Non Accredited Route
Non accredited route (in house competency development): GPAs will undertake activities aligned to their job description and competency framework, under the guidance and supervision of a GP, as with other ARRS roles. The GP practice/PCN must then deem them competent. GPs hold responsibility for services delivered under their contract.
However, to encourage best practice GPs/PCNs may request that GPAs create evidence aligned to the competency framework for them to sign off as competent in practice. If so, there are documents and resources to support them on General Practice Assistant – elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk) including ‘how to build evidence’ and ‘supporting resources’ plus the GPA learner and mentor guides. They may also wish to use the competency framework as a spreadsheet to upload and record their information.
Accredited Route
The ‘GPA Skills certificate’ is an accredited training programme based on a competency framework. The framework covers 5 domains (2 clinical and 3 non-clinical):
- Care (clinical)
- Clinical (clinical)
- Communications (non-clinical)
- Administration (non-clinical)
- Managing Health Records (non-clinical)
- The training programme is self-directed, work-based learning and will require the learner to complete a portfolio of evidence which demonstrates the required knowledge, skills and behaviours and will promote critical thinking and reflection.
- The learner will work through each domain and upload evidence onto an on-line learning platform.
- Every GP practice will therefore need to assign a GP mentor who has overall responsibility for signing off the whole learning programme. They will be required to support the learner, alongside other colleagues who must be fully endorsed by the GP practice.
- Each learner has 1 day protected learning time (½ day self-learning, ½ day mentor supervision).
- The timeframe to complete the training programme is 6-9 months.
- Once completed, the portfolio will be verified by a regional, nominated GP mentor prior to sending onto the training provider for final verification.
- Finally, when the learner has been verified and passed by the university, they will receive 10 credits at Level 4.
There are two accredited routes for the Midlands GPA Accredited programme:
Following a competitive bid process, Lincolnshire Training Hub (LTH) in collaboration with all 11 Midland based training hubs were awarded the NHSE contract to deliver accredited GPA programmes across the whole of the Midlands.
1. University of Derby Accredited Programme
Lincolnshire Training Hub (LTH), in collaboration with the University of Derby is offering a Level 4 GPA accredited course, incorporating NHS/E GPA framework aligned skills and competencies.
Course Duration: 9 months
Entry requirements: Must be employed in a GPA role. Priority will be given to those who have been employed the longest.
Delivery method: Blended learning
Assessment: The learner will need to submit evidence of their learning, matched to the GPA competency framework. The majority of learning will be done at the learner’s own practice, with the support of your own practice team, supported by a GP Mentor within your own practice, who is responsible for assessing your competency. Upon successful completion, you will gain:
10 university credits.
2. The Lincolnshire Apprenticeship Programme
Lincolnshire Training Hub (LTH), in collaboration with the Learning and Development Apprentice Centre, is offering a GPA training package incorporating the Level 3 Customer Service Practitioner Apprenticeship and individual clinical skills which will facilitate achievement of the NHS/E GPA framework aligned skills and competencies.
To find out more and apply Apprenticeships – Lincolnshire Training Hub
To Register your Interest
For more information and to complete the expression of interest form, please visit the Lincolnshire Training Hub website at Midlands GPA Programme – Lincolnshire Training Hub.
If you have any queries please contact the Staffordshire Training Hub team at arrs.traininghub@nhs.net.