GPN Training

Care of clients with Long Term Conditions is a fully funded (by HEE Wessex), accredited six-day programme for Nurses supporting those living with long-term conditions. This course aims to develop the skills for Practice Nurses working in Primary Care. This introductory course will focus on the skills and insights needed to provide effective patient centred, evidence-based care across a range of long-term conditions in the GP surgery setting.

Next cohort: May 2021.

Care of clients with Minor Illness is a fully funded (by HEE Wessex), accredited five day programme for Nurses. This course aims to develop the skills for Practice Nurses working in Primary Care. This introductory course will enable you to critically evaluate, audit and develop the care required for clients presenting with minor illness.

Next cohort: to be confirmed.

Paediatric Presenting Conditions in Primary Care is a series of workshops are designed for people working in primary care services caring for both adults and children. The workshops will help practitioners to develop their knowledge in the treatment of a range of minor ailments commonly presenting in children. Participants will complete a Clinical Practice Portfolio which will be assessed their own place of work by a practice assessor. This will be accompanied by a reflective case study on a paediatric patient they have provided care for.

Next cohort: February 2021 or May 2021.

HEE Wessex training hub has developed a pathway of learning for newly qualified nurses entering general practice, which is part of the national commitment to the GPN two-year fellowship. This fellowship is a nationally funded programme, which will provide funding for learning and education, funding for mentorship and protected learning. We have provided more information in this GPN Fellowship guidance where we have explained this fellowship in more detail, what it includes and how to opt-in.

HEE Wessex also helps fund several ANP modules for their ANP pathway, including HAPE, HTPA, DADM, NMP and some additional modules (depending). These are run through Bournemouth University and Southampton University and the module requirements vary based on the HEI. From 2021/22, Bournemouth University will only be offering the full MSC pathway of learning rather than standalone modules.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an internationally recognised training course which teaches people how to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis.

Next cohort: due to Covid-19 and social distancing measures, HEE Wessex are currently looking into running the MHFA course virtually but will be asking individuals to ‘buddy up’ in their practices to safeguard their wellbeing. We will update this as soon as possible.

HEE Wessex are currently working with the Wessex LMC to deliver contraception and sexual health training and HEE Wessex will be funding GPNs in Wessex once this is finalised. Further information will be updated on the LMC website very soon.

Next cohort: February, April and September 2021 (all currently fully booked with waiting list)

Given the current COVID-19 situation and following both Government guidelines, the 2-day face-to-face training in early 2020 for GPN Clinical Supervision to support nurses as part of a multi professional training train the trainer was postponed. However, these will now be rescheduled as a one-day virtual train the trainer course (with a maximum of 25 per session) on the 25th September, 2nd October, 9th October and 13th November. The ambition is to establish a GPN supervisor in every PCN who can then disseminate this to all GPNs. We will update this as soon as possible.

A Practice Supervisor (PS) will act as a coach to a learner to allow the opportunity for the learner to be hands on with all patient care. Any registrant can supervise a learner, as long as they have had the supervision training. The supervisor does not have to be in the same multi-profession as the learner e.g. a physio can supervise a nurse learner.

A Practice Assessor (PA) does not have to work directly with the learner (however they can work with them at times instead of the supervisor), it is their role to take feedback from supervisors and trusting the supervisor’s professional judgement, an assessor will then sign off the learner’s learning outcomes and PAD document. Only a RN can become practice assessor, they must be in same professional role as the learner, have a good understanding of their role and the professional area they are working in. They must also complete the assessor training.

A PS and PA will have to complete their update yearly, which is part of their CPD and hours can be used for revalidation. To become a PS or PA or for an update in the Wessex region, please contact our Learning Environment Lead, Angie.Thompsett@hee.nhs.uk, for the PowerPoint slides.

HEE Wessex have been offered the opportunity for delegates to join a virtual training session for both Asthma and COPD through Education for Health. These will be funded by HEE Wessex and is based on a voucher code system.

If you wish to attend these refresher courses, please contact Pippa Stupple and Molly McCallum to express your interest.

We are also planning to run a variety of degree and diploma modules, including the following: Asthma, COPD, Diabetes, Heart Failure, CHD and potentially other bespoke modules. These will be funded by HEE Wessex and is based on a voucher code system through Education for Health.

If you would like to be considered for funding for one of these courses, please contact Pippa Stupple and Molly McCallum to express your interest.

A seven-day programme for team leaders who wish to realise their full potential. This programme is in collaboration with Fareham and Gosport and South Eastern Hampshire CCG, Health Education England (Wessex) and LMC Wessex who will aim to provide leadership development opportunities to allow the next generation of senior leaders to flourish. More information and an application from are available for GPN Leadership Cohort 6.

Next cohort: please note that we had to cancel Cohort 6 in 2020 due to Covid-19, so we currently have no spaces available on the 2021 programme.

HEE Wessex are currently working with the Wessex LMC to deliver an introduction to travel health training and HEE Wessex will be funding GPNs in Wessex. Further information can be found on the LMC website.

Next cohort: January, April and November 2021

HEE Wessex are currently working with the Wessex LMC to deliver an update on travel health training and HEE Wessex will be funding GPNs in Wessex. Further information can be found on the LMC website.

Next cohort: January, April and November 2021

This annual conference usually takes place in June and provides updates and inspiration for those working in General Practice Nursing, within Wessex. Each year focuses on a particular topic. To find out more information on this course, please click Wessex Practice Nurse Conference.

Next cohort: due to Covid-19, we unfortunately had to postpone the June 2020 Wessex Practice Nurse Conference and are currently looking when we can next run this.

This annual conference usually takes place in March, for Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) within Wessex, and includes the career pathway for the HCA, the NHS Long term plan, apprenticeship and clinical updates on the Diabetic foot, Respiratory update on inhalers, Compression bandaging, safeguarding and dispelling the myths regarding Phlebotomy. Each year focuses on a particular topic.

Next cohort: due to Covid-19, we are exploring ways to deliver this virtually and will update you once this is finalised.