UNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL AS A GPA world of opportunities for professional development.

A portfolio career with tailored support programmes

Opportunity for overseas placement

Live and work in one of the UK’s most prosperous and beautiful locations

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At the Suffolk GP Federation we can offer you wide-ranging opportunities to develop your skills and experience in an ideal setting.

Living and working in Suffolk means you will enjoy a high quality of life as proven by many independent measures. The beautiful coastline and countryside of Suffolk has attracted people for hundreds of years who have been entranced by the gorgeous beaches, the big skies, the picture postcard villages and stunning heritage towns.

Suffolk is committed to the development of local primary care, and the Suffolk GP Federation is a not-for-profit organisation that brings together 61 independent GP practices. They facilitate a number of personal development programmes designed to meet the aspirations and lifestyle choices of GPs at all career stages. They can also offer opportunities for overseas secondments.

DEVELOPYOUR MEDICAL CAREER IN SUFFOLK

Whether you’re just starting as a GP, have a few years’ experience or are looking to take your career to the next level, our innovative programmes can deliver a package of support that reflects your aims and interests.

SUFFOLK GP FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME This is for newly qualified GPs and is designed to support young doctors transitioning from training to a more settled job. You’ll be employed by one of our Federation practices with a day working outside general practice, as well as opportunities to travel and study.

YOUNGER GP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Open to any GP in their first five years following post-qualification, this programme comprises a series of VTS-style workshops for education and networking.

THE SUFFOLK GP PORTFOLIO Available to any GP working in Suffolk, our portfolio scheme offers a range of personal development opportunities, including sessions in our local hospitals, and with the Suffolk GP Federation, Care UK and CCGs. We also offer 6-12-month secondments to New Zealand and South Africa.

GP FUTURE LEADERS This programme is for experienced GPs in their 30s, helping them acquire skills to lead change in primary care settings.

It’s your career, so we think you should decide which direction you want it to take. Our flexible support programmes are designed to help you realise your full potential through work that’s varied, challenging and interesting. Here’s some more detail...

THE SUFFOLK GPFELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME...Our innovative GP Fellowship Programme has been developed in collaboration with the West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group, Suffolk GP Federation and Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group, in partnership with NHS West Suffolk Foundation Trust and NHS Ipswich Hospital Trust.

Who is it for?It’s for recently qualified doctors looking for professional support and development, including study leave, courses, leadership training and mentoring. You can join immediately after completing your vocational training and obtaining your CCST and MRCGP.

What are the objectives?The programme has three key objectives:• To develop the skills required for a next-generation integrated healthcare economy.• To develop future leaders who can inspire and empower transformation in healthcare services.• To recruit and retain a highly talented healthcare workforce in Suffolk.

How does it work?The county is split into two CCGs and as a result there are slight variances in the scheme between the two areas, depending on where you will be based but the core components include:• A GP practice will employ you as a Fellow for a maximum of nine sessions with up to six of these sessions in the practice• You will also have access to sessions in a speciality of your choice at either: - Ipswich Hospital - West Suffolk Hospital - Care UK - One of the CCG’s commissioning projects• After the first year, there is the possibility to work on secondment for 6-12 months in New Zealand or South Africa and then return to your post• The opportunity to study towards a Master’s degree• Access to Academic Fellowships at University Campus, Suffolk where academic support and mentoring will be given• Associate board membership of the West Suffolk CCG, if based in the region• You’ll also receive mentoring and have the opportunity to act as a mentor or teach. There are a number of ‘learning to teach’ opportunities available including the AFHEA qualification at Cambridge.

THE YOUNGER GP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME...This programme comprises a series of workshops for GPs focusing on key areas of healthcare provision and management.

Who is it for?The programme is open to any Suffolk GP in their first five years after qualification, including those on the GP Fellowship Programme.

What are the objectives?To help younger GPs gain key skills, to promote awareness and understanding of issues affecting primary care services, and to enable networking and ideas sharing.

How does it work?There are 10 VTS-style workshops focusing on the following topics:

1. How the NHS and Social Care System fits together, the role of General Practice within it, understanding preferred styles, and personal development planning including opportunities for developing interests in specialisms, teaching and research.

2. Developing a strategy and business plan for general practice including financial management.

3. Building a strong practice team, understanding finance.

4. How to improve services.

5. The place of general practice in the community and wider health economy.

6. Developing strong alliances

7. Overcoming challenges.

8. Personal effectiveness and wellbeing/reviewing personal development plans including specialisms, teaching and research.

9. Presenting with impact.

10. Project presentations.

A PORTFOLIO CAREER...More and more professionals are being drawn to the concept of a ‘portfolio career’. The idea is to achieve increased flexibility in your working life with opportunities to pursue diverse opportunities and focus on areas of interest. At the same time, GP practice is evolving from a GP-delivered system to a multi-professional, GP-led system. The Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund has kick-started the process of change, with a focus on seven-day-a-week access and increasing capacity.

The Suffolk GP Fellowship Programme fits perfectly into this new practice model, offering flexible working and personal development opportunities. Working closely with CCGs, local employers and other stakeholders, we are helping to create a support framework that can deliver a more skilled, motivated and fulfilled primary care workforce for the future. Other LCGs are working on similar projects which will change the shape of healthcare across the CCG area.

At the end of the Fellowship Scheme there is the opportunity to continue working with the practice you join or to move onto one of the many other surgeries with the long term prospect of partnership and continuing your portfolio career. This is an exciting time to be working as a GP and the two Suffolk CCGs are working with the Suffolk GP Federation to offer you wide-ranging opportunities to develop your skills and experience in an ideal setting.

LIVING IN SUFFOLK

With beautiful scenery, a thriving economy and a forward-looking approach to healthcare, Suffolk is a great place to live and work as a GP.

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Suffolk has over 60 GP practices, ranging from urban health centres to small-scale rural set-ups, so there are wide-ranging opportunities and challenges. Ipswich, Suffolk’s county town, has an ethnically diverse population and there are some inequalities which leads to a variety of different challenges. Close to major centres of medical research in Cambridge and Norwich, Suffolk also has one of the largest and most productive GP federations in the country, which helps to drive innovation and best practice in primary care services.

As for making your home in Suffolk, the county is consistently chosen as one of the UK’s top locations for quality of life. There are a host of attractions, from vibrant towns and charming villages to picturesque countryside and traditional seaside resorts. There is great shopping and entertainment, a world-class food and drink scene plus a rich local heritage to explore. There are also excellent facilities for all sorts of sports, from sailing to golf, cycling and fishing and cultural activities from the Latitude Festival to the Snape Proms and even Shakespeare in the forest.

When it comes to property, much of Suffolk offers affordability that is rare in other parts of the country. The superb choice ranges from townhouses and riverside apartments to country cottages and retreats by the sea. Educational facilities are also excellent and wide-ranging, with many highly-respected state and independent schools to choose from.

To find out more about the attractions and benefits of living and working in Suffolk, visit www.suffolkfed.org.uk

JOIN US FOR A WEEKEND...

We would be delighted to welcome you to Suffolk. Bring your partner or a friend, for a familiarisation visit with one night’s free accommodation included.

We will tailor the itinerary for your visit to your preferences. However, to give you an idea of what is involved here is a typical schedule:

• Arrive on a Friday morning.

• Visit a couple of local GP practices.

• Have lunch with some of our GPs who have relocated to the region.

• Join us for an informal dinner and discussion in the evening.

We are happy to organise separate activities for your partner or friend, for example looking at housing or education facilities.

To find out more...

Visit us: www.suffolkfed.org.uk

Email us: info@suffolkfed.org.uk

There’s no need to take our word for it. Come and see for yourself why Suffolk is such a great place to live and work.