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Learning & Development

Overview

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Key takeaway: It’s important to us that all of our staff continue their professional training and development if they’re interested in doing so. On this page we’ll talk you through some of our required training, and how we support any other training needs you might have.

Whether you’re a new starter or a veteran Penrose Health employee, we want you to be able to continue to improve and expand your skills and knowledge.

Some of the ways we do that are:

New starters get extra training and support during the induction and probation period to make sure that you’re settled in and comfortable with the work and our processes
You’ll do further mandatory training throughout your time at Penrose Health to support your development and improve patient care
All of our staff have protected learning time (PLT) most months, which gives you time to complete your due training, and catch up / learn together with your colleagues

Statutory training

Statutory training is training that is legally required to meet national standards, and ensure you can do your job safely. You’ll be assigned your statutory trainings on Blue Stream Academy.

New starters

Please complete your statutory training during your first month of working. You’ll be given dedicated time during your induction, so if you don’t manage to complete them during this time, you’ll be expected to complete them in your own time.

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Note: If you’ve already completed relevant training elsewhere with a valid time period, you can upload your certificates to Blue Stream Academy so you don’t need to re-do them when you join!

Your certificate will be reviewed by the L&D Coordinator, and once approved, it will be marked as completed (green) on your dashboard!

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How to: Upload a certificate to Blue Stream Academy

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Click the toggle to see how to add a certificate step-by-step

Refresher training

Your statutory trainings need to be refreshed every 1 to 3 years, depending on the module and requirements for your role.

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Click this toggle to see the full list of statutory training modules, with how often refresher training is needed for each staff group.

Our Learning & Development Coordinator will email all leads at the beginning of each month notifying them of all the refresher training that their team has to complete over the next six months. You should work with your line manager to create a reasonable schedule to complete these trainings.

You will also get an email from Blue Stream 1 month before your training is due to expire. It's ultimately your responsibility to make sure you stay up-to-date, and use appropriate time such as PLTs to complete your training. If you don’t manage to complete your refresher training before the due date, you should complete it ASAP within your own working time.

Mandatory training

In addition to your statutory training, you’ll also have mandatory training set by Penrose Health to complete as part of your job requirements. If you’re a new starter, you’ll be told about any required training during your induction period.

Most mandatory training paths can now be completed on the Penrose Academy! They may be made up of e-learning, external training courses and/or internal competency assessments.

If any new training is introduced while you’re working with us, your Lead will let you know. As part of your role and as part of the overall team at Penrose Health, you’ll be expected to take on any new training that’s introduced.

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Note: We‘ll check that all of your statutory and mandatory training is complete during your probation period (for new starters) or your annual performance review (for existing staff).

Personal & continuing professional development

As well as completing your statutory and mandatory training, you can also identify your own training needs for your continuing professional development. Follow the steps below to raise a training request (Making a training request), we’ll discuss this with your line manager and take it from there.

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Note: There may be funds available for learning & development courses through the South East London Workforce Development Hub. You can find more information here: 💸CPD Funding

Protected learning time (PLT)

All of our surgeries have PLT for one afternoon / session per month. During this time the surgery is closed to patients, giving our surgery-based staff dedicated time for learning and development. There are usually training courses scheduled during this time (e.g. basic life support), as well as practice meetings.

The PLT schedule is determined by the local ICB / PCN, so it isn’t guaranteed that it happens every month, but it should happen most months. Each PCN has a different PLT schedule, so our surgeries will close for PLT on different dates, depending on the borough they fall in. You’ll be notified when a PLT is coming up by the Reception Lead for your site.

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Note: If you have any due or outstanding statutory or mandatory training, please prioritise using your PLT time for this over any other scheduled training.

Study leave & training agreements

Your study leave entitlement depends on your job role and whether you have agreed any training with us.

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GPs are allocated 1 working week of study leave per year to use for their own development

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All other clinicians are allocated 1 working week of study leave per year

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Non-clinical staff can request additional training and study leave, which will be agreed on a case-by-case basis

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Training agreements

Making a training request

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How to: Raise a training request

Submit a Training Request form

Please give at least 1 months notice - this gives us time to ensure there is adequate cover for any time you are not working

Our L&D Coordinator will review your request with your Lead
If your request is approved, our L&D Coordinator will support you in booking the course, and liaising with the Rota team to arrange your study leave and block your books (so you do not need to do this yourself)

If you’re advised to book yourself onto a course, please share any confirmation emails with the L&D Coordinator / your Lead for our records

The L&D Coordinator will let you know once your training has been booked, and any information that you’ll need to know about the course (e.g. when are where it’ll take place)

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Note: If you can’t attend your training for any reason (e.g. your training is cancelled, or you’re unwell), inform us ASAP. If you’re not well, follow the usual process for telling us about your 🤕Sickness.

After completing your training

Most courses will give you a certificate or some kind of confirmation that you’ve successfully completed the training.

If the training is mandatory and part of a Penrose Academy pathway, upload your certificate to the relevant module for your Lead to review.
If the training is something you’re completing for your own professional development, send a copy of the certificate to the L&D Coordinator.

Some training will require you to complete an internal competency assessment before the course is fully completed. To complete a competency assessment, you should:

Agree on a supervision time and location with your Lead, the L&D Coordinator and your Supervisor’s Lead
Complete your competency assessment at the agreed time/date to get signed-off 👍
Upload your competency assessment sign-off to Penrose Academy, or send to the L&D Coordinator for record-keeping

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Note: We will ask you to fill out a training course feedback form after you finish your course. We use this feedback to better understand how effective the course was, and decide whether it’s helpful for other colleagues to attend.

FAQs

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What meetings do I have to attend?

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What statutory/mandatory training do I have to do?

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How much study leave do I get?

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How do I book training?

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For questions: If you’ve got any questions about your training and personal development, ask your Lead or the Learning & Development Coordinator

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