What is TARGET?
TARGET sessions offer GP Practices protected learning time, allowing staff to focus on training and professional development. In the Wakefield district, TARGET takes place one Wednesday afternoon each month and is open to all primary care staff.
These sessions provide an opportunity for learning, upskilling, networking, and reflection, all aimed at equipping staff with the latest knowledge and skills to deliver outstanding patient care. Each month’s training session focuses on a different topic to meet the evolving needs of primary care.
TARGET also brings together staff from different GP practices, creating valuable opportunities for networking and shared learning. It encourages conversations about how different practices approach their work and offers insights into alternative ways of delivering care. This collaboration helps staff discover new, more effective ways of working. It also provides a supportive space where staff can share their experiences and feel heard by others who understand the unique pressures and challenges faced in general practice.
Choosing Topics & organising TARGET
Rose Griffin of the Learning & Development (L&D) team at Conexus is the main organiser of TARGET sessions. She works closely with GP leads to decide on topics that will be most beneficial for practice staff each month.
Topics are chosen based on several factors:
- Newly released national guidance
- Required annual updates
- Feedback and interests expressed by practice staff
- Contractual and training requirements that need to be met
GP leads often suggest ideas or highlight areas that need attention. Rose then organises the training, sources expert speakers in those areas, and creates the event for staff to book onto.
TARGET is a collaborative effort between Conexus staff and GP leads across Wakefield, ensuring the training is relevant, timely, and aligned with both local and national priorities.
TARGET sessions feature guest speakers who are experts in specific areas of healthcare. They provide valuable updates, share best practices, and answer questions from attendees. These sessions also offer an opportunity to celebrate successes within practices and the wider primary care community.
Who organises target?
The Learning & Development (L&D) team at Conexus organises TARGET events for practices across the Wakefield district. If you’ve attended a TARGET event before, you may recognise the team, they’re the friendly faces at the front, signing you in, guiding you to the tea, coffee, and lunch, and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
The team provides essential admin support on the day to make sure each event is a success. They are responsible for organising both face-to-face and online sessions, including:
- Creating Eventbrite listings so attendees can book their preferred sessions
- Setting up online meetings and sending out Microsoft Teams links
- Posting about TARGET on social media & sending booking links out in newsletters
- For face-to-face events:
- Booking and setting up the venue
- Ordering tea, coffee, and lunch
- Welcoming and supporting attendees throughout the day
Their work behind the scenes ensures a smooth and welcoming experience for everyone attending a TARGET event.
Type of TARGET days
District Wide – This is training that anyone working in primary care in the Wakefield district can attend
Network – Training for specific Primary Care Networks
Practice Based – Training that takes place within GP practices
Wakefield TARGET Primary Care Network Includes:
Wakefield North
Pontefract & Knottingley
Wakefield Health Alliance South
Brigantes
Five Towns
Trinity Health Group
West Wakefield
