New to Practice Fellowship Programme

What is the New to Practice Fellowship Programme?

The New to Practice Fellowship Programme is an NHS England funded, two-year programme of support available to GPs who are within one year post CCT and GPNs who are within one year of joining general practice.

The aim of the programme is to support recruitment and retention of these staff groups by supporting their transition into primary care and giving them the time, space and resources to learn about how primary care works, learn about themselves and develop their leadership skills and to start becoming involved in service improvement projects within their locality or the system.

When a fellow joins the programme, they receive access to a variety of learning, development and support and their practice receives funding to release them from practice for a set amount of time each month pro rata in order for them to take up these opportunities.

How much time are fellows allocated per month?

The amount of protected time a fellow is entitled to per month is based on how many sessions or hours per week they work:

  • 4 – 5 sessions per week (up to 18 hours) you are entitled to 2 sessions per month or 8 hours per month
  • 6 – 7 sessions per week (up to 30 hours) you are entitled to 3 sessions per month or 12 hours per month
  • 8 – 9 sessions per week (up to 37.5 hours) you are entitled to 4 sessions per month or 8 hours per month

For example, the GP or GPN below is employed at their practice for eight sessions per week. The practice receives funding to release them for one of those sessions each week. The GP or GPN therefore completes seven clinical sessions in a week and spends one session doing new to practice programme activities.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Clinical Session Clinical Session Clinical Session Clinical Session Day off
Clinical Session New to Practice Programme Session Clinical Session Clinical Session Day off

When is the protected time taken?

Based on feedback from previous New to Practice Programme Fellows, we have updated our programme so that the New to Practice time is taken according to a schedule. The protected time is usually on Tuesday afternoons but fellows are allowed to be flexible with their protected time and move it to another day as long as they have discussed this with their practice first and all are in agreement that it will work with their rota.

How much funding does the practice receive?

The funding the practice receives matches the GP or GPN’s salary plus on-costs for the time that they are released. This therefore protects the GP or GPN’s time so that they are not trying to juggle clinical work as well as new to practice programme activities.

How does the practice access this funding?

Once a fellow is signed up to the programme through a Memorandum of Understanding, their practice will receive invoicing instructions to invoice the BLMK ICB on a quarterly basis for the funding.

What are the different elements of the New to Practice Fellowship Programme?

The New to Practice Programme is made up of the following elements:

  • Induction
  • GP Mentorship/GPN supervision
  • Coaching
  • Peer Support
  • Practice Management Skills
  • Leadership
  • Quality Improvement
  • Mentoring, supervision and coaching skills
  • Remote working
  • Opportunities for experience and integrated working

The above elements are delivered through face to face away days, face to face and virtual peer support sessions, webinars, mentoring and coaching, and access to leadership courses such as through the NHS Leadership Academy. We are also working on recording a series of educational sessions that fellows can access as and when they have time.

Who is eligible to join the programme?

To be eligible for the Fellowship Programme you must be:

  • a Newly qualified GP who is within the first 12 months since qualifying ( please note there is flexibility in this offer depending on your individual circumstances)
  • A GPN who is within the first 12 months of their first role in primary care
  • You must have a substantive employed and salaried role within a Practice or be in the process of joining a Practice
  • For further information you can review the full NHSEI guidance here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/gp/the-best-place-to-work/gp-fellowship-programme/

How do I sign up for the programme?

Simply contact Helen Worthington-Smith at h.worthington-smith@nhs.net with the subject line: New to Practice Fellowship Programme and include in the email your name, practice you are working at and when you joined general practice. There is no application or interview, Helen will just follow-up with you to ensure that you meet the programme eligibility as above and then will start speaking with your practice and arranging a Memorandum of Understanding. You are also welcome to contact Helen with any queries or if you would like to discuss whether this programme would be beneficial to you.