The GPN Specialist Practice Qualification (Level 7) programme aims to develop you as a safe, competent, and professional Specialist Community Nurse, fit for practice in the field of General Practice Nursing. The SPQ enables development at enhanced and advanced levels of nursing which aligns with the Primary Care and General Practice Nursing Career and Core Capabilities Framework which can be found here. As such, you may think it is time to review your qualifications in-order to boost your potential and progress your career, extend your role, developing your expertise in primary care.

This programme is delivered exclusively by Wolverhampton University, please click the link for full details PGDip Community Nursing Specialist Practice Qualification (General Practice Nursing) – University of Wolverhampton.

Quick Course Overview

  • 2 year part-time course
  • 2.5 days out of practice comprising of: one day in University, one day as a student in practice and half a day allocated for study time. Remaining time as usual substantive post.
  • The cost of the course is fully funded via NHSE and there is no financial contribution for the practice to make.
  • There continues to be salary support from NHSE for this programme for 2025 this is £17,836

What does the one day as a ‘student’ look like in Practice?

This needs to be a variety of learning opportunities where you have the time to extend your skill set, elevate your knowledge which is different to the usual substantive role.  As part of this, NMC requirements stipulate there should be 5 placement days that enable collaborative working to build a portfolio of knowledge, examples include;

  • Diabetes & Respiratory specialisms
  • Quality Improvement projects
  • Time with the ACP / GP to enhance physical assessment skills and prescribing knowledge
  • Minor illness clinics
  • Leadership opportunities across a PCN
  • Presenting at a conference
  • Support teaching of nursing skills alongside the Staffordshire Training Hub Educators
  • Shadowing of GPN Facilitators or other leadership teams
  • Liaising opportunities with the ICB CNO

Practice Supervision and Assessment

Supervision is a fundamental element of the Specialist Practice Qualification. Trainees require an assessor who must be a qualified SPQ practitioner and an experienced prescriber for supervision and assessment.

Before agreeing to becoming a supervisor, it is important to ensure that you have the necessary experience, time, resources and support to enable you to provide good quality supervision. Supervisors must be fully invested and equipped to guide trainees throughout the duration of the SPQ programme. It is essential that you are familiar with the programme alongside the supervision/assessment requirements.

  • Assessors must be a qualified SPQ practitioner. If this criteria is not achievable within the workplace, please contact the Training Hub to discuss how we can help you with this requirement.
  • An experienced prescriber must be available and willing to supervise and assess for 90 hours of the programme.
  • Please note, these do not have to be the same professional.