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A guide to the policy and the responsibilities it sets for the organisation, managers and individuals in supporting employees at risk of stress.

The organisation

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is committed to:

  • action to support employees to address issues contributing to stress at work and in their wider lives
  • action to support staff who have experienced mental or physical health symptoms associated with stress to return to work and ensure their skills are not lost
  • action to tackle stress and provide support to help staff manage stress.
Directors and senior managers
  • developing an organisational culture where stress is not seen as a sign of weakness or incompetence and where seeking help in managing stress is seen as a sign of strength and good practice
  • reducing and managing, as far as possible, factors which lead to stress in the workplace
  • providing advice and information to managers on their duty of care to staff
  • encouraging a working environment where staff who feel at risk of experiencing the effects of stress can raise an issue in confidence.
Line managers
  • encouraging a team culture where mental wellbeing is as important as physical health
  • carrying out stress risk assessments every two years or before if stress related issues are raised
  • resolving work-related issues at individual level and team level as appropriate, involving people outside the team if necessary
  • regularly reviewing excess hours worked by staff
  • when change is being introduced, provide the necessary support and training to staff
  • when issues arise, involve staff in seeking solutions.
Individuals

ll staff are responsible for:

  • talking to your line manager if you have a problem. If this is not possible, then you should talk to our occupational health service or human resources
  • supporting colleagues experiencing work-related stress and encouraging them to talk to their line manager, occupational health service, human resources or trade union
  • seeking support, which may include in-house counselling from the Occupational Health Service
  • speaking to your GP if worried about health issues
  • recognising that stress is not a weakness
  • attending stress management course if identified that this would help
  • discussing with your manager whether it is possible to alter your job if necessary to make it less stressful.
Human resources department

The department is responsible for:

  • promoting a positive culture within the workforce
  • assisting the process of return to work for staff
  • facilitating discussions within areas of conflict
  • making sure that polices and codes of conduct are adhered to.
Trade unions

Trades unions are responsible for:

  • encouraging members to speak up
  • investigating potential hazards and complaints from their members
  • liaising with managers to carry out risk assessments.
Occupational health service

The service is responsible for:

  • providing support for staff who may be experiencing stress
  • advising managers and staff on stress triggers and risk assessment process
  • delivering training and education programmes on stress risk assessment with the Health and Safety Service
  • monitoring and reviewing patterns of stress-related sickness absence.
In-house counselling service

The service is available to anyone experiencing problems which affect their ability to function.

Part of Occupational Health, the service is responsible for:

  • offering help to establish a tailor-made programme of stress management which extends beyond work into home life
  • offering help to individuals is assessing whether their coping strategies are working
  • offering an opportunity to talk in confidence about any problem or difficulty, whether work-related or not. The service offers face-to-face and telephone appointments. Please call 0141 201 0600 to make an appointment with one of our counselling team.
Health and safety service

The service is responsible for:

  • ensuring training is provided to managers to carry out stress risk assessments
  • advising managers on effective measures for work-related stress
  • helping monitor work-related stress by assisting with analysis of Datix incident data related to stress.

The mental health and wellbeing of our staff is important to us. Growing research demonstrates the importance of mental health and wellbeing in relation to satisfaction and effectiveness at work.

Stress, depression and anxiety are reported as the most common reasons for staff absence. Poor mental health is associated with an increased risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes, while good mental health is a known protective factor. Poor physical health also increases the risk of people developing mental health problems. 

NHSGGC have in place a range of support for staff and managers in order to prevent and assist with mental health issues in the workplace. 

Newly Qualified Practitioners (NQPs) should attend a Day 1 and a Day 2 study day in their first year of practice, these contribute to your 24 hours protected study time.  NQPs may book on to a session at any of the sites, please ensure you discuss booking with SCN/SCM/Line Manager to ensure date is suitable for you to attend.  Information will be sent in advance of the session to print and bring with you. Please click the relevant box for available dates.

DAY 1: Please click on preferred date to book Flying Start Day 1 (choose only one date to attend Day 1)  

No further Flying Start Day 1 days available.


Return to Practice Education’s main page

Throughout your first year and your career, as a healthcare professional, you are likely to experience a range of emotions, which could affect your health and wellbeing. The link below will take you to the NHSGGC organisational page for health and wellbeing, where you can explore these emotions and become aware of the supports available to you, to ensure you can address your emotions in a positive way.

NHSGGC: Mental Health and Wellbeing for NHSGGC staff 

NHSGGC has also produced a brief booklet with a number of resources which can support staff to take care of their own mental health and support colleagues to do so too. Access this booklet here

As NQPs, commencing your career in healthcare, it is imperative that you are aware of, and look after your own wellbeing. Access this link Newly Qualified Staff – Looking after your wellbeing for guidance which could support you to do this.

It is recognised that exceptional demands are currently being placed on people working in health and social care. The National Wellbeing Hub contains information, resources and supports which you may find helpful at work and at home.  

(Please note: the Hub is not specifically for NQPs, but you may find the contents are beneficial to you).

Within this section you will find Flying Start portfolio examples, which have been kindly submitted by NQPs who have completed the programme.  This is to allow publication of examples for your information.

Please note: The portfolios have been published in the formats provided by the NQPs and are intended to be published in full.  For anonymity reasons there may be portfolios where a piece of evidence has been replaced with a blank template.  Furthermore, these portfolios may not reflect discussions which have taken place between NQP and Facilitator to meet learning outcomes.

Below you will find the Flying Start Facilitators Information Guide, which provides information on the programme, protected study time and the role of the Facilitator, as well as guidance around the resources that NQPs can use to evidence their learning.  Information regarding the LearnPro module: GGC Flying Start Facilitator Guide can also be found below. (Please note: For nurses and midwives, it is likely that your preceptor and facilitator will be the same person).

LearnPro module

There is also a LearnPro module GGC: Flying Start Facilitator Guide that your facilitator can complete to refresh their knowledge or to familiarise themselves with the role of facilitator.  Please find this information thin LearnPro, under CPD.

Facilitators Information Sessions

The NHSGGC Practice Education Team host Flying Start Facilitator information sessions on MS Teams for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals who are currently supporting, or will support, newly qualified practitioners (NQPs) in their first year of practice. These 90-minute group sessions (dates and times below), will offer guidance on supporting NQPs with the requirements of the Flying Start NHS programme, the NHSGGC Flying Start Portal and address any related questions or queries. Please click links below to book.

Tuesday, 27th May 2025 at 2pm – 3pm

Monday, 9th June 2025 at 2pm – 3pm

Thursday, 26th June 2025 at 2pm – 3pm

Tuesday, 8th July 2025 at 2pm – 3pm

Wednesday, 23rd July 2025 at 2pm – 3pm

Read and view some of the experiences of registered professionals who have completed the Flying Start programme. For newly qualified practitioners these highlight what they feel have been the benefits of the programme and some of their experiences throughout their first year in practice.  This is further reflected in the video messages from NQPs, which you will find helpful.

Facilitator testimonials are also included below and highlight the benefits of this role for both the NQP and the facilitator themselves.

Flying Start Journey

Nurses and Midwives
2023

Mairi Calder, Midwife

Lilly Allan, Adult Nurse

2022

Eilidh Cole, Midwife

Barbara Vambe, Adult Nurse

2021

Francine Maclachlan, Adult Nurse

Katie Deas, MH Nurse

Allied Health Professionals
2023

Lauren Boyle, Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Rachel Hendrie, Community Mental Health Occupational Therapist

2022

Caitlin Vogt, Physiotherapist

2021

Nicole Dolan, Podiatrist

Kirsty Tamburrini, Podiatrist

Hannah Downey, Podiatrist

Hannah Greenway, Physical Health Occupational Therapist

Aimee Marshall, Orthotist

Flying Start Facilitator testimonials

Nurses and Midwives
2022

Louise McHardy, Senior Charge Nurse

2021

Linda Kendall, Depute Charge Nurse

Allied Health Professionals
2022

Samantha Davidson, Practice Development Podiatrist

Hannah Greenway, Occupational Therapist

Videos

Douglas Kerr – Adult Nurse
Katie Deas – Mental Health Nurse
Christina Hill – Midwife
Kirsty Wallace – Midwife
Hannah Greenway – Occupational Therapist

Flying Start testimonial comments

Adult Nurse

“Flying Start resources have given me the opportunity to become more self-aware by way of the reflective accounts I have to do. It enables me to see what point I ‘m at as a Newly Qualified Practitioner and how far I need to go to become a better practitioner.”

“Flying Start modules should also give me a headstart when revalidating as a nurse and will populate my portfolio ready for that.”

AHPs

“I still use the 4 pillars structure to help me navigate my way around my learning.”

“Being able to manage yourself, as well as leading your patients is important, this has made me more confident in my role.”

“Through Flying Start Leadership pillar, I took most learning in self leadership and strategies to help manage myself and the impact I have on other people.”

“Through Flying Start Evidence, Research and Development pillar, I became involved in developing a formal pathway for patient feedback, making feedback accessible for all, patients felt listened to.”

“By working through Flying Start, my portfolio evidence has helped me with my TURAS Appraisal and has enough in it to get me through the HCPC process.”

Midwives

“Flying Start has helped me bridge the gap from student to newly qualified midwife, and has allowed me to become more independent.”

“Meeting learning outcomes for Flying Start has supported my transition to being a capable confident midwife.”

Mental Health Nurse

“I realised the importance of the programme early on and this was reinforced by my colleagues supporting me.”

These Flying Start resources should be used to support NQPs working through the Flying Start programme.

Booklet 1: Getting Started

Booklet 1 has been designed to support you when working through the Flying Start programme. Please utilise this booklet for getting started and registering for the programme.

Booklet 1 cover image
Booklet 2: Resources

Booklet 2 has been designed to support you when working through the Flying Start programme. Please utilise this booklet and the resources, aligned with the presentations and videos, to ensure you are thinking about evidencing your learning and development when working towards meeting the learning outcomes of the programme.

Booklet 2 cover image
Booklet 3: Sign off for completion

Booklet 3 below has been designed to support you when working through the Flying Start programme. Please utilise this booklet for sign off for completion and downloading your completion certificate.

Booklet 3 cover image
Booklet 4: TURAS

Booklet 4 below has been designed to support you to create and build your TURAS portfolio. This can be used to document your learning throughout your career.

Booklet 4 cover image
Presentations and videos

The presentations and videos below have been designed to support you when working through the Flying Start programme. They should be utilised along with the guidance booklets, to ensure you are thinking about evidencing your learning and working towards meeting the learning outcomes of the programme.

Further resource videos from the NHSGGC Nurse Director and the NMC have also been included, as these will be helpful to you.

Flying Start Presentations

Zones of discomfort and personal development

Welcome to NHSGGC

Additional Resources

Flying Start Podcasts

As part of NHSGGC Let’s Talk Practice Education – Learn your way series of podcasts, the Practice Education Team have developed podcasts to add to the learning resources available within the NHSGGC Flying Start Portal. The addition of podcasts to our learning resources offers staff more flexibility with their learning.

The podcasts available are:

The resources within the Flying Start Portal aim to support nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, in the first year of practice as newly qualified practitioners (NQPs), whilst undertaking the Flying Start programme. Facilitators may also find these resources helpful when supporting the NQPs through the programme.

Please note: The use of the resources contributes towards NHSGGC Protected Study time and CPD for NMC Revalidation and HCPC Standards

Pillars of Practice

The four Pillars of Practice and related learning outcomes must be achieved to complete the Flying Start NHS® programme.  Please familiarise yourself with these and think about which learning outcomes you may be achieving, or can work towards achieving, dependent on your learning at that time.  How you meet these outcomes, will be specific to you, your role, and your practice setting. See also Pillars of Practice presentation.

Clinical Practice

Critically reflect on your contribution to the delivery of safe care.

Examine your practice in relation to enhancing person-centred care.

Leadership

Examine your practice in relation to how you demonstrate self-leadership.

Critically reflect on your behaviours and actions that impact on working collaboratively with colleagues.

Facilitating Learning

Engage in professional development that demonstrates your commitment to career-long learning and excellence in practice.

Demonstrate ability and confidence in developing and supporting others to learn.

Evidence, Research and Development

Source evidence relevant to an aspect of your practice.

Review service user participation in your workplace.

Responsibilities

It is your responsibility as a registered professional to ensure you are aware of the requirements of the programme.  The following information is a list from The Definitive Guide, which highlights who is involved in the process to support you, and the responsibilities of each individual.

NQP starts the programme

What you need to do: Go to learn.nes.nhs.scot/735/flying-start-nhs

Who is responsible: NQP

NQP completes ‘Flying Start NHS Essentials’

What you need to do: Complete the short eLearning resource ‘Flying Start NHS Essentials’

Who is responsible: NQP

Flying Start Facilitator provides support and guidance to NQP throughout the programme

What you need to do: Assign Flying Start Facilitator to NQP

Who is responsible: Line Manager

What you need to do: Work together throughout the programme.

Who is responsible: NQP and Flying Start Facilitator.

NQP meets learning outcomes for the programme

What you need to do: Carry out learning activities to achieve all of the programme’s learning outcomes.

Who is responsible: NQP

What you need to do: Confirm that NQP has met all learning outcomes across the programme.

Who is responsible: Flying Start Facilitator

NQP keeps a portfolio

What you need to do: Actively gather evidence of learning in a portfolio.

Who is responsible: NQP

Time to learn

What you need to do: Discuss and negotiate time to learn.

Who is responsible: NQP, Flying Start Facilitator, and Line Manager.

NQP completes the programme in their first year of practice

What you need to do: Meet the requirements of the programme within first year of practice.

Who is responsible: NQP

Flying Start NHS® programme supports newly qualified practitioners (NQPs), to become confident and capable health professionals. The Scottish Government requires all NQPs to complete Flying Start NHS® in the first 12 months of practice.  In line with this, it is a requirement of NHSGGC for all NQPs to undertake and complete the Flying Start programme.  To support completion, NQPs are afforded 24 hours protected learning time away from the workplace (see related briefing paper) and information below.

Flying Start NHS® programme information

What is Flying Start NHS®?

Flying Start NHS® is the national development programme supporting transition of newly qualified practitioners (NQPs) in the first year of practice. Supporting NQPs to become confident, capable health professionals . Preceptorship is also fundamental towards development of NQPs.

The foundations of the refreshed Flying Start programme are the four Pillars of Practice. These provide the opportunity to be flexible in their learning, utilising the learning opportunities available to them. NQPs should choose sactivities that will benefit their development and are relevant to their area of practice. Undertaking Flying Start NHS® will also allow the NQP to develop their skills in critical thinking and reflection. Completing the programme supports NQPs to generate evidence contributing to TURAS Appraisal, CPD portfolios, NMC Revalidation and HCPC standards requirements.

NQPs undertaking Flying Start should register for a Turas account (see Booklet 1: Getting started).

The Definitive Guide to the Programme provides a comprehensive overview for both NQPs and Facilitators/Preceptors. The NHSGGC Flying Start resources supports NQPs’ learning, development and portfolio development. It also provides resources to those who may or will be Flying Start Facilitators. For nurses and midwives, it is likely that your preceptor and Flying Start facilitator will be the same person. Your Practice Education Facilitator (PEF) or Care Home Education Facilitator (CHEF) can also offer additional support.

Contact

If you are unsure who this is please email:

NHSGGC Flying Start protected learning time

Scottish Government requires all NQPs to complete Flying Start NHS® in the first 12 months of practice.  It is a requirement for all NHSGGC NQPs to undertake and complete the Flying Start programme.  NQPs are afforded 24 hours (3 days equivalent) protected learning time away from the workplace. This permits attendance at protected learning days 1 and 2. These are based on two 12-hour shifts undertaken by nursing and midwifery staff, and will be rostered and planned for.  The study time will occur at approximately month 2 and month 8 of employment.  If there are any queries around facilitation of this learning time, please contact your PEF/CHEF .

Protected learning days are supported with facilitated learning resources compiled by NHSGGC Practice Education team. These support NQPs with their learning and development, to meet the learning outcomes for the programme.  These resources include:

Electronic resource booklets: Four electronic resource booklets which will support you in Getting Started with Flying Start, provides evidence forms to allow you to document your learning, these can be printed, saved and/or uploaded to your professional portfolio, guide you through the sign off process for completion and how to get started with your Turas professional portfolio.

Learning resources utilised will guide your learning and development and support your understanding of the Flying Start programme includes templates, videos and presentations. These cover reflection, pillars of practice, teamworking and working styles and characteristics, zones of discomfort and self development, resilience, leadership, consolidation of learning, evidencing portfolio and moving forward in your career, as well as staff resources for your Health and Wellbeing. 

Queries can be directed to your PEF or CHEF or via email to:

NQP Signifier Badges

NQP Signifier Badges are endorsed by Professor Angela Wallace, Nurse Director and Fiona Smith, AHP Director. These should be worn throughout your first year in practice, whilst working through the Flying Start NHS programme. This will allow your colleagues to offer you further support and guidance.

If you have commenced in post and not yet received your NQP Signifier Badge, please email Practice Education. The team can arrange for this to be sent on to you.

ggc.practiceeducation@nhs.scot (Nurses and midwives)

ggc.gjnhahpepl@nhs.scot (AHPs)