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Protected Learning Time

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Protected Learning Time (PLT) is an opportunity for general practice teams (GPs, practice nurses, healthcare assistants, admin/reception staff and allied health professionals) to address their learning and professional development needs, improve team working and the quality of care provided to patients.

Practices in NCL can apply to take part in up to six PLT sessions per year for 2025-26.

Practices can apply by returning the NCL ICB PLT Scheme Application Form – Memorandum of Understanding. Payments will be made on a quarterly basis on the return on the PLT Feedback Form.

PLT Payments will be:

  • a one-off admin fee for joining the 15 month scheme of £100, per practice 
  • an engagement payment of £300 per PLT session, per main practice site 
  • an engagement payment of £100 per PLT session, per branch practice site 

Applications are still being accepted for practices interested in participating in part 2 of the PLT scheme for 2025-26.

We have provided a prospectus of suggested topics. Practices are to choose from at least one of the core recommended topics, for one of the PLT sessions. Please note that this list of suggested topics is not exhaustive, and practices are permitted to determine their own topic priorities for up to five of the PLT sessions.

NCL Training Hub offers support for the workforce in North Central London through a number of programmes.

Contact nclicb.nclprimarycare@nhs.net with any queries about the PLT scheme.

PLT Suggested list of topics 

Core recommended topics (practices are asked to have one PLT session from this list)

  • Start Well, Live Well, Age Well Programmes 
  • public health and prevention improvement 
  • health inequalities data
  • interface with partners such community pharmacy and acute trusts 
  • hot topics such as Planned Care. 
  • particular outcome / condition / pathway for a commissioned service e.g. Cancer, Annual Health Checks for patients with learning disabilities, Long Term Conditions LCS
  • changes to an operating model to improve outcomes achieved and / or pathway – e.g. call / recall approach, ways of working with specialist clinician
  • tackling health inequalities and improving outcomes
  • dashboards.
  • engagement with patients, PPG, Healthwatch and VSCE partners 
  • VCSE partners local offers, co-production and partnership working
  • tackling health inequalities
  • reflection on Patient Survey results.

Suggested topics (practices can choose from this list for up to five topics)

Potential areas of discussion 

  • reducing the impact pressure on the wellbeing of practice staff
  • support for staff to create an environment where wellbeing is a priority
  • identifying the risk of burnout and where can staff reach out to in order to get help
  • acknowledging and addressing conflict within teams to enable us to work together effectively
  • conflict/ relationship management.

Support resources

Potential areas of discussion 

  • EDI - Diversity Matters.

Support resources

Potential areas of discussion 

  • post- CQC discussions
  • CQC inspection format prior to inspections
  • processes for CQC inspections
  • reflection on recent CQC inspections and any changes to implement as a result.

Support resources

Potential areas of discussion 

  • the rationale for a specific change
  • the teams role in implementation
  • how success will be measured
  • staff engagement in evaluating a change that has been implemented
  • agreeing any further change necessary, how this will be implemented, and how success will be measured.

Potential areas of discussion 

  • up to date incident reporting processes 
  • learning from recent incidents.

Potential areas of discussion 

  • MDT approach to safeguarding 
  • domestic Violence & Abuse awareness, patient support and referrals.

Potential areas of discussion 

  • team growth and development of knowledge, skills and capabilities  
  • opportunities that are available for staff
  • team development of ways of working within the practice
  • careers within general practice.

Support resources

Potential areas of discussion 

  • opportunity for practices to implement greener practices within their practice e.g. developing implementation plan.

Support resources

With cost

Potential areas of discussion 

  • MDT models of working.

Support resources

Potential areas of discussion 

  • digital tools in use in the practice and how to utilise them e.g. Healtheintent
  • what success looks like for patients and the practice, and how it will be measured.

Support resources

PLT summary of overall outcomes

A total of 1042 staff members from 81 practice teams participated in a Protected Learning Time (PLT) session during the first part of the PLT scheme, which ran from January to March 2025.

Positive feedback has been received, demonstrating that staff valued the opportunity to learn and develop together. Where relevant, staff have begun to implement changes to their ways of working or have agreed practical changes to be adopted in specific areas of working.

Practices also reported that having time for open discussions helped to build better working relationships.

Staff from both clinical and non-clinical roles took part in sessions to learn and develop together on a range of topics, including ADHD Awareness, Capacity & Access – Modern General Practice, Difficult Conversations, and Safeguarding. 

The list of topics, which includes specific practice recommendations that have been shared, is available to download on this page. 

During the PLT sessions, these practices remained open and implemented cover arrangements. Some used in-house staff (with a locum to ensure duty cover and one receptionist available by phone), or buddying up with other practices. 

Review date: Tuesday, 31 March 2026

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PLT Practice Recommendations

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PLT Application Form: Memorandum of Understanding

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NCL ICB PLT Scheme: Policy and Application Process

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NCL ICB PLT Feedback Form

NCL ICB PLT Feedback


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