THE ROLE OF THE GENERAL PRACTICE NURSE FACILITATOR (GPNF)
First and foremost to be a GPNF you must work within the primary care workforce as a registered nurse at any level, General Practice Nurse (GPN), Nurse practitioner or Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP).
Knowledge and understanding of the local area is an essential requirement. The role is particularly suitable for portfolio careers meaning that this role can be carried out alongside other positions that the nurse may hold. The key features of the role are outlined below:
- Leading the GPN workforce strategy within the wider primary care.
- Facilitating high standards of clinical practice.
- Promoting, facilitating and developing clinical supervision opportunities.
- Be an approachable source of expert knowledge, advice and signposting.
- Have a deep enthusiasm for general practice nursing/nurses and their development.
- Knowledge of primary care nursing.
- Promote primary care as an attractive setting for nurses, Health Care Support Workers and Nursing Associates, in addition to pre-registration nurses.
- Networking to reduce isolation and vulnerability of the role.
- Work alongside the ICS team.
- Promote pathways to enable entry to primary care.
- Protocol development and sharing of evidence based practice.
- Support for revalidation
- Promote and develop the workforce appropriately in response to changing demands.
- Recruitment and retention.
- Delivery of induction packages.
- Promote Continuing Professional Development.
- Challenging poor practice constructively.
- Promote and support Universities in the delivery of their accredited courses.
- Supporting the role of student nurses in primary care. Allowing an insight into a specialist role.
The role has its challenges but is exceptionally rewarding, focusing on supporting, guiding and leading nurses through their every day roles. At the Staffordshire Training Hub we have four GPN Facilitators who work geographically across the region in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
To meet the Staffordshire Training Hub GPN Facilitators please click here
If you need advice or support, please contact your local GPN Facilitator:
- Gill Boast, East Staffordshire, Burton, Tamworth and Lichfield at gill.boast@nhs.net
- Jackie Edwards, Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire at Jacqueline.Edwards@staffs.nhs.uk
- Louise Lewis, Cannock and Seisdon at louise.lewis@staffs.nhs.uk
- Rachel Hughes,Burntwood,Lichfield and Tamworth at rachel.hughes14@nhs.net
- Abigail Houlbrooke, HIPC, Meir, Stoke South and Central at abigail.houlbrooke2@staffs.nhs.uk
- Wendy Bailey, Leek and Biddulph, Moorlands, South West Stoke, Whitfield, Shelton and Hanley at wendy.bailey2@staffs.nhs.uk
- Helen Farnworth, Stafford and Surrounds at helen.farnworth@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk