Information for employers - GPN Trainees
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
Understanding the difference between the Academic and Foundation Programmes
The General Practice Nurse Trainee programme supports trainees to access either the Academic or Foundation training to become General Practice nurses.
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 |
The programmes vary from HEI to HEI (Level 6/7, 20-60 credits) and last between three and eight months. Foundation programmes broadly offer ‘start up’ skills-based training for Nursing Associates, newly qualified nurses (NQNs) and/or nurses new to employment in General Practice. By the end of the programme the GPN will have gained various skills including cervical sampling, childhood immunisations and travel vaccinations and will be ready to work autonomously as part of the General Practice team. | The Academic programme is a more academically based programme 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. |
Total support for employers: £3,000 | Total support for employers: £20,000 |
Terms and conditions for participating practices
To join the programme and access the available NHSE funding, practices are encouraged to follow a set of recommended terms and conditions. These details will be outlined in a Service Level Agreement (SLA) provided to interested practices.
Below is a summary of the key points to help you understand what’s involved:
Provision of a Practice Assessor
The practice/PCN is expected to provide a GPN assessor who will be available to support the GPNt at all times when they are in the building, one of whom will take primary responsibility for supervising and assessing the GPNt.
Practices are required to provide at least 30 minutes per day of protected time for the assessor to support the GPNt, preferably before the clinical work starts at the beginning of the day.
The NHSE will reimburse the Practice a total payment of:
£3k total for the work of the in-house assessor for GPNts on the Academic pathway
£1.5k total for the work of the in-house assessor for GPNts on the Foundation course
Funding will be available to be drawn from NCL Training Hub approx. 12 weeks after the start of the GPNt’s contract and is contingent on the terms and conditions of the SLA being fully met.
It is strongly recommended that this funding is used for the on-going education of the senior GPN who is responsible for mentoring the GPNt in practice. It can also be used to pay for an external assessor, if needed.
Study leave
The practice will release the GPNT to attend all study days, as follows:
Related to the academic part of the programme at the Higher Education Institution (HEI)
Other essential learning opportunities provided by the practice and local health providers and trainers.
Additional study days recommended by the Practice and/or Training Hub.
NB Study days are not to be taken in the GPNT’s own time.
Access to CPD training
The practice should also agree to provide the GPNT with a minimum 35 protected hours (in total across three years) during work hours to attend monthly nurse forums and any relevant CPD training events, as part of the NMC revalidation process.
GPN Trainee contract
NHSE recommends the GPNt should ideally be employed by the practice on a substantive contract of employment for 5 days per week, Monday to Friday.
This arrangement enables the GPNt to work in the practice providing patient care and other support for the practice team at arranged times to suit the practice and by mutual agreement with the GPNt whilst completing the training programme.
It is expected that the trainee will need to take up to 2.5 days out of practice per week during term time for the Academic Programme and up to 1 day per week out of practice for the Foundation Programme inclusive of study leave as detailed below whilst on the training programme.
GPN Trainee salary
Practices are advised to offer GPNts salaries which are, at a minimum, equivalent to Agenda for Change mid-point of Band 5 plus any Higher Cost Area Supplement, if appropriate i.e., minimum £32,324 per annum + London weighting depending on the location of the employer + on costs. This is aligned with NHSE guidelines. Practices should also make consideration for the nurse’s previous experience in any salary negotiations.
NHSE, provides partial reimbursement of the salary cost of the GPNT.
The available funding varies dependent on the selected training pathway:
Founding for the foundation course – employers are entitled to a training grant of £1,500.
Academic programme – employers are entitled to a training grant of £17,000.
The practice is required to pay the rest of the salary plus any on costs such as NI, pension etc.
Funding will be available 12 weeks after the start of the GPNT’s contract and is contingent on the terms and conditions of the SLA being fully met.
FOUNDATION TRAINING | ACADEMIC PROGRAMME |
The three components of the foundation package – the tuition fees, training grant and mentoring costs – are funded in full by HEE. The PCN/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) | 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 employers: £3,000 | Total support for employers: £20,000 |
Training Hubs claim for the non-tuition elements of the financial package (training grant and mentoring costs) on behalf of the employing practices once the learner has commenced on programme (not before). Any invoices received ahead of commencement on the programme will not be approved.
Funding for the academic and foundation training university fees
University fees are funded by National Health Service England (NHSE) and paid directly to the Higher Education Institute (HEI).
To claim funding, practices need to email their local Borough Training Hub, including the following information:
the name of the learner
the name of the practice
which university they're studying with
which pathway they are on (Academic/Foundation)
when did they start
when they're projected to finish
Expressions of interest for employers
Please submit an expression of interest now if you are interested in recruiting a GPN Trainee or have employed a new nurse who who would like to access the GPN Trainee Programme !
*Click the flyer to open the PDF and access clickable links.
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