‘Enhanced’ practice nurses employed through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) can earn up to £70,330, it has been revealed.
Guidance from NHS England has provided more detail about the new role, the qualifications needed, and the requirements of primary care networks (PCNs) for implementing the post as part of the ARRS.
According to the latest Network Contract Directed Enhanced Service (DES) specification, published last month, enhanced practice nurses will work as part of a multidisciplinary team within a PCN to deliver ‘enhanced clinical care’, train and supervise colleagues, and act as a ‘clinical role model’ for evidence-based practice.
It was announced in February that enhanced practice nurses – an experienced general practice nurse (GPN) with postgraduate qualifications – would be included in the list of roles that PCNs can claim salary reimbursement for under the ARRS, as part of the 2024/25 GP contract.
The role, which can be implemented from April 2024, is capped at one per PCN or two for those with 100,000 patients.
The new Network Contract DES has confirmed the role is a band 7 level and that PCNs can use the ARRS to claim up to £60,401 per year for the role on a national basis – increasing to £67,369 in outer London and £70,330 within inner London.
The guidance stated that PCNs must ensure enhanced practice nurses have a postgraduate qualification at level 7 or above relevant to their area of enhanced practice, such as in wound care, diabetes plus respiratory and cardiovascular disease, dementia, women’s health and public health and population health management.
And it reiterated that those in the role must work at an ‘enhanced level of practice’ as described in the Primary Care and General Practice Nursing Career and Core Capabilities Framework.
Enhanced practice nurses will have wide range of responsibilities, including:
- working as part of a multidisciplinary team within a PCN
- delivering enhanced clinical care in the context of continual change, challenging environments, different models of care delivery, innovation, new technology and using their knowledge to manage complex interventions
- undertaking assessments of patient need and devise and evaluate complex care plans and teaching and advising patients and families on managing their condition
- evaluating and analysing clinical problems and using their expertise to make clinical decisions
- recognising when and to whom patients should be referred and delegating when appropriate
- participating in clinical audits and research projects, and implementing change, including developing and updating practice protocols/guidelines and procedures locally
- holding responsibility for team performance and service delivery and providing supervision to trainee nursing associates, nursing associates and GPNs.
They will also be expected to ‘facilitate and support the development and delivery of innovative training and education to staff, to improve competence and confidence’ and provide provide professional and clinical leadership and mentorship.
The Primary Care and General Practice Nursing Career and Core Capabilities Framework – to which this role is aligned – states enhanced practice nurses are a level in between registered nurses and advanced level practice nurses.
According to the framework, nurses at this level ‘require a critical understanding of detailed theoretical and practical knowledge, which can be generalist with a special interest and/or have management and leadership responsibilities’. And it suggests the role is suitable for senior practice nurses, nurse practitioners, specialist nurses and nurse managers.
A version of this story first appeared on our sister publication Nursing in Practice.
