Armada Family Practice

About the practice

The Armada Family Practice is at home to an established, friendly team in a modern, purpose built Health Centre. The team work together to provide timely, high quality healthcare to a diverse population in an area denoted for deprivation and a high prevalence of disease.

The practice is part of 'SWIFT' a cluster of practices that includes Hartwood, Hartcliife, Lennard, Grange Road, Crest and Merrywood.

Working environment, values and culture

The practice offers a range of appointment options and continues to work with their Patient Participation group to offer the best possible service.

As part of the cluster, the practice offers Improved Access. This takes the form of a Saturday hub that offers nurse-led services including chronic disease management, wound care and health checks.

The practice also has an established on call team, consisting of two GPs and ANPs who are well supported.

The team is supportive and hardworking, with clinical colleagues making time over coffee each day to discuss clinical questions and concerns, and allocate visits. The support team is friendly and is dedicated to helping the clinical team to work as effectively and efficiently as possible.

As well as daily coffee get-togethers, the team also makes time for a monthly multi-disciplinary EOL, child protection, clinical and business meetings, plus a monthly team meeting.

The team is also well-established - people who join tend to stay for long periods – and enjoy social evenings at several times a year.

What we offer

New members of staff can expect all the support they need when joining the team, including a full induction, buddy scheme and mentoring. The team is supportive, welcoming and very social.

The practice welcomes opportunities for flexible working where possible, various opportunities to take leave (maternity/paternity, carers’, adoption, paid and unpaid), and a Childcare Voucher scheme.

Learning and development

New joiners benefit from an induction programme tailored to their needs and experience. This is supplemented by monthly meetings in the first three months to discuss further training or support.

All staff benefit from ongoing mandatory training, delivered in-house, plus one week’s study leave each year where appropriate.

Every member of the team can also benefit from the support and guidance of a mentor.

Our patients

Whitchurch is home to many families who have lived here for generations. It’s an area of mixed demographics with a high proportion of older people and patients with multiple chronic diseases. The area also has quite high child poverty levels and child protection issues.

Most recent patient feedback indicates that 80% of practice patients would recommend the practice.