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.
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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)
CLYDE
Monday, 9th November 2026, 9am – 4pm at RAH, MELT
Monday, 23rd November 2026, 9am – 4pm at IRH, Lecture Theatre
Monday, 7th December 2026, 9am – 4pm at RAH, MELT
NORTH
Friday, 13th November 2026, 9am – 4pm at GRI, Lister Lecture Theatre
Friday, 20th November 2026, 9am – 4pm at NSH, Seminar Room 6
Thursday, 3rd December 2026, 9am – 4pm at GRI, Lister Lecture Theatre
SOUTH
Tuesday, 10th November 2026, 9am – 4pm at QEUH, TLC, Room L0007
Tuesday, 17th November 2026, 9am – 4pm at QEUH, TLC, Room L0007
Tuesday, 24th November 2026, 9am – 4pm at QEUH, TLC, Room L0007
Wednesday, 25th November 2026, 9am – 4pm at GGH, Upper Ground Floor, Seminar Room
Tuesday, 1st December 2026, 9am – 4pm at QEUH, TLC, Room L0007
Tuesday, 8th December 2026, 9am – 4pm at QEUH, TLC, Room L0007
DAY 2: Please click on preferred date to book Flying Start Day 2 (choose only one date to attend Day 2)
CLYDE
Monday 17th May 2027, 9am – 4pm at RAH, MELT
Monday, 24th May 2027, 9am – 4pm at IRH, Lecture Theatre
Monday, 31st May 2027, 9am – 4pm at RAH, MELT
NORTH
Monday, 17th May 2027, 9am – 4 pm at GRI, Lister Lecture Theatre
Friday, 28th May 2027, 9am – 4pm at GRI, Lister Lecture Theatre
Wednesday, 9th June 2027, 9am – 4pm at NSH, Seminar Room 6
SOUTH
Tuesday, 11th May 2027, 9am – 4pm at QEUH, TLC, Room L0007
Tuesday, 18th May 2027, 9am – 4pm at QEUH, TLC, Lecture Theatre
Thursday, 2oth May 2027, 9am – 4pm at GGH, Upper Ground Floor, Lecture Theatre
Tuesday, 25th May 2027, 9am – 4pm at QEUH, TLC, Room L0007
Tuesday, 1st June 2027, 9am – 4pm at QEUH, TLC, Room L0007
Tuesday, 8th June 2027, 9am – 4pm at QEUH, TLC, L0007
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Protected 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. Within NHSGGC, NQPs are afforded 24 hours (equivalent to 2 x 12 hour shifts or 3 x 8 hour shifts) protected learning time away from the workplace. This protected time permits their attendance at Flying Start Study Days 1 and 2. The study days 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.
Information related to Flying Start protected learning time:
Study Days
The Practice Education Team facilitate two Flying Start study days, NQPs should attend both.
Booking link for study days please click here
Responsibilities
Ensure NQP has been allocated a Flying Start Facilitator
Book study days and support protected time for attendance
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Newly Qualified Nurses and Midwives (NQN/Ms)
A step-by-step flowchart outlining the NHSGGC process for requesting eHealth accounts for band 4 NQN/Ms is available to support NQN/Ms and their line managers in updating or requesting eHealth account access and creating an NHSGGC email address.
Need eHealth help?
If you’re unsure where to start or need further support, please contact your Practice Education Facilitator or refer to the guides above.
Supplementary factsheets about specific eHealth programmes
Hospital Electronic Prescribing and Medicine Administration (HEPMA)
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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.
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 60-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.
Book into a session by clicking on the links below:
Wednesday October 7th 2026 2:00pm – 3:00pm
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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
Allied Health Professionals
Flying Start Facilitator testimonials
Allied Health Professionals
Videos
Douglas Kerr – Adult Nurse
Katie Deas – Mental Health Nurse
Christina Hill – Midwife
Kirsty Wallace – Midwife
Hannah Greenway – Occupational Therapist
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.”
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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 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 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 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.
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
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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 to attend 2 facilitated study days.
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 activities 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.
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.
Responsibilities
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.
NHSGGC Briefing Paper
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
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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)
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Welcome to Let’s Talk Practice Education – Learn your way, the podcast of the NHSGGC Practice Education Team. An informal Podcast designed with you in mind, a resource for those supporting learners in health care. Opinions expressed are not necessarily endorsed by NHSGGC.
We recognise that at times it can be difficult for staff to attend scheduled training and education sessions. Hence, the addition of a podcast to our portfolio of resources to offer a level of flexibility for staff. We have podcasts to complement the resources within the NHSGGC Flying Start Portal. Additionally, we offer a series of 5 podcasts giving information on the new NMC Education Standards (2018). Also, one dedicated to transition to the new PS/PA roles. Both complementing the learning resources on our Practice Supervisor / Practice Assessor Portal.
We are delighted that the Podcast has been endorsed by our previous NHSGGC Board Nurse Director Dr Mags McGuire.
As the podcasts are designed with you in mind, we would like to invite you to suggest any practice education topics that you would be interested to hear covered. Or, are you aware of good practice, quality improvement work or initiatives being done by any of your colleagues or teams? We would support staff to utilise our podcast platform to share the good work that is being done. We would also welcome any feedback on the podcast to ensure that these are meeting your needs.
Please email us on letstalkpracticeeducation@ggc.scot.nhs.uk or contact your local PEF / CHEF.
Our podcast is available to download or stream from your phone or mobile device via your favourite podcast player. You can also listen to or download the podcast from the below.
Link To Our Let’s Talk Practice Education Podcasts
If you don’t see the Podbean plugin, our podcasts can also be accessed via this link.
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