Key News
Support Level Framework Tool
The Support level framework (SLF) is an online tool to support practices and PCNs in gaining an understanding of what they do well, what they might wish to do better, and where they might benefit from development support to achieve those ends. It is available to all GP Practices and PCNs.
It’s free to use and provides targeted support, such as appropriate resources to achieve improvement goals. It also includes team building and development that allows practices and PCNs to collectively decide on key areas for development and make actionable plans.
Practices, including those that have been through the General Practice Improvement Programme (GPIP), are advised to visit and review the SLF annually to better understand areas of improvement.
GP ARRS Funding Entitlement in 2024/25
Additional funding of £82 million was announced in 2024 to support the recruitment of recently qualified GPs via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS). On 20 December 2024, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care wrote to all GP practices providing reassurance that this additional funding will continue into 2025/26.
A reminder letter has been sent to primary care networks encouraging them to use their GP ARRS funding entitlement in 2024/25 to recruit recently qualified GPs. NHS England will be asking ICBs to work with and support PCNs who have not yet taken advantage of the funding.
News and Updates
Allied Health Professional’s Conference
The Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub will be hosting our first Allied Health Professionals Conference. The event will cover the following topics:
- Effect of ARRS on prescription patterns and patient satisfaction
- NHS resolution
- Health inequalities
- Mentoring scheme
- Staff wellbeing
Lunch and refreshments will be provided on the day.
Advanced Clinical Practice Conference
Last week we held our first Advanced Clinical Practice conference for Advanced Practitioners across Coventry and Warwickshire. This session included talks on the following topics:
- Centre for Advancing Practice update
- Women’s Health – ‘Beyond Oestrogen’
- Men’s Health
- Breakout sessions on Asthma guidelines, AHPs in Advanced Practice and more
Future Leaders
In January we launched our Future Leaders Programme, an empowering program designed for those in General Practice ready to develop and explore their leadership potential.
We look forward to sharing updates on the program’s progress and its impact over the next six months, stay tuned.
Nursing Events – Project 1000
Join NHS organisations in Coventry and Warwickshire for a series of online nursing events during Careers Week from 03 – 08 March.
There are four sessions during the week. Wherever you are in your career, discover what Coventry and Warwickshire offers!
PLT (Medical Education Team)
You can find dates for our spring programme of PLTs here.
2025 Dates
Dates for our 2025 PLTs are now live here. You can book onto these sessions using the links below.
2025 Dates – Lunchtime Learning
You can book onto our Lunchtime Learning sessions using the links below.
CPD Events
CVRM Event (Face-to-Face)
12th February
This whole day event introduces the CVRM paradigm and how this relates to primary care in Coventry and Warwickshire.
BBO 2 Day Fundamentals of Dermatology in Primary Care
5th and 26th March
The Fundamental Dermatology for Primary Care is particularly relevant for any health care professional working in primary care, especially if dermatology has not been included in post registration training.
This is a two day course. Please make sure you are available to attend both days.
Learning Disability Awareness
27th February
These sessions will take place via Microsoft Teams and will be delivered by Learning Disability Nurses in the Community Learning Disability Team, which is part of the Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust.
Development and Placement Opportunities
Mary Seacole Programme
The Mary Seacole programme is an innovative and inspirational leadership development programme from the NHS Leadership Academy.
Specifically for those newly in or aspiring to be in a formal first time leadership role, the six month-long programme has been exclusively designed and developed for people working in health and social care.
For more information on the programme and key dates, please visit our webpage.
PMA – Business Administration Apprenticeships
Does your team need additional skills, or are you looking to recruit new talent? The Practice Managers Association (PMA) offers Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeships tailored to meet your specific needs.
For further information, please read our poster here. If you do not pay into the Levy fund, or are unable to secure a Levy Transfer, please contact us on cw.traininghub@nhs.net as we may be able to assist further.
Health and Social Care Employability Academy
The Coventry and Warwickshire Health and Social Care Employability Academy work closely with local authorities to offer meaningful and accessible education, employment and training opportunities.
If you are looking to fill vacancies in your GP Practice, the Health and Social Care Employability Academy can help. Connecting candidates with opportunities in primary care roles across Coventry and Warwickshire. For more information, please contact employabilityacademy@uhcw.nhs.uk
Placements
The Training Hub is working with Coventry University and practices in Coventry and Warwickshire to arrange placements for Nurse, Paramedic and OT and Physician Associate students in General Practice.
We would like to extend a huge thank you for those practices supporting and inspiring our future workforce.
If you would like more information on Placements, please take a look at our dedicated Placements page on the website for more information or contact us via cw.traininghub@nhs.net
General Practice Mentoring
The General Practice Mentoring Scheme is open to the whole workforce across Coventry and Warwickshire. Mentoring is a free, flexible and confidential scheme.
This free scheme is open to the whole workforce across Coventry and Warwickshire, at all career stages, including:
- GPs
- Nursing team
- Managers in Practice
- Additional Roles, including AHPs/MDTs and FCPs
- Personalised Care Roles
Health and Wellbeing
Me and My Menopause
How to support your colleagues without burning yourself out
Tuesday 18th February 2025 – 12:30 – 13:30pm
Open to anyone working in and supporting General Practice!
In healthcare, we often feel responsible for everyone and everything which can cause a vicious cycle of overwork and burnout.
In this interactive session you’ll learn:
✔︎ How it’s easy to get “addicted to overwhelm” and what you can do to break the vicious cycle
✔︎ The dynamic we inadvertently set up by trying to over-fix things for other people
✔︎ Why it really matters to help team members take responsibility for their own work.
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (EDIB)
Freedom to Speak Up
In 2024, we launched our Freedom to speak Up Guardian Policy. Thank you for all those who had the courage to raise their concerns. Concerns raised includes bullying, racism , microaggression, misogyny and sexual harassment.
You have also brought to our attention the need to know what to do when you witness an act of incivility in the workplace. This led to the delivery of EDIB educational session on discrimination and incivility in the workplace with focus on definitions including microaggression, Active Bystander session, intersectionality and other issues.
We also used our Staff Network to highlight the diversity of our workforce. It was also an opportunity to listen to our diverse workforce journey and how they dealt with incivility in the workplace as well as inspiring stories of allyship, inclusion and support from colleagues from all backgrounds.
We would like to hear from you if you have a concern. Please email pcftsu.guardian@nhs.net
Please contact your Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, Dr Mai Elftise, who can support you to speak up if you feel unable to do so by other routes. You can contact her via pcftsu.guardian@nhs.net.
Further information on ‘Speaking Up’ can be found in our Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Policy for General Practice
EDI in General Practice Survey
Thank you to everyone who filled in our EDI in General Practice Survey. Below is a graphic showing what you said and what we are doing to address the points raised.
REACH Network
We held our first REACH Staff network event in March 2024, in our launch events members chose the name and raised some of the important issues and events they wanted the network to focus on. This led to the following events:
- Active Bystander in General Practice
- South Asian Heritage month – “Free to be me”
- Black History Month – “Reclaiming the narrative
- REACH Network celebrating Disability History Awareness month
This year we will be also holding the following events:
- Racial Equity week in February
- Muslim Heritage month in March
- South Asian heritage month in July
- Black History month in October
Race Equality Week – #EveryActionMatters
To click the invite links for each session, please download the PDF here.
GP News
Middle (Twenty)5 Network Ambassador – Expressions of Interest
We are seeking expressions of interest for the role of Middle (Twenty)5 GP Network Ambassador
The Middle (Twenty)5 Scheme aims to address the needs of GPs with at least seven years of clinical experience in Coventry and Warwickshire. It seeks to enhance the existing programme by supporting mid-career GPs in reaching their potential, promoting career development, and fostering peer support networks.
Parental Leave Support Network
- Are you or your partner currently expecting a baby?
- Are you currently on Parental leave?
- Have you recently returned to work after a career break for parental leave?
This is an open invitation to all GPs (Locum, salaried and partners) in the Coventry and Warwickshire area, who are on parental leave, or newly back to work post-parental leave. No booking is required for this event, just turn up!
You are welcome to join this parent and baby group to connect, share information, and support each other. This event will run once monthly. Please see the poster for future dates.
GP Locum Network – Social Walks
Open to Locum GPs living and/or working in Coventry and Warwickshire.
You are invited to join our mini, informal get togethers once a month, to meet colleagues and share conversation.
There will be a short walk around Warwick Racecourse, followed by a drink in the Rose and Crown, along with a board game for those that are interested.
These activities are baby and dog friendly.
Post-CCT Forum
Hosted by our Post-CCT Champion, Dr. Katie Benge and our First 5 (C&W) Ambassador Dr. Laura Doan, this forum aims to provide a space to discuss experiences, share tips, and ask questions.
Join us to learn about appraisals, education offers, mentoring, or any other post-CCT topics in Coventry and Warwickshire, including support for newly qualified GPs through our First 5 (C&W) GP network.
Forums will be held regularly. Please register for our events by clicking the links below.
- Wednesday, 26th February – 19:00 – Click here to register
- Tuesday, 18th March – 19:00 – Click here to register
General Practice Nursing News
HCA Conference
We are aiming to support and empower HCAs to best support patients with the latest updates, showcases of best practice and network opportunities.
A light lunch is included but please note there are parking charges at the venue. Booking is essential so register today to secure your place. This event will take place at Butts Park Arena, Butts Rd, Coventry, CV1 3GE.
.If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our HCA Ambassador via email at zouhourie.lohore@nhs.net
Congratulations!
The Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub would like to say congratulations to the two newly qualified Nursing associates, Nozwelo Nduna and Grace Brennan, who have worked hard to complete their two-year apprenticeship.
We would also like to say a a big thank you to the nursing teams and practices who have supported them over the last 2 years. We wish them well in their future careers.
Recognising Long Service – Afternoon Tea
The Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub are hosting a long service afternoon tea event at Woodland Grange Hotel on Saturday 1st March for registered nurses who have been in the NHS for over 25 years of continuous service.
If you have not already received an email and feel you are eligible to attend, please contact cw.traininghub@nhs.net for more details.
Mid Career Nurses – Pensions Event
Do you want a better understanding of your pension but not planning to retire in the next 5 years?
Join Lisa Warsop, a Specialist Financial Advisor from Wesleyan at this event on Wednesday 26th February to help you understand what the NHS pension scheme is and explore your retirement options.
Disclaimer: There are other providers of pensions advice and the Coventry and Warwickshire Training Hub are not endorsing any particular one.
