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How to create your Primary Care Network Multi-Disciplinary Team Educational Session
Updated: Apr 17, 2023
Disclaimer: I take no credit for this and at the time of writing, I am the PCN Manager at Cranbrook PCN and provide line management to the PCN Team.
The idea for the educational sessions came from the amazing Rehenaaz, a Pharmacist in Cranbrook PCN.
Rehenaaz asked if we could create a space for more education in the network and this is our approach.
The Approach
1. We turned our informal team catch up into a PCN MDT Educational Session.
Top tip: Use an existing meeting rather than create a new meeting.
2. We then double-checked with the rest of the team to see if anyone else would be interested.
Top tip: If there isn’t much interest it doesn’t mean you shouldn't go for it. I would probe a little deeper to influence and modify your approach to get maximum engagement.
Lucky for us, everyone is on board.
3. Rehenaaz said she would lead the first session and chose COPD.
Top tip: When someone steps forward. Get out of the way and let them lead.
4. Now we have someone willing to go first, it was time to recruit some other team members to lead a session. Coming up we have:
Cranbrook's Social Prescribing Link Worker Raquel is delivering a session on health inequalities.
Chris from the Pure Physiotherapy team leading a session on First Contact Physios.
Our Primary Care Mental Health Worker Adebisi is delivering a session on mental health
5. The format
The monthly session starts with the following questions:
1. What is working well for each member of the team
2. Do you have any issues to share or need support with?
3. Then education component is then delivered followed by any other business.
The plan is to utilise the expertise of the network without pulling on any external speakers, and the content is created for a clinical and non-clinical audience.
The convener in this instance was the PCN Manager but it can be anyone.
6. Communication
The session is open to EVERYONE and this was communicated across the network using WhatsApp, the PCN Newsletter and email.
We also record the session and then share it in the newsletter for those who cannot make it.
The first session was attended by our Care Coordinator, Social Prescriber, pharmacists, Mental Health Practitioner, First Contact Physios, a GP and a practice manager, and I know this will grow over time.
7. The follow-up
This involves is a public and private thank you to the session lead.
Here is what Rehenaaz said. “Hey Tara, thank you!! I felt so empowered this morning, I was literally buzzing for ages after. I’m really glad everyone took away something from the session. I thought it might have been too clinical but the engagement from the other roles was amazing! I loved it."
Final thoughts
Being a PCN Manager is so much more than the DES and targets. A lot of the role is about empowering others, spotting opportunities, driving excellence, trying new things.
I think this is an excellent example of bottom-up leadership from Rehenaaz!
Also, when you try something new, it doesn't need to be big or perfect.
Just try... and iterate as you go along.
If you found this blog useful, you may also like;
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Tara provides project and network management and training to Primary Care Networks and coaching support to clinical leads and has worked with 11 Training Hubs and 19 Primary Care Networks to date.
Tara has an MBA in Healthcare Leadership and Management, is published in the London Journal of Primary Care, is the author of over 200 blogs also hosts The Business of Healthcare Podcast.
Find out more about THC Primary Care at www.thcprimarycare.co.uk
And follow Tara on Twitter @THCPrimarycare
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