The General Practice Nurse Vocational Training Scheme is a 1-year Training Scheme delivered by South Yorkshire Primary Care Workforce & Training Hub.
It is a post-qualification programme for newly qualified and new-to-primary-care nurses who want to start a career in General Practice in South Yorkshire. The programme was awarded the National Preceptorship for Nursing Interim Quality Mark 2024, and the Nursing Times Workforce Summit Award for Preceptorship of the Year 2021.
The VTS programme was evaluated by the Evidence Centre (2023) and Sheffield Hallam University (2022)
“Evidence from the past 4 years suggests that the GPN VTS is helping to achieve South Yorkshire Integrated Care System’s aim of recruiting and retaining General Practice Nurses. This may in turn contribute to meeting the population demand for primary care. 15% of all General Practice Nurses currently working in South Yorkshire have been trained by the VTS” Evidence Centre report
Read the latest report on the Nov 2024 – Nov 2025 Nurse VTS Cohort here
The GPN VTS Fellowship Preceptorship Programme is open to nurses who are newly employed in General Practice throughout the South Yorkshire region.
Ideally the nurse will have been working in General Practice for 6 months or less.
The comprehensive programme covers both the clinical and non-clinical aspects training and also delivers preceptorship through one-to-one meetings and clinical supervision. You can see more about the topics covered in the section below.
The GPN VTS programme is fully funded and is open to new nurses already employed in general practice only. There is an additional grant available for practices to claim to support the nurse to be released to attend the training sessions.
The next cohort is due to start on 8th October 2026
Please complete this form to express your interest in joining the Autumn 2026 cohort
The Programme focuses on four key domains:
Examples of content:
If you are newly employed as a general practice nurse in South Yorkshire you are eligible to apply for a place on the GPN VTS programme that starts on the 8th October 2026 please complete this form
Training provided offers front-loaded clinical skills (e.g. venepuncture, cervical sample taker training, vacc & imms) so that learners can bring practical skills to their work in practice whilst they consolidate the other aspects of their learning.
Regular clinical supervision sessions are delivered throughout the programme. Skills are assessed in practice or externally (e.g. cervical sample taker training). There are currently no formal exams or assignments.
The majority of the clinical training, clinical supervision and support is provided by the clinical team at the South Yorkshire Primary Care Workforce & Training Hub. We have an experienced team of General Practice Nurse Educators and Legacy Nurse Mentors who are managed by the Nursing Director, Emma Thompson.
In addition, some specialist training is commissioned from external providers where necessary.
The Nurse Educators and Legacy Nurses provide regular group clinical supervision sessions and one to ones for all nurses on the GPN VTS programme.
You will also get to know your peers well. This support is very valuable and often extends beyond the end of the GPN VTS programme.
