Consultant General Practice Nurse

Overview

Consultant level nursing practice describes a level which can only be delivered by registered nurses who have progressed from an advanced level within their field to reach a significantly higher level.  All consultant level registered nurses will demonstrate Level 8 (Scottish equivalent Level 12) doctoral level capabilities to act within highly abstract and complex contexts. 

Consultant level nursing is underpinned by a comprehensive range of capabilities and integrated expertise across the four pillars of nursing: clinical practice, education, research and leadership. All four are underpinned by consultancy as the foundations of putting expertise in place across systems of health and social care to sustain quality.

These dimensions, together with critical reflection, enable the nurse working at the consultant level to function to their full potential and achieve the highest degree of autonomy possible within their context of employment. 

(RCN, 2025)

To support this level of practice, the Royal College of Nursing have published a report which sets out definition and core standards that differentiate registered nurses who work at consultant level. Accessed here

Scope of Practice

Role Responsibilities:

Where a PCN employs or engages one or more Consultant Nurses under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, the PCN must ensure that each Consultant Nurse has the following key responsibilities:

• Provides strategic leadership and innovation in PCN-led service development
• Leads on workforce planning and the professional development of nurses across the PCN
• Drives improvements in population health outcomes, reducing health inequalities and improving access for underrepresented communities
• Leads research, evaluation, and implementation of best practice to transform service delivery
• Operates independently at an expert level, leading complex care management and service improvement initiatives
• Works across traditional boundaries to integrate care with secondary, community, and social care partners

(Network contract DES: Contract specification 2025/26)

Entry Requirements

• Must hold a Master’s degree and is working towards a PhD, Educational Doctorate, or equivalent research qualification
• Has extensive experience in advanced clinical leadership, service development, workforce planning, and system-wide innovation
• Is registered with the NMC and maintains revalidation in line with NMC requirements

Training and development

Supervision requirements

Supervision is a process of professional learning and development that enables individuals to reflect on and develop their knowledge, skills and competence, through regular support from another professional.

Supervision can have different forms and functions and a number of terms are used to describe these. For this guidance we use the below terms and define them as follows:

• Clinic/practice supervision: day-to-day support provided by a named/duty senior/more experienced clinician for issues arising in the practice.
• Clinical/professional supervision: regular support from a named senior/experienced clinician/practitioner to promote high clinical standards and develop professional expertise.
• Educational supervision: supports learning and enables learners to achieve proficiency.

Supervision Guidance for primary care network multidisciplinary teams (NHSE, 2023)

Funding

AFC Band 8c

100% of actual salary plus defined on costs covered via ARRS Scheme

Recruitment Information

Where a PCN employs or engages an Consultant Nurse Primary Care under the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, the PCN must ensure that the Consultant nurse meets the ‘Minimum Role Requirements’ stipulated in Annex B of the Network DES

Please find various resources in this section to assist in the recruitment and embedding of the Consultant Nurse Primary care role in General Practice.

NHSE Example Induction Checklist

General Practice Nursing Induction Template (NHSE)

Additional resources