ABOUT THE ROLE
This is a 12-month seconded training post – 37.5 hrs/wk, where you would be hired by a central organisation and then allocated to a host training Practice to carry out your clinical hours.
After the 12 months, you can apply for roles within the Practice you were allocated to during the programme or at any hiring practice of your choice.
The benefit to taking up this programme is that you will leave with the highest standard of education and in prime position to apply as a top-candidate in any Practice’s lists of interviewees.
APPLICATION PROCESS
When you submit your application, we will receive an anonymised copy. We then take all anonymised applications and assess them through a short-listing process.
Once we’ve decided who to take through to the interview, there will be a two-stage interview process with a panel interview and some clinical skills assessments.
If any preparation is required for these, we will advise of this before the interviews.
We will begin recruiting for our next cohort in early 2027.
If you would like us to keep you updated when the applications do go live, complete the registration form linked here:
For more information on the application process, please email: staffordshire.gpnschool@gpfirst.net
ALLOCATION PROCESS
We have had a few questions about the onboarding and allocation process, so we’ve created the handy image below to help:
EMPLOYMENT MODEL
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I do not work or live in Staffordshire, can I apply for a place?
As it stands, this programme is specifically for those living and working within Staffordshire (including Stoke-on-Trent) only.
If you live just outside of the Staffordshire border and can work within a PCN in Staffordshire, (bearing in mind you would be likely to travel between multiple Practices in that PCN) you are welcome to apply for a place on the Programme.
Do I choose the Practice I am allocated to?
You can request a Practice, however this programme requires a two-part registration process;
- Newly Qualified Nurses / New to Practice Nurses register for a place on the Programme.
- Practices register to offer a place in their site to enable a GPN Trainee to train.
Because of this, we cannot guarantee that your chosen Practice has requested a placement for a GPN Trainee. If you successfully retain a place in the GPN Foundation School, you will be allocated to a Practice who has registered to the Programme.
How is the allocation to a Practice decided?
Where possible, we will always take into consideration the GPN Trainee’s geographical location and ability to travel, however many placements are PCN-wide therefore Trainees will need to travel between multiple Practices.
What would my working week look like?
Your typical work week*, 37.5 hours, will be broken down as:
- 1 Day (7.5 hours) in university classes
- 3 days (26 hours) in clinical hours at your allocated Practice
- 1/2 day (4 hours) in the GPN Fellowship Programme
* Where this represents a typical work week, it is not guaranteed that every week will adhere to this specific breakdown.
Is permanent employment guaranteed on completion of the Programme?
The Staffordshire GPN Foundation School is a 12-month training programme designed to support nurses transitioning into General Practice. While a permanent position at the end of the programme cannot be guaranteed, we work closely with our Foundation Nurses and their host practices throughout the year to support transition into a substantive General Practice Nurse role.
In many cases, practices choose to retain their Foundation Nurse following completion of the programme. Where this is not possible, the programme team actively works with other practices across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to help identify suitable opportunities.
Any subsequent role would be arranged directly between you and the employing practice, and salary is therefore negotiated locally. As part of the programme, we support Foundation Nurses to understand their value in the workforce, develop confidence in discussing employment opportunities, and navigate this transition effectively.
On completion of the programme, you will have undertaken a nationally aligned qualification and gained extensive supervised experience in primary care, placing you in a strong position to secure a substantive GPN role.
CANDIDATE RESOURCES
For resources that may enhance your knowledge for your application and interviews: