With limited funding Carolyn Power, Human Resources Manager at Seaton Park Medical Group in Ashington, welcomed an approach by ITEC to train staff through government funded Adult Apprenticeships. Facing the challenge of merging two local GP practices, structured vocational training is an excellent opportunity to give her team positive focus, working together for mutual gain and individual achievement for their Level 2 NVQ’s.
Staff responsible for reception and prescriptions are studying Customer Service, whilst administrative and medicine management staff are studying Business & Administration. The practice benefits from a member of staff who as an assessor has given invaluable help overcoming initial teething problems, scheduling visits into an established weekly time-slot for staff training and development allowing ITEC’s assessor Mike Holmes, to meet with 15 candidates.
Carolyn was delighted as a training practice for GP’s and clinical staff to be able to offer non-clinical staff the opportunity to gain nationally recognised qualifications that were totally relevant to their day-to-day responsibilities. “It’s proving a huge benefit for the practice that staff remain in the workplace and are all able to work at their own pace.” An additional benefit of bonus payments to not only the staff, but also the practice will enable additional future investment into the training budget upon successful completion of each qualification.
