GP mythbuster 70: Mandatory training considerations in general practice

Page last updated: 5 January 2023
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Organisations we regulate

We have updated this to remove information about training during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We have added information about the new requirement to train staff to support autistic people and people with a learning disability

We are often asked whether we specify mandatory training requirements for GP practices.

It is not CQC’s role to identify specific training for providers and we do not specify any mandatory training for members of the GP practice team. This is because exact training requirements will depend on the:

  • role and specific responsibilities of practices
  • needs of the people using the service.

Each GP practice is responsible for determining what mandatory and additional training its staff need. They are also responsible for how this is delivered. Online training may be acceptable as long as providers show staff have the competency, skills and knowledge to perform their roles.

Individual practices must:

  • decide what training is mandatory and how they deliver it
  • make this clear to staff
  • monitor how staff engage with it.

To deliver safe, high-quality care and treatment, you must take reasonable steps to support staff to do their jobs. This is to keep both patients and practice staff safe. We will take regulatory action if this does not happen.

If you ask someone to work outside their normal scope of practice, this must be within their competencies and not be against their will. They must also be supported and supervised appropriately and properly equipped.

Healthcare workers should not be expected to take on activity they have not been trained to do or do not have the skills for. You may need to offer training or development to ensure your staff have up-to-date skills and knowledge.

To carry out some specific roles, the clinician must be registered with a professional body. Providers must still meet that professional regulator’s requirements.

The Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a new legal requirement from 1 July 2022. All providers registered with us must make sure their staff receive training to support autistic people and people with a learning disability. We do not tell you specifically how to meet your legal requirements in relation to this training.

Training resources

When we inspect

We use these Regulations when we review whether the practice is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. We may not assess every regulation. However, if there are concerns relating to staffing we use:

We will look at whether you have enough suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff to meet the needs of the people using the service at all times. This includes:

  • when they start their employment
  • when they take on new responsibilities
  • on an ongoing basis.

We check how you identify the learning needs of staff, and whether they have the appropriate training to meet these needs and cover the scope of their work.

Although we do not have a definitive list of mandatory training, we expect to see evidence of training. For example, this could include:

We could ask you to show evidence of training for clinical staff that is linked to their specific clinical responsibilities. For example, nursing staff could have training in taking samples for the cervical screening programme or administering vaccines. For extended roles, it could be in treating minor illness and long-term conditions.

Further information

See our mythbusters:

GP mythbusters