CPD Funding and Access to University Courses

CPD Funding for Registered Nurses & AHPs in General Practice

NHSE has confirmed that General Practice will have a CPD allowance for Registered Nurses, Nursing Associates and Allied Health Professionals in the 24/25 financial year, in addition to the fully funded courses you will find further details about below. The funding is, as in previous years, based on a calculation of £333 per registered employed eligible staff member, employed in General Practice as of January 2024 NHS Digital numbers.

To apply for funding, applicants should complete the Training Fees request form .  Once submitted this will be reviewed to ensure it meets all the funding criteria and then sent to your practice manager to authorise.  You will then be emailed with the funding decision together with information for your employing practice about how to claim this funding.

Terms of Funding:

  • Applications should be reflective of individual personal development plans identified through reviews of the eligible member/s.
  • Requests should not exceed the overall allocation limit for the practice/PCN, and prioritisation may be needed by practice on this basis.
  • Funding can be used for
    • group CPD, as long as eligible staff are undertaking the training;
    • course fees, facilitator costs and conference fees (it cannot be used for staff time to undertake training, travel, accommodation or to fund any mandatory training);
    • courses or development starting before April 2025
    • Cervical Sample Takers training (with Learning and Development Centre).

Funding will not be reimbursed to practices without evidence of spend.

Full terms of funding will be provided on application.

Postgraduate Diploma Community Nursing Specialist (District or GP Nursing)

This course is new for 24/25, and comes with funding support which includes course costs and salary contribution of £38,287.  The course and qualification will appeal to experienced nurses that are leading teams or working at enhanced level in their treatment of patients, including those responsible for long-term condition management.

For more information, please see the links below and click here to download FAQs:

  • Specialist GPN course at Plymouth University LINK
  • NMC standards of proficiency for community nursing specialist practice qualifications LINK
  • For information on enhanced level practice, see RCN defines levels of nursing beyond registration LINK

There will be funded places for 25/26 (September start), and they will be allocated through a selection process. This is a 2 year course.  To register an expression of interest with Cornwall Training Hub please complete this form.

 

Independent Non-Medical Prescribing

NHSE have provided a limited number of fully funded course places on the Independent Non Medical Prescribing course for 24/25. To apply for one of these places, you must complete the Independent Non-Medical Prescribing course – Selection Process here, to ensure you meet the criteria for a funded place on this course.  IN ADDITION you MUST complete the online Training Fees request form.

Terms of the funding:
You must be prepared to start the course in one of the intakes before April 2025.
You must meet the eligibility criteria as per the above selection form in order to qualify for a fully funded place.
Places can be through any approved University. Information about the Plymouth course can be found below;

Independent and supplementary non-medical prescribing (NMP603 / NMP703) – University of Plymouth

Fundamentals of General Practice Nursing (3 module pathway)

NHSE have provided a limited number of fully funded course places on the Fundamentals of Practice Nursing course for 24/25. To apply for one of these places, you must complete the online Training Fees request form.

For March 2025 the first module transitioning into General Practice, will be offered to nursing associates as a pilot. More info here

Terms of the funding:
You must be prepared to start the course in one of the 2 intakes before April 2025.

Further information regarding the Fundamentals of GPN course can be found via the University of Plymouth website using the following links or for a conversation with the training hub please contact us at kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net:

Graduate and Post Graduate Certificate Fundamentals of General Practice Nursing – University of Plymouth

Using CPD to support University modules

The following courses are available from Plymouth University, it may be possible to use continuing professional development (CPD) monies to fund part or all these modules.

Minor illness and Minor injuries was previously a 40-credit module.  This has now been separated into two 20 credit modules, see below.

 The Fundamentals of Health Assessment and Common Illness (degree and masters level) (HEAE306 / APP774) – University of Plymouth

A module for registered healthcare professionals who wish to develop in their area of professional clinical practice.

Assessment and Management of Minor Injuries (degree and masters level) (HEAE307 / APP775) – University of Plymouth

Gain the practical skills to manage patients presenting with common minor illness and injuries.

 

Other courses

Family planning and women’s health in primary care (HEAD306 / APP763) – University of Plymouth

The module covers delivery of contraceptive services and management of fertility within the community setting.

Minor skin surgery practice (degree level) (HEAC381) – University of Plymouth

Gain knowledge and skills to assess, plan and implement care of a patient with a dermatological condition requiring skin surgery.

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – management in primary care (degree level) (HEAD385) – University of Plymouth

This module focuses on the key principles and issues involved to support and treat patients with long term respiratory conditions within primary care.

Advanced assessment for clinical practice (masters level) (APP770) – University of Plymouth

Develop your consultation, clinical examination and data interpretation skills.

Supporting the needs of the frail older person (degree and masters level) (ADV608/ADV758) – University of Plymouth

Develop your understanding of the impact of ageing for use in your own practice.

Diabetes mellitus (degree and masters level) (HEAD392 / APP754) – University of Plymouth

A module for the practitioner to explore care issues and complication prevention in diabetes and related syndromes.

Tissue viability: core knowledge for practice (degree level) (HEAD339) – University of Plymouth

Gain the core knowledge required for effective tissue viability practice.

 

Advanced Practice Pathway Funding

There is commitment from NHSE to continue running the Advanced Practice scoping process to fund registered professionals through the 3-year AP pathway.

If you are unsure which route is right for you, please contact us for an eligibility discussion with our educator team by emailing kernowhealthcic.workforce@nhs.net.

You can access further information here Advanced Practice – Kernow Health CIC

and information on Advanced Clinical Practice University courses in the south west here.

Non-Registered General Practice Staff CPD Funding

Cornwall Training Hub currently have a small fund to support non-registered staff in General Practice that have identified development needs not met by our education programme.

Applications are invited from the following staff:

  • Physicians Associates
  • Health Care Support Workers
  • Health & Wellbeing coaches
  • Social prescribers

To register interest for funding support, please complete the online Training Fees request form.

Primary Care Education Programme

Clinical and non-clinical staff whose employing practice subscribe to Cornwall Primary Care Training Hubs Primary Care Education Programme, can access a vast range of free and subsidised courses and training here.

First Contact Practitioner modules

Funded modules for First Contact Practitioners are available from Universities around the country. These modules ensure that staff employed via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, and working in First Contact Practitioner roles, have the required qualifications to do so.