Welcome to our page for those of you who are thinking of becoming a trainer (Intending Trainers) or those who have just recently been approved as a GP trainer (New Trainers). New and intending GP trainers often feel a bit apprehensive and anxious about the task they are taking on. All we can say is that your local Training Programme Directors (TPDs) and fellow established trainers will be available for support and help all along the way. You will learn lots of skills that are transferable to other parts of your life. Virtually everyone enjoys being a GP trainer and we are sure you will too.
How to become a Trainer/Training Practice
How to become a Trainer/Approved Training Practice
NHS England (NHSE) Workforce Training and Education (WTE) requires all clinicians who support learners on accredited training pathways to be Approved Educators who work in an Approved Learning Environment. The NCL Training Hub Quality & Faculty team manage the process for educators and environments to be approved.
There are four steps to become an Approved Educator in NCL
- Register your interest with the NCL Training Hub: All primary care clinicians in NCL must register their interest to become an educator by completing this form. If you have completed recognised GP Supervisor Training (see step 2 below) or hold a Post Graduate Certificate in Medical Education, you will move onto step 3.
- Complete GP Supervisor training: Once you have registered your interest you will be contacted by the NCL Training Hub to sign up to attend the London GP Supervisor Course. You must complete this online course across eleven sessions. More details about the course can be found here.
- Submit your approval application: NCL Training Hub Quality & Faculty team will provide instructions on how to complete the application form and to submit supporting documentation. NCL Training Hub has developed a suite of resources to support your application and your GP Trainer’s Group can support you too.
- Attend an educator assessment: on completing the assessment, NCL Training Hub will make a recommendation to NHSE WTE to formally approve you as an educator. Assessments are completed at scale and you will participate alongside other educators.
Approved Learning Environments
If your practice is not an Approved Learning Environment, then you can apply as above to gain approval for yourself as a trainer and for your practice to be recognised as a training practice. Your practice details will be collected when you register and the NCL Training Hub Quality & Faculty team will provide guidance on how to include your practice on your application is applicable. Representatives from your practice will also have to attend your assessment.
More details on the above process can be found on the NCL Training Hub website: https://www.ncltraininghub.org/training-and-support/faculty-and-quality
Questions can be sent to: nclicb.approvedlearningenvironments@nhs.net.
New Trainers
Please remember, there are several sources of help available to you.
1. Your local TPDs;
2. Neighbouring GP Trainers;
3. Your fellow new Trainers and of course; and
4. your previous GP Trainer Mentor.
You should hopefully feel a bit more confident at doing CBDs and COTs as well as teaching on the consultation and reflective learning log entries. You should also be familiar with the ePortfolio and the fundamentals of Educational Supervision.
But remember, you don’t need to know everything in one go. You will build on what you already have rapidly over the year. So, enjoy the process and look forward to learning and developing.
It will be helpful for you to continue to attend some Half-Day Release sessions and deliver the educational session. The TPDs will be there too to hold your hand. In doing so, you will develop educational skills in no time (and again, you’ll enjoy it too).
Educational Workshops and Activities
These are all available on the main GP Trainer’s page. There are a plethora of educational activities and workshops available to you. There are educational events run regularly by your local scheme. On a more regional level there are educational events run by your HEE GP School. Then there are more wider events run by organisations across the UK and other countries. Network with local colleagues through scheme-based activities, with regional colleagues through GP School based activities and with wider Primary Care Educators through some of the national and international conferences and organisations. They are all detailed on the main GP Trainer’s page.
Please follow this link to the main GP Trainer’s page.Educational Resources
Bradford VTS has a whole page devoted to Educational Resources for New and Intending GP Trainers. Click the link below to visit it.
Another great resource is GP-training.net (although it is no longer updated, its resources are useful and many are timeless.
And of course, don’t forget to check out the main pages for all Trainers to see what’s happening on your local GP training scheme.
Main GP Trainers’ Page