Evidence suggests that effective adoption of this role has the potential to:

• improve patient access and release highly qualified staff to concentrate on treating and managing patients with more complex conditions (HEE GPA Working Group Report 2018)
• improve patient flow within surgery hours, increasing the time efficiency of appointments, and reduction of waiting times; supporting patient experience by ‘translating’ or reiterating information from the GP (University of Cumbria 2017)
• have a positive impact on GP retention and job satisfaction
• reduce time spent by GPs on managing correspondence by 85% (Surrey Heath Community Providers, 2018).

Evidence and benefits – GPA-Evidence-and-Benefits.pdf (e-lfh.org.uk)

Some of our BSOL GPAs have previously completed a GPA accredited course when this was introduced as a pilot. This is now being delivered nationally. There are limited spaces available on current accredited training programmes through the University of Derby and apprenticeship programmes supported by Lincolnshire Training Hub (Midlands GPA Programme – Lincolnshire Training Hub) who are managing the GPA accredited course route on behalf of all Midlands Training Hubs. BSol Training Hub will support where we can and will provide the three clinical training sessions on behalf of Lincolnshire in phlebotomy, basic clinical skills and wound care.

If more spaces become available, or if a further course is introduced, BSol Training Hub will be in touch with more information.

GPA Accredited Training Programme (e-lfh.org.uk)

GPA Programme – A guide to completing your portfolio (e-lfh.org.uk)

GPA Programme – A guide for Mentors (e-lfh.org.uk)

As spaces on the accredited training course and apprenticeship course are so limited; it is accepted nationally that GPA’s can work towards their competencies and build their own portfolio with in-practice training and support from a GP mentor.  Capabilities and portfolio are the same as if completed via a training programme and competencies should be signed off by the GP mentor responsible. Whilst the portfolio does not need to be submitted to an external agency; it should be completed and the GPA should be working within these capabilities as they have competency to do so.  This will be managed by the GPA and their GP mentor and should be documented and signed by each once competencies and capabilities are assessed and confirmed.

The GP Assistant role is reimbursable via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS).  If the role is reimbursed via ARRS, please note the following requirements as documented in the NHS England Direct Enhanced Specification – Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service

The Network DES is a contract adhered to by Primary Care Networks.  The DES contains specific information and requirements for the additional roles reimbursement scheme (ARRS).

These are the specifications for the role of the GPA.

Gresleydale Health Centre, Nottingham Alliance Training Hub

Swan Medical Centre, Birmingham

Testing accessibility document (e-lfh.org.uk)

Building-porfolio-evidence-for-elfh.pdf (e-lfh.org.uk)

Supporting-resources-aligned-to-comp-framework.pdf (e-lfh.org.uk)

This competency framework specifies a range of core capabilities expected of the General Practice Assistant (GPA) working within general practice/primary care.

The framework is structured around 5 key domains:

• Care
• Administration
• Clinical
• Communications
• Managing Health Records

Within the domains are a total of 58 capabilities. The capabilities are numbered for ease of reference – this does not indicate a prescribed pathway, process or hierarchy.

The capabilities set out what the GPA working in general practice/primary care settings should demonstrate.

To further support GP practices in identifying and reviewing capabilities, specific assessment criteria has also been included in the framework.

This will help GPAs to build a portfolio of evidence and demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and behaviours essential to the GPA role, and promote clinical thinking and reflection.

The portfolio capabilities are included in the link above.  All GPA’s should be working towards achieving all competencies and should be recording evidence and skills learnt and demonstrated.  Training to support with elements of this will be provided by the BSol Training Hub, however all competencies need to be signed off by the GP mentor who remains responsible for the GPA

Keep the patients informed about the new/changing members of your team.

Download Patient Information leaflet here

It is best practice to provide your GPA with protected learning time for them to complete their portfolio, competencies and gain experience.

All GPA’s require clinical supervision.  All GPA’s must have an assigned GP Mentor.  When the GP Mentor is not in practice another suitable member of the team should be allocated as a supervisor for the GPA.

We have a WhatsApp group for GPA’s.  If you would like to be a part of this WhatsApp group please complete the short form using this link: GPA Whatsapp Group Consent Form (google.com)

Please note that the GPA Whatsapp group is for GPAs working in Birmingham and Solihull only.  There are other forms of communication for other roles – please view the relevant website page to see what is available for each role, or email us at bsol.traininghub@nhs.net.

By completing this form you consent to your details being held on record by BSol Training Hub. Details will never be shared without your express consent to do so.

This is a professional working group.  Please ensure that all conversations are work related and respectful to your colleagues.

The administrators of this WhatsApp group reserve the right to remove members that share inappropriate content.

As part of our information governance responsibilities we are required to remind members of the purpose of the group which is to discuss and share relevant professional information.

Please consider the following:

Whilst most of the guidance or information provided by colleagues is relevant and accurate, we do not provide governance of it so sourcing response through these established routes is essential to maintain safe practice.

Please refer to the frequently asked questions document that has been created to support Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Training Hubs, GP practices and other primary care colleagues  click here to view