Your development is driven by you, and ably supported by a programme designed to enhance and encourage learning at every opportunity.

The Gateway programme, in partnership with the King’s Fund, Cumberlege Connections and Frontline, offers a comprehensive development package of 25 days’ development over a two-year period. This includes executive coaching, peer action learning sets and a 15-day modular residential development programme.

Modular development programme

Via a series of residential modules starting with induction, and ending with a national celebration of your success, you’ll be brought up to speed with current health policy and the latest NHS developments. We will engage a leading development organisation to deliver this programme, who will have access to the key experts in health care and government to bring to life the issues you will be tackling in your NHS jobs. They will share their views and insights into service improvements and the future as they see it with lots of opportunity for debate and discussion. Chief executives and directors are invited to all the modules to share their real life challenges in the NHS.

Orientation

Most of the orientation programme will be arranged between you and your line manager. To gain the most from your first couple of months, we suggest you arrange meetings that provide an introduction to health and social care from the point of view of the clinician, practitioner and most importantly the patient. You’ll also need to gain an overall view of the NHS from primary care to acute hospitals and support services. You should also then start to understand medical and clinical professions and their role in the provision of healthcare.

Peer learning sets

Expertly facilitated, regular meetings with your Gateway peer learning set are designed to support your learning through the education modules and in the work place. The learning sets are a safe and confidential setting in which to explore the issues you face at work. Previous participants have reported that these sets are a vital support network during their transition into the NHS.