Primary care is a great place to work with opportunities for career progression.
1. Entry level
No formal qualifications or experience required. The Care Certificate will be commenced at entry level.
2. Level 2 Health Care Assistant
The role would be working towards a level 2 diploma in Health and Social Care or Health Care. The entry route would be a full-time college programme, an apprenticeship programme or employer funded training.
3. Level 3 Health Care Assistant
This post would require a level 3 diploma in Health and Social care or Health Care. The entry route would be a full-time college programme, an apprenticeship programme or employer funded training.
4. Nursing Associate (NA)/Associate Practitioner
A NA must have achieved an approved level 5 foundation degree NMC registration. They will also have maths and English at GCSE grade C/4 or above or equivalent. The entry route to become a Trainee Nursing Associate is via an apprenticeship programme.
The Associate Practitioner role is complementary to nursing roles. There is an opportunity to progress to a registered nurse via a top up university programme, but skills and education mapping is required.
5. Registered Nurse
Qualifications required for this post would be an approved level 6 degree NMC registration. The entry route for this role is via an apprenticeship or the traditional degree route.
6. General Practice Nurse
GPNs need to be qualified at an approved level 6/7 RN training i.e. SRN, RGN or RN (Adult) via an approved programme. They will also need to undertake the fundamentals of General Practice Nursing. The entry route for this would be self-funded/employer sponsored study or via a HEE sponsored programme
7. Specialist Practitioner (GPN)
A Specialist Practitioner should have an NMC validated Specialist Practitioner Qualification (SPQ GPN). The entry route for this would be via a HEE sponsored programme or two years post registration experience in general practice.
8. Advanced Nurse Practitioner
An Advanced Nurse Practitioner should be working towards the MSc Advanced Clinical Practice qualification. The entry route for this would be self-funded/employer sponsored study, sponsored study via HEE funding or Credentialing process via RCN.
A GPN would be expected to have a reasonable amount of post-registration experience before undertaking the Advanced Clinical Practice Master’s degree, this would depend on the nurse and their current and previous role but would generally be around 3-5 years.
For advice regarding GPN career progression please contact the GPN Team at bcicb.
