General Practice Nurse Trainee

Job summary

Are you looking to start an exciting Nursing career inGeneral Practice in London?

If so, this is a fantastic opportunity to participate in a General Practice Nurse (GPN) Trainee course, whilst being employed by a supporting Practice. The participating Practice locations will be in North West London Boroughs only. You do not need prior GPN experience to apply.

North West London Primary Care Training Hubs are looking to recruit nurses to a General Practice Nursing academic training programme starting February 2025. We encourageboth newly qualified Registered Nurses and experienced Registered Nurses to apply for this opportunity.

The GPN Trainee programme offers you employment in one of our supporting Practices with supervision and the opportunity to study for aPost Graduate Diploma in General Practice Nursing - this is a one year academic programme, either with Herts or City University.

You will be employed by a supporting Practice and be a full time employee of the Practice for the duration of your course. Your role will be split between your academic studies and your practical role as a GPN, with the Practice. You will have protected time for attendanceat university and completion of assignments. You will be supported in the Practice to develop core competencies and capabilities of a GPN.

Main duties of the job

We are looking to recruit Registered Nurses who want to workin the exciting world of Primary Care. Primary Care is central to the health and well being of our communities. General Practice Nursing is a challenging and varied career,requiring autonomous practice whilst also being part of the wider Practice and network teams.Successful candidates will need to bring huge enthusiasm and confidence to developtheir role in the complex and rewarding context of General Practice.

You will be looking afterpatients from babies to older adults, patients with chronic diseases andproviding preventative support. Your days will definitely never be the sameSuccessful candidates will be offered a contract of employment with one of our participating GPpractices across the NW London area. Where possible, your application will be directedto the Borough closest to where you live or want to work.

In line with the GPN Trainee Academic course, you will be guided through achieving core practical competencies. You will learn more about long term chronic conditions, practical cervical cytology (smears), childhood immunisations, travel vaccinations, health policy and politics and much more. You will learn through a dynamic mix of direct, virtual, practical and interactive methods.

Career opportunities in Primary Care are exciting. They range fromspecialist roles, such as diabetes or respiratory management to AdvancedClinical Practice, Education, Leadership and Management roles.

About us

Training Hubs coordinate recruitment, development andsupport for the workforce in primary care. They enable staff to develop to workto their full potential and work to the top of their licences. There is atraining hub in all of the Boroughs in London and they work closely with theirPrimary Care Networks (Groups of GP Practices that works together called PCNs)and individual practices to achieve these goals.

The common aim of the collaboration betweenTraining Hubs and PCNs is to create networks centred upon population health,local decision making and integration for workforce planning through educationand training. Furthermore, they aim to empower community organisations to workto assess workforce training needs, expand capacity and capability andinnovation and foster multi-professional training and education environmentsfor the current and future workforce.

The Functions of the Training Hub

Supporting workforce recruitment and planning

Responding to local workforce need

Coordinating educational programmes

Ensuring educational quality

Developing a faculty of Trainers

Supporting development of the existing workforce and fosteringinnovation

Nurses working in a Practice will have anincreasing role across a network of practices so it is likely that thistraining role might involve working in more than one practice.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job description and person specification

Job title

General Practice Nurse (Trainee)

Service

The service and contract are hosted by London GP Practice Employers offering the GPN Academic Programme package. The contract is a fixed term contract and will not extend beyond the time regardless of any academic extensions required.

Location

To be confirmed, all practices will be in NW London. The ideal is to be recruited to a practice who will want to employ you after the training contract has expired. However, this will not always be possible and trainees may need to seek employment at an alternative practice at the end of their training.

Salary band

Band 5 equivalent (whilst a Trainee) - to be negotiated with Practices depending on experience. Please note that Primary Care Practices do not always pay the additional London high cost living allowance (London weighting)

Responsible to

Practice Manager in recruiting practices

Accountable to

Lead General Practice Nurse in recruiting practices

Aim of the role

This role is a 1 year fixed termtraining post for nurses new to General Practice. Trainees are supported bytheir practice, including their named mentor, their Training Hub and HEI.

The role of the General PracticeNurse is expanding as the NHS now funds education to degree or post graduatediploma level. The programme is delivered in partnership with participatingUniversities. If successful, trainees will be awarded either a BSc (Hons) inPrimary Care (Practice Nursing) or a Post Graduate Diploma (PG Dip) accordingto academic ability at the start of the programme.

General Practice Nurses care forpatients who are registered with General Practices who have been referred bythe GP or have self-referred for appropriate care. The unique aspects ofGeneral Practice Nursing are the personal relationships built up one to onewith patients and the cradle to grave aspect of General Practice (nurses maysee patients at every stage of life from an 8-week-old baby to the most elderlyresident in a care home.) Practice Nursing is becoming a career choice withexpanding opportunities for clinical and academic opportunities (DOH July2017).

Key working relationships

Internal: working with all clinicaland non-clinical staff in the General Practice team, accountable to the LeadGeneral Practice Nurse and GP employers.

External: working with otherpractices in local networks and with the Training Hub and Clinical CommissioningGroup (CCG) at a Borough level.

Key result areas

Positively impacting the public health of patients and residents viavaccinations, screening etc.

Providing care to those with complex and chronic disease physical andmental problems, enabling them to stay well and stay out of hospital.

Supporting families and carers who are caring for those with mental orphysical problems and distress.

Maintaining and improving excellence within the primary care team.

Main duties and responsibilities

The role will expand followingtraining and competency assessment over the training period to include:Cervical screening, sexual health and contraception, screening for othercancers, health promotion and disease prevention, wound care, managing complexvaccination programmes for babies, children and adults (including, whererequired, for adults and children travelling abroad) and working with patientssuffering from chronic disease and long-term conditions.

Core values

You are expected to work in ways thatdemonstrate an understanding and commitment to our values as follows:

We will work together to put patients at the heart of their care

Deliver high quality care that achieves the best outcomes for patients

Focus our work to help reduce inequalities

Promote healthy lifestyles and self-care

Take an evidence based public health approach

Develop and value all staff

Be an open and transparent with a no blame culture

Performance management and appraisal

You are expected to participate inindividual performance management process and reviews.

Personal development and training

We actively encourage development andare committed to offering learning and development opportunities for allfull-time and part-time employees. To support this you must attend allstatutory and mandatory training as required.

Health and safety at work

You have a responsibility to workwithin the General Practice health and safety policies and procedures to ensurethat a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees ismaintained.

Infection control

It is your responsibility to adhereto the General Practice infection control polices and guidelines in order topromote cleanliness and reduce infections.

Confidentiality and data protection

You are expected to comply with all GeneralPractice policies and procedures related to confidentiality and data protectionand to work in accordance with relevant data protection legislation.

Risk management

You are expected to be familiar withthe General Practices risk assessment and risk control processes and proceduresand to report accidents or incidents promptly.

Conflict of interest

You are required to declare anyinterest, direct or indirect with contracts involving the General Practice andshould not further your private interests during your work.

Equality and diversity

The recruitment process for theseposts is managed by Training Hubs and the Universities. We value equality anddiversity in employment and in the services we provide. We will work hard toensure that all job applicants, employees and service users are treated fairlyand valued equally regardless of sex, marital status, domestic circumstances,age, race, colour, disablement, ethnic or national origin, social background oremployment status, sexual orientation, religion, beliefs, HIV status, genderreassignment, political affiliation or trade union membership.

Code of conduct

You are expected to follow theGeneral Practices code of conduct for employees and managers.

Safeguarding adults and children

You must make yourself aware of yourresponsibilities to maintain the wellbeing and protection of vulnerablechildren and adults. If you have reason for concern that a patient is at riskyou should escalate this to an appropriate person, such as your manager, asafeguarding lead or any other appropriate colleague.

Budgetary management

If you have responsibility for abudget you are expected to operate within this and under the General Practicespolicies and guidance

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Up to date membership of the NMC preferably adult nursing branch. Qualification at Diploma level in Adult Nursing - University entry criteria varies.

Desirable

First degree in Adult Nursing

Experience

Essential

No GPN experience is necessary for this training post. You can apply as a Newly Qualified RN. Equally, you can transition from another area of nursing as long as you have qualified as an Registered Adult Nurse.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

Ability to work without constant supervision but remain within safe boundaries of competence. Able to demonstrate flexibility in practice to suit different patient needs. Commitment to learning about new areas of clinical care and how to apply knowledge in practice. Communication skills which can help the nurse to meet the needs of a diverse population varying in age, cultural backgrounds and economic status. Excellent written, verbal and IT communication skills.

Knowledge

Essential

Good foundational knowledge in all basic physiology and anatomy of the human body. Understanding of professional NMC conduct and attitudes and ability to apply these in practice.

Personal qualities

Essential

Willingness to learn and develop High level of enthusiasm Team player and also the ability to work on your own (within a Practice) Leads by example

Other requirements

Essential

The post holder may need to travel between different practices within their network, but this will be minimal.

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