The first five years of General Practice can be the most rewarding and the most challenging in equal measure. The BSW newly qualified GP Fellowship scheme is open to all new GPs and supports you through this time.

Newly Qualified GP Fellowship scheme 

To enrol on this scheme please email : bswicb.traininghub@nhs.net

All newly qualified GPs are entitled to take part in this local two-year scheme, that helps to facilitate ongoing CPD learning and provides support during the transition in becoming an independent practitioner.

Across BSW newly qualified GPs are offered paid NQGP sessional time, where they can access:

• An induction/GP starter pack to equip GPs with the information they need to transition smoothly into life as a newly qualified GP.  download file here
• Peer to Peer support, which includes a First 5 course run by facilitators who have a wealth of experience in medical education. This course runs once a month for 12 months as part of the fellowship scheme.
• A problem-based learning group, to discuss clinical cases and topics, runs once a month.
• Membership of an Education Trust for two years – either through Swindon Education Trust (SET) or the Bath GP Education and Research Trust (BGPERT). For information on BGPERT please contact their admin team on BGPERT@birdbath.org.uk.  For more information on SET, visit the Swindon GP Education Trust website.
• Mentorship and coaching for each new GP over the course of the 2 years.
• Portfolio work opportunities to explore other aspects of your GP career, such as attending specialty clinics, work with PCNs and projects addressing health inequalities.
• Access to a GP update course, numerous Primary Care Academy events and lots of other funded webinars and courses to support the development of new GPs.
• Access to a Next Gen GP leadership programme. For more details, see below.

Please find further information about the scheme and our FAQs below.

NQGP Fellowship Scheme Information

FAQs

Next Generation GPs 

Next Gen GP is a funded national leadership programme for trainees and new GPs, aiming to:

ENERGISE: through access to the stories, perspectives and expertise of inspiring leaders.

ENGAGE: through a supportive network of like minded local trainees and early career GPs.

EMPOWER: through a series of workshops designed to increase your ability to shape care within and beyond your organisation.

Find out more on the Next Generation website.

RCGP First 5 Programme

The RCGP runs a support and networking programme for newly qualified GPs. They have events, networks, and CPD at a local and national level. Click Here > for more info.

GP Career Support Hub

A GP Career Support Hub has been launched on the Future NHS platform, containing all of the information GPs need to support them throughout their career. The GP Career Support Hub is a central information point with resources to support GPs at all stages of their career – from newly qualified doctors to those approaching the end of their career. It provides information, guidance and support on career development, learning, mentoring, appraisals, career options/flexibility, wellbeing, pay and pensions to enable GPs to realise fulfilling, rewarding and exciting careers in general practice. FutureNHS Collaboration Platform – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform

We also offer traditional GP fellowships which give you the opportunity to work in General Practice whilst pursuing another interest. Contact us for more details.

And finally if you are not currently working in the south west but are interested in relocating, vacancies within our region can be found on our BSW General Practice jobs website.

Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire has some wonderful opportunities for GPs to further develop their career. Whether you’re looking for partnership, a salaried position or want to branch out into a fellowship role (combining General Practice with a hospital specialty), BSW can offer all of these. As a GP who has been working for more than five years, you have lots to offer others and many options open to you.

Leadership

The Training Hub work closely with the Southwest Leadership Academy, offering a range of courses, webinars, and resources to support GPs in their leadership development. See their website for more information – South West Leadership Academy

The HELM (Health Economics, Leadership and Management) course provides some excellent training modules for those who want to develop a more leadership role. It is run collaboratively with Health Education England, Keele University and Great Western Hospital. For more information please contact us.

Phoenix GP offers fully-funded career development and leadership programmes designed specifically for mid-career GPs. It is a new national programme, developed with NHS England, which aims to re-engage, inspire and develop the core workforce of mid-career GPs. For more information, visit the Phoenix GP website.

For more information on leadership training the courses section of The King’s Fund website can help.

Education

The education teams across our region welcome new educators for our GP trainees. Have you considered becoming a clinical supervisor? Or an educational supervisor? Your experience and skills could be invaluable to help guide the next generation of GPs. Contact us if you are interested.

Video for GP Educational Supervisors now available

A video that offers voluntary top up training to GPs who have already trained as educational supervisors is now available on NHS England’s E-learning for Healthcare Hub. For more information and to access the video, please visit:

https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/top-up-training-video-for-gp-educational-supervisors/

Teaching medical students is another great way to share your expertise and improve your own resilience by taking a session or two away from clinical work to teach. Find out more here.

Coaching and Mentoring

At this stage in your career, you may feel that you could benefit from a little coaching to help explore new opportunities. Register an interest in future opportunities to be coached here.

Alternatively, you may feel ready to share some of your expertise and help mentor others. Would you be interested in joining a team of coaches and mentors working to support GPs in the south west? For more information – click here.

RCGP members can also take advantage of the mentorship scheme which has now expanded beyond newly qualified GPs. There are opportunities to be a mentor or a mentee. Find out more here.

The BSW GP Mentors Scheme is aimed at supporting GPs through creating an opportunity to develop mentoring skills, and to work in a different way. The overarching aim is to retain experienced GPs working in primary care through creating this portfolio working opportunity, while supporting less experienced GPs through high quality mentoring.

The scheme supports GPs who currently deliver – or agree to deliver – a minimum of three clinical sessions (4 hours 10 minutes each) per week, and are looking to conduct an additional weekly session of mentoring. GPs who have experience in leadership roles, medical education, or are currently a GP partner are particularly encouraged to participate.

To register your interest locally, email bswicb.traininghub@nhs.net.

CPD

BGPERT has 380 GP members across Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire. Educational events, some 40 annually, cover a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical topics covering the GP curriculum, with local relevance, available to all members.

Events are important times to network, meet and support each other via face to face meetings and live Zoom webinars where GPs can meet local consultants and discuss local patient care and pathways. The enhanced resources page has a wide variety of resources for GPs, recordings of RUH and other consultant webinars.

For information on BGPERT please contact their admin team on BGPERT@birdbath.org.uk

In Swindon, the GP Education Trust provides high quality educational events for GPs working and training within the Swindon, Wiltshire and Cirencester area.

The education programme provides regular events designed to meet local GPs’ educational needs and demands for appraisal. The CPD programme is continually being improved and extended with membership numbers growing year on year.
For more information – click here.

The BSW Training Hub Calendar includes details of a variety of training and events for more information click here

And finally if you are not currently working in the south west but are interested in relocating, vacancies within our region can be found on our BSW General Practice Jobs website.

You can also find more information on the NHS England South West website.

GP Career Support Hub

A GP Career Support Hub has been launched on the Future NHS platform, containing all of the information GPs need to support them throughout their career. The GP Career Support Hub is a central information point with resources to support GPs at all stages of their career – from newly qualified doctors to those approaching the end of their career. It provides information, guidance and support on career development, learning, mentoring, appraisals, career options/flexibility, wellbeing, pay and pensions to enable GPs to realise fulfilling, rewarding and exciting careers in general practice. FutureNHS Collaboration Platform – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform

Mid-career GP group starting soon – See here for more details

Supporting GP wellbeing: why mid‑career matters
Mid‑career can be one of the most challenging — and least supported — stages of a GP’s professional life.
In this reflective article, one of our BSW GP mentors explores why burnout and dissatisfaction often peak in mid‑career and what can help GPs move from simply surviving to thriving.
Adapted from a recent BMJ article and tailored for a GP audience, it highlights both organisational and individual strategies to support fulfilment, retention and sustainable careers.
Read the full article: Mid-career satisfaction and thriving in general practice

Late Career GPs (otherwise known as the Wise 5’s!) have so much to offer in general practice. The experience and skill-set developed over many years are invaluable to our Primary Care teams across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW).

BSW GP Mentors Scheme

The BSW GP Mentors Scheme is aimed at supporting GPs through creating an opportunity to develop mentoring skills, and to work in a different way. The overarching aim is to retain experienced GPs working in Primary Care through creating this portfolio working opportunity, while supporting less experienced GPs through high quality mentoring.

The scheme supports GPs who currently deliver – or agree to deliver – a minimum of three clinical sessions (4 hours 10 minutes each) per week, and are looking to conduct an additional weekly session of mentoring. GPs who have experience in leadership roles, medical education, or are currently a GP partner are particularly encouraged to participate.

To register your interest locally, email bswicb.traininghub@nhs.net

Education

The education teams across our region welcome new educators for our GP trainees. Have you considered becoming a clinical supervisor? Or an educational supervisor? Your experience and skills could be invaluable to help guide the next generation of GPs. Click here if you’re interested https://primarycare.severndeanery.nhs.uk/training/faculty/supervision-of-gp-training/

Video for GP Educational Supervisors now available

A video that offers voluntary top-up training to GPs who have already trained as educational supervisors is now available on NHS England’s e-learning for healthcare Hub. For more information and to access the video, please visit:

https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/top-up-training-video-for-gp-educational-supervisors/

Teaching medical students is another great way to share your expertise and improve your own resilience by taking a session or two away from clinical work to teach. Find out more here.

CPD

BGPERT has 380 GP members across Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire. Educational events, some 40 annually, cover a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical topics covering the GP curriculum, with local relevance, available to all members.

Events are important times to network, meet and support each other via face to face meetings and live Zoom webinars where GPs can meet local consultants and discuss local patient care and pathways. The enhanced resources page has a wide variety of resources for GPs, recordings of RUH and other consultant webinars. For information on BGPERT please contact their admin team on BGPERT@birdbath.org.uk

In Swindon, the GP Education Trust provides high quality educational events for GPs working and training within the Swindon, Wiltshire and Cirencester area. The education programme provides regular events designed to meet local GPs’ educational needs and demands for appraisal. The CPD programme is continually being improved and extended with membership numbers growing year on year. For more information; click here https://swindoneducationtrust.co.uk/

GP Career Support Hub

A GP Career Support Hub has been launched on the Future NHS platform, containing all of the information GPs need to support them throughout their career. The GP Career Support Hub is a central information point with resources to support GPs at all stages of their career – from newly qualified doctors to those approaching the end of their career. It provides information, guidance and support on career development, learning, mentoring, appraisals, career options/flexibility, wellbeing, pay and pensions to enable GPs to realise fulfilling, rewarding and exciting careers in general practice. FutureNHS Collaboration Platform – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform

And finally if you are not currently working in the south west but are interested in relocating, vacancies within our region can be found on our BSW General Practice Jobs website.

Late-career GP group starting soon – See here for more information.

Sessional GPs form an important part of our Primary Care teams. In Swindon, they meet on a monthly basis to discuss cases, receive teaching and most importantly form those invaluable peer-to-peer relationships. You can find out more about this here https://swindoneducationtrust.co.uk/sessional-gp-group/

The GP Education Trust provides high quality educational events for GPs working and training within the Swindon, Wiltshire and Cirencester area. The education programme provides regular events designed to meet local GPs’ educational needs and demands for appraisal. The CPD programme is continually being improved and extended with membership numbers growing year on year. For more information click here

In Bath and North East Somerset, Sulisdoc helps to support local Sessional GPs by providing a forum to share news, gain collaborative advice and offer peer-to-peer support. They act as a mouthpiece for sessional GPs within the local health community as well as advertising work for local practices and offering informal advice to members about relevant issues such as pensions. Historically they have had members on the ICB board, Local Medical Committee (LMC) and Out-Of-Hours (OOH) providers. They continue to have a good reputation for working with local practices and good standing within the local health community. Visit their website here. 

The education trust (BGPERT) run events that cover a wide variety of clinical and non-clinical topics covering the GP curriculum, with local relevance, available to all members. Events are important times to network, meet and support each other via face to face meetings and live Zoom webinars. The enhanced resources page has a wide variety of resources for GPs, recordings of RUH and other consultant webinars. For information on BGPERT please contact their admin team on BGPERT@birdbath.org.uk

The National Association of Sessional GPs website is also a useful resource – click here.

And finally if you are not currently working in the south west but are interested in relocating, vacancies within our region can be found on our BSW General Practice Jobs website.

Be the GP you’ve always wanted to be!

Being a Portfolio GP allows you to diversify your working week, whatever your passion and aspirations may be. For many it involves some clinical sessions combined with a form of non-clinical work; in education, the ICB, or the RCGP to name a few. For others, it involves pursuing a hospital specialty alongside their GP sessions. Whether you’re soon to qualify or have years of experience looking to diversify, there are lots of opportunities across Bath, North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW).

Our sessional GP groups across BSW, can offer a great support network. (see Sessional GP above). If you are interested in pursuing a portfolio career we have many opportunities to explore hospital specialties as well as non-clinical work. There are also roles that regularly come up across BSW, in the education teams and Training Hub. For more information contact us.

Here are some useful links and resources for GPs:

• General Medical Council
• Royal College of General Practitioners
• Wessex LMC Podcasts
• BSW GP Starter Pack
• GP Appraisals and Revalidation
• GP Health Service
  The GP Health Service offers a free confidential NHS service for doctors and dentists in England. It can help with issues relating to a mental health concern, including stress or depression, or an addiction problem, particularly where these might affect work.

RESTORE2^TM is a physical deterioration and escalation tool for care/nursing homes, designed by West Hampshire ICB. The use of the tool is now being rolled out across BSW.

There is free RESTORE2 training available to care home staff and we are asking that you and your team members actively promote this when visiting care homes.

A good uptake of this training by the care homes would have a positive impact on the current demands placed on you and your teams.

Watch this short video.

The tool is designed to support homes and health professionals to:

• Recognise when a resident may be deteriorating or at risk of physical deterioration
• Act appropriately according to the resident’s care plan to protect and manage the resident
• Obtain a complete set of physical observations to inform escalation and conversations with health professionals
• Speak with the most appropriate health professional in a timely way to get the right support
• Provide a concise escalation history to health professionals to support their professional decision making.

RESTORE2^TM makes National Early Warning Scores (NEWS2) accessible to care and nursing homes through the use of soft signs of deterioration. It includes a communication and escalation protocol developed with GPs, ambulance providers and deterioration experts specifically for care/nursing homes to support them to raise concerns and a structured communication tool (SBARD) to ensure residents get the support they need.

This award-winning tool has been praised for its ability to support the safety of people in care homes, during COVID-19 and beyond. It is recommended by the British Geriatric Society, and was commended in the latest Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) annual report. In collaboration with the Health Innovation South West, BSW is supporting the rollout of RESTORE2 to local residential and nursing homes. RESTORE2 can support care homes, Primary Care and the wider local system, as well as enhance communication at the interface of care.

The team offer training sessions to care home staff to teach them how to monitor the soft signs and use the RESTORE2^TM templates. Training is offered via MS Teams/Zoom and is offered weekly.