To support local GP practices, and encourage new nurses to join primary care, we’re in the process of launching a new scheme called Florence, which is part of our Fit for the Future strategy.

Workforce development, and nurses specifically, was a strong theme coming from our recent strategy events held during time-out and we have been working on ways to support this crucial area. Initially an 18 month programme, Florence will recruit nurses new to primary care, place them within host practices and be responsible for their overall training to become valuable new members of the workforce. Even better news is that the CCG has been allocated some funding to use for Nursing Career Start and so they are able to give their support to the Federation scheme too.

As well as encouraging nursing staff into primary care, the focus of the scheme is to take some of the pressure (and risk) away from practices. We understand just how much effort is needed to attract and train staff so we’ll take care of the recruitment and administration, and get nurses up to speed in terms of training.

Nurses will then do some in practice shadowing and practical learning, so that they become additional resource across practices over the subsequent​months as they become ready to join one of the teams permanently. 

If your practice is interested in being involved in Florence there are still a few weeks left to make an expression of interest in being a host practice. 

Practices can apply alone or as a group – [email protected] or [email protected] have more details.

Our Florence vacancies are now live on NHS jobs so please share the details with your networks!

We’re delighted to be launching Florence and to begin some of the important work identified as part of the Fit for the Future project and we’ll continue to keep you updated.

We’re supporting the mobilisation of Footsteps, a fantastic new service for children and young people with mental health problems.

Alarmed by the number of teenagers with anxiety or who self harm, Fiona Smith, a GP working at the Eaglescliffe practice, is launching a 'one stop shop' providing a range of counselling and psychological services for young people. The service will initially launch in south Stockton.

Dr Fiona Smith recently won a BMJ patient partnership team of the year award for the teen clinic at Eaglescliffe Medical Practice, which identifies teams that are using the principles of co-production to provide the care that patients want and need. You can read more about the award here.

​