Developing your GP career
We offer a range of tailored support packages designed to assist GPs working in practice, as well as practices seeking effective ways to support their GPs.
Newly Qualified GPs
If you are newly qualified or transitioning into General Practice, we offer a well-established New to Practice programme, complemented by early career support through coaching and mentoring to help you confidently integrate into your role.
Considering a career move?
Unsure where to start? We offer career coaching conversations to help you explore portfolio opportunities and identify pathways for professional growth including becoming a GP Partner. You may also be interested in our leadership development programme, designed to support career progression. Alternatively, you could train as a GP mentor—gain a mentoring qualification and support fellow GPs across practices.
Supporting Your Career Journey
As a valued member of your Practice and the wider GP community, we are committed to supporting you—whether you’re planning your next steps, thinking of retiring or seeking a more flexible way to continue working.
We offer a range of services to help you navigate your career with confidence:
- Career Coaching – Personalised conversations to help you explore your options and plan your next move.
- Portfolio Role Guidance – Discover opportunities to diversify your career and develop new skills.
- Pension Advice – Get expert support to understand your options and plan for the future.
- Locum Opportunities – Find flexible roles that suit your lifestyle and professional goals.
See below for further information.
Accessing GP mentoring
If you are working as a GP in Cornwall and would like to access mentoring, we offer an initial 6 sessions with a trained accredited mentor. For further information including how to register please visit our Coaching and Mentoring webpage.
Becoming a GP mentor
We occasionally have vacancies in our mentoring team. Please email kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net to register your interest.
GPs can access a wide range of training opportunities through the Primary Care Education Programme, designed to support continuous professional development across key areas of practice. Courses include:
- Women’s Health
- Diabetes Management
- Small Group Facilitation
- Personalised Care
- People Management Skills
In addition, we host an annual Red Whale Update every May, which is subsidised by the Training Hub, offering high-quality clinical education in a cost-effective format. To receive information about our next Red Whale Update please click here to sign up to our bi-weekly Bulletin.
The Training Hub receive funding to support GP fellowships from NHSE. There are usually a couple of posts per year, designed to be developmental portfolio roles, supporting key primary care and system priorities. Examples of previous fellowships include;
- Education and training delivery
- Quality and placement expansion
- Population Health
Cornwall Training Hub appointed to 3 GP Health Inequality Fellowships for Cornwall in 2024 to GPs employed in salaried or partnership roles..
The fellowship is a developmental portfolio role, providing 1 session per week for 12 months, to work on a project that aims to address health inequality across the practice/PCN/county population.
See below a summary of the projects Cohort 1 undertook which were supported by their employing practices and shared to benefit the wider system.
Dr Alexa Hollow – Cohort 1
Alexa is using her fellowship time to address women’s health inequalities in her practice and PCN area. The starting point for this is around cancer screening, and in particular improving uptake for cervical screening tests. As well as a general and then targeted campaign looking at reasons women are not attending, she will be looking to establish women’s health day drop-ins to offer CST, as well as addressing other areas of health concern including menopause management, STI screening and domestic violence support.
Within the wider remit of the surgery Alexa is also working with other members of the team including nurses and social prescribers to address some small but sustainable support mechanisms to help address common issues many of our patients are struggling with as a result of difficult socio-economic circumstances.
Finally, Alexa will be engaging with colleagues from around the county to collaborate on work happening around Cornwall to address health inequality challenges, including the Women’s hubs programme.
Dr Ruth Gilbert – Cohort 1
Ruth is using her fellowship time to develop and expand the Deep End Cornwall network, including supporting the GP workforce in the deep end practices through in person and virtual events, increasing training opportunity so that staff can be equipped to reduce health inequity in their patient population.
The project will bring together GPs with an interest in working with deprived populations to increase collaboration with Deep End partners/practices.
Ruth is aiming to coordinate and lead three deep end networking meetings per year in the county, as well as improve the comms strategy, including development of a website. The project will build on existing networks in undergraduate and post graduate training to improve inclusion of health inequalities training in the county.
Dr Jennifer Farrance – Cohort 1
Jennifer is using her fellowship time to support and develop the health and wellbeing worker programme, specifically in the St Austell area.
The project aims include increasing knowledge, skills and confidence of the Community Health and Wellbeing workers and increase in uptake of screening, vaccination, and health checks in the most deprived communities that they support. In addition, it is expected that closer working relationships between the Community Health and Wellbeing workers and the practice will be a key outcome, helping to guide future practice and policy development to tackle health inequality.
Jennifer aims to develop the education and training available to the team, in addition to ensuring the wider St Austell practice team have an understanding of the work happening as part of the health and wellbeing worker programme.
Are you a new GP Partner, or considering becoming one?
In addition to the coaching and mentoring support and leadership programme we have developed a training needs analysis to help you identify where your training needs might be. We also run a Partnership Preparation Programme jointly with Devon Training Hub, twice a year.
For further information, please email kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net
The National GP Retention Scheme is a package of financial and educational support to help GP’s who might otherwise leave the profession, to remain working in general practice. It is available for those with caring responsibilities, those approaching retirement or those requiring greater flexibility. For further guidance on the scheme is available here.
The Local GP Retention Scheme, supported by the Peninsula Deanery, is designed to help retain experienced GPs within the workforce by offering flexible working options and tailored support.
The Training Hub is available to provide expert advice and guidance, and can assist in matching you with potential practices that align with your preferences and career goals.
📧 For further information, please contact:
kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net
Funded by NHS GP retention funding we are offering new parents support to help manage the transition from maternity/paternity leave to returning to work and ensure you remain updated professionally. This is also available for GP’s who may be adopting or fostering.
Maternity Coaching
To help you to transition from maternity leave, we offer a Maternity Coaching programme. This consists of 5 group sessions to help you plan your future career for you and your family, combining group coaching (with your baby!) and online course content for you to work through in your own time to support you on topics such as:
- Identity changes
- Building your confidence
- Your home life during and after maternity
- Your long term career
- Returning to work
You can take part in these sessions at any stage of your maternity. You will also have the option of an additional 121 coaching session on your return to work.
Please visit our courses page for details of the next available session.
Paternity Coaching
If you are a new Dad, we offer a fully funded 121 coaching session, (the Accelerator Power Hour), to help you adjust to your role as a Dad and juggle your work and family life. We recognise that being a new Dad can be tough, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and pulled between family and work. These sessions offer an opportunity to decompress, share your concerns and come away with 3 personalised actions to make life easier.
These sessions are delivered by Ian Dinwiddy of Inspiring Dads. They provide
- One hour, 1 to 1 coaching session via Zoom
- Help you identify your challenges with a pre-call short questionnaire
- Identify 3 personalised actions to effectively balance work and family life
- An opportunity to keep your recording to listen to again in
These sessions are arranged on an individual basis to suit your requirements. To book a session please email kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net
Explore Your Career Options
We offer confidential, one-to-one career conversations with a member of the Training Hub team to help you explore your next steps. These informal discussions are tailored to your individual needs and can help identify opportunities that align with your interests and goals.
To arrange a conversation, please contact: kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net
Career Pathways You Might Consider
Teaching Medical Students
Share your expertise and help shape the next generation of doctors. Opportunities may be available locally through the VTS or Exeter Medical School, in both small group and one-to-one settings.
GP Appraiser
Interested in becoming a GP Appraiser? Speak with your current appraiser or contact your local appraisal lead for more information about this rewarding role.
GP Mentor
Train to become a GP Mentor through the Supporting Mentors Scheme and support newly qualified GPs. Learn more about our Coaching and Mentoring offer here.
To register your interest of becoming a GP Mentor please email: kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net
Further Development Opportunities
NHS Leadership Academy
Explore a wide range of leadership and development programmes tailored to healthcare professionals.
Visit the NHS Leadership Academy website
British Medical Association (BMA)
The BMA offers a variety of career development and leadership courses to support your professional growth.
Kernow LMC Pastoral Support
Free confidential advice and support for all GPs in Cornwall for professional and personal issues. Rapid response within 24 hours. Network of different GPs to cover different areas and you have a personalised services from an experienced GP assigned to your case. Contact via phone or register on website.
https://www.kernowlmc.co.uk/gp-support/
Practitioner Health
Free confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service for healthcare professionals. Support with recovery whilst returning to work or training. Team is made up of GPs, psychiatrists, nurses, and therapists who are available Nationally for face to face and virtual consultations. Contact via website with registration form.
https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/
Doctors Support Network
Confidential peer support network for doctors and medical students with concerns about their mental health.
BMA Counselling and Peer Support
Free and confidential 24/7 counselling and peer support services for doctors and medical students (and their partners and dependents). Available regardless of BMA membership.
0330 123 1245
DocHealth Psychotherapy for doctors (fees sliding scale)
DocHealth is a confidential, not for profit, psychotherapeutic consultation service via video call. The service is open to all practising doctors in the UK and fees are based on a sliding scale relating to your grade and circumstances (including covering fees for doctors in financial difficulty).
Doctors in Distress
Charity dedicated to providing mental health wellbeing support to healthcare workers, aiming to reduce suicide rates. Confidential facilitated peer support groups. Also work to influence culture change within the NHS around the stigma of mental health in medical professionals.
https://doctors-in-distress.org.uk/
Frontline 19
Free psychological support service for staff working on frontline suffering with mental health conditions due to work related conditions. Matched with trained professional for up to 12 sessions.
NHS Futures
Offers a comprehensive range of resources to support GPs at every stage of their career—from newly qualified doctors to those approaching retirement. The platform includes valuable guidance, tools, and contacts to help you plan and progress your career with confidence.
To access these resources, you’ll need to create an account on the NHS Futures platform.
For further support, contact: kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net