Verification panel guidance

The learning environment approval / verification panel is the mechanism used by the TVW Primary Care School to assess the quality of applying Primary Care Networks (PCNs), and ensure they meet the required educational quality measures.

How PCNs are assessed

Nominated panel members review the pre-submitted approval form to determine whether there is sufficient, good quality evidence that demonstrates the PCN meets the required quality measures (mapped to the standards in the NHS England Workforce Training and Education quality framework).

Whilst additional information or context may be provided by our team, PCNs are largely assessed on the evidence presented in the approval form and awarded an outcome:

Assessment outcomes

  1. Approved as a PCN learning environment
  2. Approved as a PCN learning environment with actions
  3. Not approved as a PCN learning environment

If your PCN has obtained an ‘approved with actions’ outcome following panel, you will receive an outcome letter by email, with required actions detailed in the approval document which will be attached.

Your PCN will be required to update the existing approval document either by making tracked changes or highlighting any amended or additional content.

Once the amendments have been made, please send your approval paperwork back to england.primarycareschooltvw.se@nhs.net.

If you require any support or have any questions relating to the actions that have been sent back to you, please contact your Learning Environment Lead (LEL).

If your PCNs application is not approved at the PCN learning environment verification panel, you will receive detailed feedback and support from panel, and the LEL, Training Hub Programme Director (THPD) or Learning Environment Facilitator (LEF), who initially supported you with the approval form, to address areas of insufficient evidence in the document.

You will receive your outcome letter by email and feedback will be detailed within the approval document which will be attached.

Your PCN will be required to update the existing approval document either by making tracked changes or highlighting any amended or additional content.

Once amendments have been made to the approval document, please send the paperwork back to england.primarycareschooltvw.se@nhs.net.

You will be notified of the date that the paperwork will go through Chair Review and when you can expect to hear the outcome.

No, PCN teams are not required to attend panel, they will be represented by the relevant PCS LEL, THPD or LEF.

Site visits are not required as part of the approval process.

Click to see the list of approved learning environments

Approval / verification panel format

Panels are conducted virtually, at least once a month, on Microsoft Teams.

Up to three PCN submissions will be reviewed per panel.

Approval documents must be submitted for consideration at least four weeks before panel to enable panel members to complete their review.

Core panel members

  • Administrative support
  • Chair from the PCS senior leadership team
  • Higher Education Institute (HEI) representative(s)
  • LEL(s)

For governance purposes, we require three decision makers on panel. Chairs, HEI representatives and LELs can contribute to decision making.

Additionally, lay representatives are invited to attend panel twice a year to support our internal quality assurance processes.

There may also be representatives from other professional schools on panel, but this is not a requirement.

Panel member roles and responsibilities

  • Contribute to decision making during panel
  • Declare any conflicts of interest
  • Notify us as soon as possible if you are unable to attend panel meetings (email Carly.Donnarumma@southernhealth.nhs.uk and england.primarycareschooltvw.se@nhs.net)
  • Remain up to date with equality and diversity training
  • Review allocated PCN approval paperwork ahead of panel
  • Share your feedback and comments no later than one week before panel
View the panel briefing slides

If you have any queries ahead of panel please contact england.primarycareschooltvw.se@nhs.net.