Overview
In the past known as Training Practices, now with a wider remit for the education of the future healthcare workforce, a Learning Organisation (whether a single practice or a larger group), may host Learners from GP registrars to student nurses to trainee paramedics, and various others. Governed by NHSE’s Education Quality Framework, being a Learning Organisation is rewarding, interesting and beneficial to both staff and patients.
Why become a Learning Organisation?
Becoming a GP Learning Organisation offers numerous benefits, both for the individuals involved and for the practice as a whole. Regularly having enthusiastic GP and other learners through the practice creates a culture of continuous growth, improvement, and innovation, which in turn benefits patient care. It encourages clinical excellence and maintenance of high standards of clinical care.
It takes a whole Practice to train the future GP workforce, and staff enjoy sharing their knowledge and expertise, adding to their job satisfaction and helping to retain your workforce.
In return for their input they are exposed to the Learners who perhaps are more up-to-date or have more recent views and experience of other settings, again engaging staff in development and growth.
Being a Learning Organisation can help with succession planning for various roles. Getting to know the individual whilst learning, ready to step into a substantive role in the future is a huge advantage. It is known that Learning Organisations have less issues with recruitment as being involved in education is often a significant attraction to staff looking for jobs.
See here for what the East of England Primary Care School say: Prospective Organisations | East of England
How to become a Learning Organisation?
Practices may become a Learning Organisation on their own but might like to consider becoming a learning organisation at scale – perhaps as a PCN. This may give extra flexibilities; experienced LOs supporting practices new to education, a degree of cross-cover of educators or sharing teaching, and potentially creating innovative training pathways for Learners in your organisation.
However, you chose to become involved, start by contacting the Training Hub Quality team who will be able to guide you – [email protected]. They will furnish you with the most up-to-date application form and guidance. Making an application can be quite a daunting prospect so talk to other practices you know who are already LOs, and perhaps speak to your local GP Training Programme directors, at either Colchester, Ipswich or Bury.
Have a look at the Primary Care school web page for prospective organisations Prospective Organisations | East of England, but you might also find helpful the page for established organisations – there is a helpful Practice Manager’s handbook here, and explanation of payments.
Once you have completed your application form, return it electronically to the training hub – [email protected]. After this an approval visit will be arranged at a mutually convenient time.
This is a supportive experience. It is an opportunity for the visiting team who will comprise Training hub Quality team members, and likely a Training Programme Director and Associate Dean, or possibly a Practice Manager, and sometimes an HEI representative, to find out about your Practice, and for you to ask any questions about the nuts and bolts of being a Learning Organisation and hosting Learners.
It is beneficial for the placement or Practice manager to be present as well as any educational Leads. The visiting team will be keen to look around your premises, to chat to staff and then have more in depth conversations with those who will be most involved with Learners. After a short discussion at the end of the visit, the team are likely to give you their decision there and then.
Ongoing Quality Monitoring
Once approved as a Learning Organisation and following the Primary Care School ratifying the visiting panels’ decision, you will receive formal documentation.
This should note the highlights of your provision but may also have some development points. It is important that you continue to fulfil the requirements for ongoing recognition, and the Training Hub are charged with gathering evidence that this is so. You are likely to be asked to complete a self-declaration form at about 2 years after initial approval, and the Training Hub will seek feedback from both Learners and TPDs. It is good practice for you to seek feedback from your learners too.
The Training Hub Quality team will also look at any soft intelligence received indicating any ‘concerns’ with the Learning Environment. After the initial 2 year period, the LO is likely to be asked to complete the self-declaration approximately every 4-5 years.