PROGRAMMES
Workforce Development
Aims and Objectives
- Work in partnership with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and Place based Partnerships to develop their PCN workforce supply, whilst assisting with development of Primary Care workforce solutions.
- Our Workforce Development Managers (WDMs) regularly link in with the Locality Training Hub Teams, signposting and collaborating to support PCNs and Practices.
- Provide PCNs with access to current guidance and resources to support the recruitment of our future workforce and the current retention of our current workforce.
- Identify and support access to training and development needs/ opportunities to support retention of our Primary Care workforce.
- Identify retention and recruitment challenges and interlinking with the wider system to overcome some of the historical barriers.
- Work in partnership with colleagues system wide, to share learning and identify opportunities to support and enhance workforce redesign.
- Promote, increase understanding and assist in the expansion and embedding of roles including appraisal guidance, pathways, training & development, recruitment of roles.
What's happening
Workforce News & Events
People Promise Workshop 2 (General Practice)
30 September 2025 11:00am – 12:00pmNHSE is currently supporting General Practice colleagues in the roll out of the People Promise
This workshop aims to introduce resources available to support implementation within General Practice. There will be an opportunity for peer learning and challenge & solution sharing
It is aimed at those colleagues with responsibility or interest in improving the experience of staff within general practice including, but not limited to, GPs, practice managers, workforce or retention leads. This session may also be of benefit to those in wider roles across primary care
Booking link: People Promise Workshop 2 (General Practice) | NHS England Events
Workshop 1 recording People Promise Workshop (General Practice) Meeting Recording – Retention Hub – Futures
NHS England Webinar series: New ways of working to improve productivity
In July 2025, the Workforce Design for Productivity team launched a new national resource showcasing innovative workforce transformation initiatives that are delivering measurable improvements in productivity.
Each 60-minute session will feature contributors from the case studies, sharing their experiences, challenges, impact, outcomes, and key learnings. The series aims to support informed local decision-making and encourage wider uptake of effective workforce models.
Webinar 1:
- 30 September 2025, 12:30–13:30
Theme: Delivering Care Differently & Closer to Home
Featuring presentations from:- Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre, Hull – Integrated workforce model to improve outcomes for people living with frailty
- NHS South West London – Using innovative ear care technology in pharmacies
Click here to register
How to maximise the use of non - clinical ARRS workforce in General Practice webinar
Overview
How the 3 personalised care roles (Social Prescribing Link Worker, Care Coordinator and Health & Wellbeing Coach) can support better clinical outcomes in general practice. We will also cover support and training standards and a practical example of how an ICS can support this growing workforce.
Learning Outcomes
- Awareness of tools and resources to embed the 3 non clinical roles in general practice. Including workforce development framework and recruitment packages.
- Improved health and wellbeing patient outcomes in primary care by taking a holistic approach to patient care
- An increase in access to primary care by offering a wider range of support to patients.
To watch this webinar recording, click here
Reflections on NHS Employers Workforce Supply Conference 2025
Find out about the main topics of discussion at the Workforce Supply conference 2025.
Across 11 sessions and with contributions from 26 speakers, the conference showcased best practice, sparked meaningful discussion, and highlighted innovative approaches to current challenges. Clear threads emerged through the day: the importance of collaborative, system-wide partnership working; and investing in local recruitment to build a resilient, future-ready workforce that supports the wellbeing of our communities.
Click here to read more about the conference highlights.
Fuller Stocktake report
This is the final report of the stocktake undertaken by Dr Claire Fuller, Chief Executive-designate Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System and GP on integrated primary care, looking at what is working well, why it’s working well and how we can accelerate the implementation of integrated primary care (incorporating the current 4 pillars of general practice, community pharmacy, dentistry and optometry) across systems.
The Future of Primary Care in conversation with Dr Gillian Orrow Webinar
Listen to an exclusive webinar with Dr Mohit Venkataram, Executive Lead for Primary Care at ELFT and Dr Gillian Orrow, GP & Director at Growing Health Together, Clinical Lead for Thriving & Empowered Communities (Surrey) and Clinical Neighbourhood Lead (East Surrey) at NHS Surrey Heartlands. Dive deep into transformative insights for primary care. This is an exclusive opportunity to gain invaluable strategies and guidance from leading experts in the field.
Listen here
PCN DES 2025/26 Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme
The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme was introduced in England in 2019 as a key part of the government’s manifesto commitment to improve access to general practice. Through the scheme, primary care networks (PCNs) can claim reimbursement for the salaries of new roles within the multidisciplinary team, selected to meet the needs of the local population. In expanding general practice capacity, the scheme improves access for patients, supports the delivery of new services and widens the range of offers available in primary care. As workforce development managers, we are here to support PCNs to ensure they are maximising their annual budgets. For further details on ARRS roles, please click HERE
To view the PCN DES for 2025/26 click HERE
What's happening
Resources & Videos
Please find useful updates, information and resources below
To support practices with this work, a selection of templates have been collated along with a recorded webinar explaining their use: https://youtu.be/L5-JfQXhdf8
Additional information can be found on the ICB’s Succession Planning website Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB – Practice Succession Planning
Your PCN Workforce Development Manager (WDM) is here to support, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions
Useful NHS Future Pages relating to Primary Care Workforce
Future NHS: Connect with colleagues in health and care; share resources, learn new skills, and collaborate on projects.
Access our support centre: Use our guides and FAQs to self-serve or contact our friendly support team
Primary Care Improvement Connect – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform
PCNs and Practices Support Hub – Integrated Care (future.nhs.uk)
Primary Care Hub – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform
Digital Primary Care – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform
Workforce Supply https://future.nhs.uk/NationalSystemsResourcing/groupHome
Data Quality Tips
•Very important to log into the system regularly to check and update records (we recommend once per month before extraction deadline, and if anything changes)
•Check the monthly NWRS extraction reminder letter.
•Check NWRS staff table records –only received if marked “Submitted” (not “In progress”)
•Use the dashboard to check we have your staff records! What’s in the dashboard are the staff records we receive when data is extracted for publication. You can also download dashboard data (updated every week).
•The dashboard does not show PCN Contracted Services. Use the PCN publication tables (or go into the system for up-to-date information) to check all known PCN staff are recorded as such –not Contracted Services.
•All staff undertaking funded PCN roles (regardless of how many practices they work across) should be recorded against the PCN. This includes the Clinical Director and any staff funded through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS).More guidance here: NWRS Support Page
Or email us at [email protected] (please quote “NWRS” in the subject line)
NWRS – why is data important? Here’s a short video showing why your primary care data is so important for the provision of patient care: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu3hL44Ff_U
Apprenticeships are designed to help individuals develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career and employers to build a workforce with future ready skills.
Apprenticeships can be used for current staff development and to recruit and develop new staff.
More information is available HERE
Community Health and Wellbeing Apprenticeship
Community Health and Wellbeing Apprenticeship – Employer engagement event
Public awareness campaign on different health professionals working in general practice teams
Meet our mental health practitioner – working alongside GPs to meet patients’ needs. Click HERE
Mental Health Practitioners – Understanding the role of mental health practitioners in primary care | NHS Confederation
NHS Employers is dedicated to keeping you informed of the latest policy developments, trends and good practice on workforce issues across health and social care. We have noticed that you are not yet subscribed to our weekly NHS Workforce Bulletin and think it could be of interest to you.
This bulletin covers a wide range of topics, from pay and pensions to wellbeing and staff experience; with practical tools and information delivered to your inbox every Monday to help you to recruit, train and retain your staff.
Sign up to:
- receive timely updates, be the first to hear the latest developments in the industry
- access exclusive content that offers to enhance your professional development
- build on your skills and knowledge with the resources and information provided in our bulletin.
Improving staff retention – This interactive guide aims to support line managers and employers to consider the key areas which affect workforce retention. It is aimed at anyone who has a responsibility for improving staff experience and morale, and reducing turnover in their organisation, including HR managers and line managers.
This toolkit is for colleagues involved in leading and delivering international recruitment in the NHS. It aims to encourage and enable good practices and processes for the recruitment of international staff across a wide range of professions.
Workforce Programmes
NHS Longterm Workforce Plan
The first comprehensive workforce plan for the NHS, putting staffing on a sustainable footing and improving patient care. It focuses on retaining existing talent and making the best use of new technology alongside the biggest recruitment drive in health service history.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-long-term-workforce-plan/
PCN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS
Meet Our Team
Clair Ormrod
Lancashire East and Blackburn with Darwen
Fiona Gray
Central Lancashire and West
Laura-Jane Lloyd
Fylde & Wyre and Lancashire North
Zainab Rawat
Blackpool and South Cumbria
Contact us on [email protected]