Community Matters was involved in setting up Primary Care Networks from the start in several parts of London, leading their workforce planning and development. We helped PCNs through the early challenges of getting established and meeting the expectations around new roles and service specifications, and we now help them and their Training Hubs take the next step into integrated neighbourhood working.
The workforce problem PCNs face
Workforce is the biggest concern for most PCNs and GP federations: understanding the workforce they have, and changing it to meet local aims and commissioned outcomes. The difficulties are familiar:
- there is little reliable information about the existing workforce in PCNs and federations;
- workforce development is not always coordinated well or supported by shared resources;
- PCNs could widen participation, increase education and training placements and upskill staff, but this needs planning and infrastructure that links federations, PCNs and the Training Hub.
What we have done
- Engaged PCNs with health and social care workforce development across several boroughs
- Mapped the skills and size of the current PCN workforce
- Carried out training needs analyses to help PCNs prepare for changing expectations
- Worked with individual GP practices to identify training needs and create workforce development plans
- Run borough-wide workforce development and training needs surveys for Training Hubs, and turned the results into commissioning plans
What we offer
Support at federation, PCN or neighbourhood level to:
- assess the current workforce;
- compare its skills against service expectations;
- identify the gaps;
- propose solutions, including making the most of new roles and apprenticeships.
For Training Hubs
National policy expects Training Hubs to support workforce planning at system and PCN level, to advise on, develop and deliver education for the workforce, to secure enough training capacity, and to help with recruitment and retention. Drawing on our experience of setting up and running Training Hubs, we help hubs understand the PCNs in their area and build the structures that bring them into a primary care-led education and training network.