrate newly registered professionals into their new team and place of work. It helps these professionals translate their knowledge into everyday practice, grow in confidence and understand how to apply the Code in their day to day work.
Preceptorship isn't designed to replace appraisals, be a substitute for a formal induction and mandatory training, or be a way to re-test or repeat any knowledge and skills that a professional needs to register on the NMC register.
In North Central London, we have a unique Preceptorship programme offer that supports nurses new to general practice. To find out more about the preceptorship programme, contact Barbara Byden.
View information about the upcoming preceptorship cohort here.
You can also consult these resources:
RCN guidance on Good Employment Practice for nurses employed by GPs
RCGP guidance on General Practice Nursing and GPN Nursing standards is available on the Nursing page of the RCGP website including Nurse Competency Frameworks for GPNs and nurses working at the advanced clinical practice level within general practice
Transition to General Practice Nursing is a free online learning resource from the QNI to support nurses who are new to General Practice based on the knowledge and expertise of nurses and educators working in the profession
Induction Template for General Practice Nursing published by NHS England and QNI aims to assist with good practice in induction and orientation for nurses moving into General Practice, by developing a bespoke checklist with common ‘national’ elements, adapted to suit local areas.