Survival Toolkit
This Primary Care Survival Toolkit is aimed at primary care health professionals looking to build resilience. This toolkit covers wellbeing, career development and support around workloads and capacity. The aim of this toolkit is to support primary care professionals to cope with the pressures they face both systemic and seasonal.
As new resources or support becomes available this toolkit will be updated. Feedback welcome. For practical support in proceeding with and accessing the resources below contact your local Training Hub lead.
Workloads in General Practice have increased as a result of a lack of long term funding and a recruitment crisis as well as greater patient need owing to complex multi-morbidity.
Letter Templates – The BMA have created letter templates for GPs to use to help push back on inappropriate workload from ICBs, Hospitals and others.
Londonwide LMCs – offer individual support to GPs experiencing difficulties at work through their support team, made up of expert advisors and practicing GPs.
Beam to LMC app – a mobile app that allows GPs and practice teams to report in real time requests from commissioners and others to highlight the pressures practices are under.
Workforce planning and recruitment can also assist with managing workload.
Coaching and mentoring are both means by which staff can access support and guidance to work through some of the challenges they face. This often involves talking through the challenges to develop plans and strategies to cope better or to navigate challenging situations.
Looking after you too – Coaching available to all primary care staff to discuss concerns relating to wellbeing and develop practical strategies to cope.
Looking after your team – This coaching is available to primary care staff who lead or manage teams, groups or services. Coaching is bespoke and tailored to your needs with a view to think and plan how to work with your team to deliver high quality patient care, projects and services.
Looking after your career – Coaching available to all the primary care workforce that allows staff to access tailored coaching focussed on your career whether it is making the most of your current role or exploring new roles coaching will give you the time to think and talk through what is right for you.
Coaching support: Leading in and through the crisis – coaching for senior leaders looking to take some time to reflect on their leadership and strengthen decision making and improve personal resilience in order to best lead in an effective, compassionate and inclusive way.
Mentoring scheme – The mentoring scheme is a funded scheme available for newly qualified GPs on the SPIN New to Practice Fellowship programme aiming to build confidence in decision making and improve the experience of mentees to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
We all face difficult and challenging times both personally and professionally. Resilience is our ability to manage negative emotions and feelings and adapt and grow. Without resilience there is a risk to individuals overall wellbeing especially during times of crisis so it is important for primary care staff to increase their resilience and improve their wellbeing.
Top tips to improve your mental wellbeing – 7 tips for improving mental wellbeing with video tips including videos on mindful breathing and how to reframe unhelpful thoughts.
Good Thinking – Good thinking is an online service that helps Londoners look after their mental health and wellbeing in a way that suits them.
NHS – Practitioner Health – Free, confidential primary care mental health and addiction service specialising in treatment for healthcare professionals.
NHS Professionals – Health and Wellbeing Hub – Resources, ideas and guidance to help manage mental health and wellbeing.
Keeping Well NWL – wellbeing support for all NHS health and social care staff living or working in North West London.
Sane – Sane is a charity offering emotional support by phone, text or email 365 days a year.
Mind – Mind is a charity offering support and information to people living with mental health problems.
Rethink – Rethink is a charity working to equality, fair treatment and maximum quality of life for people affected by mental illnesses. They offer advice and resources for individuals affected by mental illnesses and also family, friends and carer support.
Thrive LDN – Thrive LDN is a citywide public health partnership ensuring all Londoners have equal access to live a healthy and happy life. Offering tools to improve wellbeing, access to support and resources to build resilience.
Child and adolescent mental health services – Supports with assessments and treatments for a range of emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties in children and young people in West London. Includes support for parents.
Health and Wellbeing Champions
Looking after you too – Coaching available to all primary care staff to discuss concerns relating to wellbeing and develop practical strategies to cope.
NHS futures job descriptions, resources and networks – recruitment pack specifically for ARRS roles to support recruitment.
Apprenticeships can be great to either enhance your existing workforce or as a means to attract new staff.
Return to Practice programme – a supported, safe pathway for qualified GPs to returned to practice after more than 2 years of absence.
ARRS roles information and guidance around ARRS roles requirements and support available from the NWL training hub
SPIN and Mid-career fellowships – this programme encourages and supports recently qualified GPs and General Practice Nurses into substantive salaried posts in North West London by facilitating portfolio roles.
Coaching offer Looking after you too – Coaching available to all primary care staff to discuss concerns relating to wellbeing and develop practical strategies to cope.
Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) – Training opportunities aimed at promoting and educating on diversity awareness, unconscious bias, bullying and harassment.
Freedom to Speak up Guardians – support for staff to speak up who feel unable to do so through other routes.
National GP Retention Scheme – a package of financial and educations support for doctors seriously considering leaving general practice.
Mentorships – Mentoring is a great opportunity to expand your network and improve professional fulfilment for both mentors and mentees.
NHSE Flexible Working Toolkits – Guides for both individuals and line managers.
NWL Training hub – events and training across North West London
elearning for healthcare – National e-learning including mandatory training.
NWL Learning Hub – Local e-learning includes mandatory and systems training,
NHS Learning Hub – access to a variety of digital resources contributed by the health and care workforce.
LMC Buying Group discounts – Londonwide Local Medical Committees (LMC) practices can access the Buying Group services to get discounts on supplies from reliable and reputable providers.
Resources and information on what support is available and discounts that are available to NHS staff.
Gov.uk – Information on what support is available to help with the cost of living.
Help for households – further information on what support is available and tips for saving money on energy bills.
Borough Specific cost of living resources
NHS England financial wellbeing – resources and contacts
Health Care Workers Foundation – apply for rainy day fund for health care workers experiencing exceptional financial hardship.
Health Service Discounts – sign up online using your NHS email address and access a wide range of discounts on products and services.
Blue Light Card – £4.99 for 2 years access to a discount card especially for people working in emergency services. For discounts and deals online and in-store
NHS Staff Benefits – sign up online to see some of the best deals available from a wide range of brands.
The Company Shop – members enjoy a unique way of shopping, offering them surplus products from well-known brands at amazing prices, helping stretched budgets go further. Membership is free. (Only one in London is SE?)
ATG Tickets – 25% off ticket prices to shows from musicals to dramas for NHS staff to enjoy a night at the theatre.
NHS Discounts – search for discount codes for use on a range of products and services – a percentage of profits are donated to NHS Charities Together.
Money Saving Expert – latest deals and offers for NHS workers.
NWL Training Hub Newsletter – Latest training, events and news from the NWL Training Hub}
Local Training Hub Newsletter – some local training hubs have their own newsletters, contact your local training hub lead to see if your local hub does and to ensure you’re on their list for news and training in your borough.
NHS England Primary Care Bulletin – a weekly summary of updates in Primary Care guidance, opportunities and changes to services.
NWL ICB Primary Care Bulletin – weekly newsletter with updates for Primary Care staff across North West London
Help improve staff morale