Deputy Practice Manager

The Methodist Church in Britain; Bath; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Ongoing training & CPD

Career progression

Job summary

Lovemead Group Practice is seeking a Deputy Practice Manager for Roundstone Surgery in Bath. The role focuses on quality governance, complaints handling, and patient experience, while supporting operational and staff management across a 30-hour, four-day week.

The post deputises for the Practice Manager during leave and absence, with leadership potential for development. Ideal candidates will have management or supervisory experience within general practice, strong communication, organisational

Qualifications

• Management, supervisory or coordination experience with staff, workloads or outcomes.
• Leadership potential from general practice experience is welcome.
• Strong communication and organisational skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead quality, governance, complaints and regulatory activities.
• Support CQC readiness and governance documentation.
• Coordinate incidents, audits and quality improvement initiatives.
• Monitor trends to drive service improvements.
• Deputise for the Practice Manager during leave or non-working days.
• Provide line management and staff development support.
• Assist with attendance, conduct and performance matters under policy.
• Support day-to-day operational running and workload management.
• Review systems and workflows and drive improvements.
• Contribute to business and workforce planning.

Skills

Staff management

Leadership

Communication

Organisational skills

Decision making

Job description

Deputy Practice Manager post within Lovemead Group Practice's Roundstone Surgery, reporting to the Practice Manager and GP partners. The core of the work is leading quality, clinical governance, complaints and patient experience, alongside operational and staff management support. It is a permanent senior management role of 30 hours across four days, deputising for the Practice Manager during leave and absence. Fit depends on management or supervisory experience, or established general practice experience with clear leadership potential.

What the job involves

• Lead the practice's quality, governance, complaints and regulatory compliance activities
• Lead CQC readiness and maintain governance documentation
• Coordinate significant events, incidents, audits, complaints investigations and quality improvement initiatives
• Monitor trends from incidents, complaints, audits and patient feedback to drive service improvement
• Deputise for the Practice Manager during leave, absence and non-working days, within delegated authority
• Provide line management for designated staff and support recruitment, induction, appraisal, training and workforce development
• Assist with attendance, conduct, capability and performance matters under practice policies
• Support day-to-day operational running of the practice, identifying and resolving service pressures
• Review systems, processes and workflows, implementing improvements where appropriate
• Lead or support projects, service developments and organisational change
• Support risk management, business continuity, information governance and policy review
• Contribute to business planning, workforce planning and wider practice management

What’s required

Experience

• Management, supervisory, team leadership or coordination experience with responsibility for staff, workloads or outcomes, or significant general practice experience with leadership potential
• Managing competing priorities and meeting deadlines
• Handling confidential, sensitive or complex situations professionally
• Building working relationships with a range of stakeholders

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent verbal and written communication
• Strong organisation, planning and prioritisation
• Problem-solving and decision-making, working independently and escalating appropriately
• Understanding of quality improvement, risk management, regulatory compliance and service delivery
• Knowledge of confidentiality, data protection and information governance
• Understanding of good people management practices

Other

• Approachable, supportive and professional
• Calm, resilient and adaptable
• Proactive, solution-focused and able to challenge constructively
• Reliable, accountable and discreet, with sound judgement
• Leading, motivating and supporting colleagues
• Strong IT skills and attention to detail

Nice to have

• Previous general practice, primary care or NHS experience
• Previous line management or supervisory experience
• HR processes, staff development or performance management experience
• Experience of quality, governance, complaints or risk management
• Experience of CQC compliance or inspection preparation
• Experience of quality improvement initiatives or project management
• Experience as an Assistant Practice Manager, Deputy Practice Manager or equivalent

What’s offered

• NHS Pension Scheme
• Ongoing development, training and continuing professional development
• Career progression and opportunities to take on greater responsibility