The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS): A Gateway to Primary Care Employment
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The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) is a pivotal part of the Primary Care Network (PCN) Direct Enhanced Service (DES), introduced in 2019 as part of the NHS Long Term Plan. The ARRS aims to boost capacity in primary care by funding the recruitment of a wide range of healthcare professionals. This initiative is designed to alleviate pressure on GPs, enhance patient care, and provide diverse employment opportunities in primary care settings across the UK.
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What is the ARRS?
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The ARRS allows Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to employ a variety of healthcare professionals beyond the traditional GP and nursing staff, with the aim of broadening the skill mix within primary care. This helps ensure that patients have timely access to the right healthcare professionals based on their needs. Roles funded under the scheme include:
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Clinical Pharmacists
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Social Prescribing Link Workers
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Physician Associates
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First Contact Physiotherapists
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Dietitians
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Paramedics
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Mental Health Practitioners
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Health and Wellbeing Coaches
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Care Coordinators
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Newly Qualified GPs
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Pharmacy Technicians​
Opportunities for Healthcare Professionals in Primary Care
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For healthcare professionals, the ARRS provides an excellent opportunity to enter the primary care workforce, offering roles that allow for professional growth and the chance to work as part of a multidisciplinary team. It also introduces new avenues for Newly Qualified GPs, who are supported under this scheme to help them transition smoothly into primary care settings and enhance their skill sets early in their careers.
Key Benefits for Healthcare Professionals:
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Expanded Employment Opportunities: The ARRS is expected to create over 26,000 roles by 2024, offering various career paths for both experienced and newly qualified healthcare workers across specialisations.
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Enhanced Training and Development: The scheme includes funding for training and development, enabling professionals to expand their skills and gain experience in a supportive primary care environment.
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Integration into Multi-Disciplinary Teams: Roles under the ARRS work alongside GPs, nurses, and other healthcare providers, promoting collaborative care and holistic patient management.
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Towards a Standardised Pay Structure in Primary Care
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One of the key advantages of the ARRS is its potential to pave the way towards a more standardised pay structure in primary care, akin to the NHS Agenda for Change (AfC). The AfC is a framework used across the NHS to ensure consistent pay scales based on skills, experience, and responsibilities, providing clarity and fairness in remuneration.
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Currently, salaries in primary care can vary widely depending on the region and the financial capabilities of individual PCNs. However, by offering a standardised reimbursement for specific roles, the ARRS helps to promote consistency in pay, making the primary care sector more competitive and attractive to healthcare professionals. This movement towards standardisation could also help retain talent in primary care by offering clearer career progression and more predictable salary expectations.
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The ARRS is transforming the landscape of primary care in the UK by bringing a diverse range of healthcare professionals into PCNs, enhancing patient access to services, and supporting the sustainability of general practice. For healthcare professionals, it offers a wealth of new career opportunities, robust training and development support, and the potential for more consistent pay structures.
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As a specialist primary care provider, Hill Health is supporting PCNs to utilise the ARRS to strengthen multidisciplinary teams and deliver high-quality, integrated care to our patients.
For healthcare professionals looking for a dynamic and rewarding career in primary care, the ARRS provides an excellent pathway to make a meaningful impact in the community.