Gaining approval as a Primary Care Network Learning Environment

To seek approval / verification as a PCN-wide Learning Environment, you are required to:

– complete the ‘approval form for PCN Learning Environments’
– engage with your Learning Environment Lead (LEL), Training Hub Programme Director (THPD) or Learning Environment Facilitator (LEF) to prepare your submission
– proceed to the ‘booking a verification panel’ process steps

Each PCN submits one approval form. You will therefore need to decide who takes responsibility for completing the form.

For an in-depth guide to the approval / verification process, including who to contact for support, please refer to the Flowchart for Primary Care Network Learning Environment approval [PDF, size: 127 KB].

Approval form for Primary Care Network Learning Environment V2 [Word doc, size: 238 KB]

Supporting resources

– Reference guide for Primary Care Network Approval document [PDF, size: 108 KB]
– Supporting guidance for PCN Approval form [XLS, size 38 KB]

General areas

– identify how your evidence within each quality domain links back to the student / learner
– whilst references to GP trainees / medical students are useful for us to understand your PCNs history in supporting learners, ensure that the evidence provided is linked back to support of wider workforce students / learners
– identify career progression opportunities for your students / learners (domain 3)
– when referencing how your PCN addresses concerns, please used balanced (positive and negative) examples
– include examples of interprofessional learning
– include areas of good practice identified across your PCN

Key points to include

– it is good practice to meet with local university faculties to support student / learner placements, particularly when your PCN is establishing new learner pathways. The panel will look at how you plan to / already engage with HEIs
– refer to the supernumerary status of pre-registration learners
– reference how you link in with HEI escalation processes when supporting learners. All HEIs have collaborative processes for their placement partners to do this

To book on to a PCN Learning Environment verification panel, you are required to:

– complete the ‘process for Learning Environment approval / verification’ process steps
– email Carly.Donnarumma@southernhealth.nhs.uk to confirm your preferred panel date
– submit the final approval document four weeks before panel

A maximum of three spaces are available for each verification panel, which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. If your PCN does not submit the completed approval paperwork four weeks prior to panel, your space may be reallocated.

For an in-depth guide to the approval / verification process, including who to contact for support, please refer to the Flowchart for Primary Care Network Learning Environment approval [PDF, size: 127 KB].

An outcome is collectively awarded during panel, and will be shared with your team and local Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). The possible outcomes are:

– approved as a Primary Care Network Learning Environment
– approved as a Primary Care Network Learning Environment with actions
– not approved as a Primary Care Network Learning Environment

Approval outcome decisions are based on information provided in the approval form, and informed by discussions at verification panel.

PCN multi-professional education teams will be represented by the relevant TVW PCS LEL, THPD or LEF, who may provide further context to support decision making.

PCNs not approved as Learning Environments

If your PCN is not approved as a Learning Environment, you will receive detailed feedback and support from your TVW PCS LEL, THPD or LEF to address areas of insufficient evidence identified in the initial approval document.

Once re-submitted, the approval form will be subject to a chair review, to ensure quality domains that were previously not / not fully met have been developed further, or have appropriate action plans in place. This may happen outside of the monthly verification panel cycle.

Next steps may include:

– developing existing or innovative structures for supervision
– developing new integrated, interprofessional pathways for learning
– expanding student / learner placements
– expanding training sites, to include additional practices or community settings
– generating sustainable income through tariff to maintain the PCN multi-professional education team (case study examples available)
– introducing new professions of students / learners
– standardising governance across the PCN
– workforce and supervisor mapping

The Learning Environment Leads work with local Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) to facilitate student / learner placements in Primary Care. Student / learner placements are based on mutual agreement, and you can can accept or decline placement requests.