Lead Nurse - General Practice

NHS; Ware; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider in Ware is seeking an experienced Practice Nurse to lead a team and ensure the delivery of high-quality nursing care. The successful candidate will oversee clinical operations, manage chronic disease cases, and promote patient-centred practices. Applicants should have significant primary care experience and a relevant nursing degree along with an active NMC registration. This position offers both full-time and part-time work options and is aimed at maintaining a high standard of care across the healthcare team.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a primary care setting.
• Ability to manage and lead a nursing team.
• Excellent understanding of clinical guidelines and service improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop nursing services in the practice.
• Oversee safe and effective nursing care delivery.
• Manage chronic disease management and health screening.

Skills

Team leadership

Patient-centred care

Clinical governance

Communication skills

Infection control

Education

Relevant nursing degree

Current NMC registration

Job description

Job Summary

New River Health is seeking an experienced Practice Nurse with experience of managing or leading a team, to lead and develop our team of 3 Practice Nurses and 2 Healthcare Assistants. The postholder will be a key member of the management team, ensuring the delivery of high quality nursing services to our patient population, and leading on the Practice's compliance with clinical standards, policies, and regulations. You will also be an integral part of the nursing staff, delivering high-quality, patient-centred nursing care.

Scope and Purpose of the Role

• To develop the nursing services offered by the practice
• To provide clinical and managerial leadership to the nursing team
• To ensure the highest standards of care are provided for patients
• To manage and develop a clinical acute and chronic case load, dealing with presenting patients’ needs in a primary care setting
• To deliver a high standard of patient care using specialist practice nurse skills

About Us

New River Health are a friendly, forward-thinking, training GP practice covering 17,500 patients across two sites in Hertford and Ware.

We are proud to deliver high-quality, patient-centred healthcare within a supportive team environment.

Our multidisciplinary team includes GPs, practice nurses, HCAs, paramedics, pharmacists, physiotherapists, mental health practitioners, social prescribers, and an experienced administrative team who work collaboratively to deliver excellent care to our patient population.

Our practice is committed to innovation, continuous improvement, and maintaining a positive workplace culture. We embrace new models of care, digital tools, and evidence-based practice to ensure we meet the needs of our community. We hold regular clinical meetings, offer mentorship and support for professional development, and encourage open communication across all staff.

Details

Date posted: 30 December 2025

Pay Scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience (circa Band 7 equivalent)

Contract

Permanent

Working Pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference Number

A2862-25-0008

Job Locations

St Marys Courtyard, Church Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9EF

The Castlegate Surgery, 42 Castle Street, Hertford, SG14 1HH

Job Responsibilities

• Oversee the delivery of safe and effective nursing care across the practice.
• Lead the nursing team and provide clinical supervision, mentorship, and management to ensure high standards of care delivery across the practice.
• Provide clinical supervision and guidance to nurses, healthcare assistants, and other clinicians.
• Manage a range of clinical activities, including chronic disease management, immunisations, and health screening.
• Provide and evaluate a range of health interventions to meet patient needs.
• Promote general health and well-being, develop person-centred care plans for patients with or at risk of long-term conditions.
• Implement and lead on vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children, including travel health consultations.
• Plan, develop and implement specific projects and new nursing services as required.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the nursing team, including staff rostering and performance reviews.
• Maximise the performance of individuals and the efficiency and effectiveness of the team.
• Build and lead a cohesive and effective team with good cross‑team communication.
• Carry out appraisals of the practice nursing team and update training needs as required.
• Ensure staff training and development needs are met, and that mandatory training is completed.
• Lead team meetings to discuss operational issues and share information.
• Lead or participate in recruitment as required and implement induction programmes for new practice nursing staff.
• Oversee the implementation and adherence to Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and ensuring regulatory compliance in all clinical activities.
• Undertake regular audits, risk assessments, and clinical governance reviews to ensure the practice meets CQC and NHS England requirements.
• Ensure all patient data is handled according to internal policies and relevant legislation.
• Maintain and review nursing protocols and quality systems.
• Lead on infection control for the practice.
• Review and revise policies to ensure compliance with legislation and best practices.
• Work as a Practice Nurse within the team, according to areas of professional skill and competence.
• Make professionally autonomous decisions for which the postholder is accountable and provide safe, evidence based, cost effective, individualised patient care.
• Evaluate patient test results in conjunction with the patient and their GP and ensure the appropriate course of treatment is initiated.
• Make appropriate referrals to other members of the primary, community and secondary care teams.
• Help the practice develop and deliver specialist primary nurse‑led services including chronic disease management.
• Initiate the process of diagnosis for patients suspected to have a chronic disease (e.g. diabetes, COPD, asthma and CHD), referring to other clinicians as appropriate.
• Manage programmes of care for patients with chronic diseases by planning, providing and evaluating care under agreed guidelines and patient group directions.
• Maintain disease registers in liaison with administrative staff and undertake annual review of patients' understanding and ability to self‑manage.
• Undertake regular medication reviews for groups of patients deemed suitable by the clinical team.
• Provide comprehensive travel health advice for patients prior to travel.
• Administer child and adult immunisations and vaccinations in accordance with national and local programmes.
• Provide support and chaperoning to the doctors for minor surgery and other procedures.
• Promote health and wellbeing, giving general education advice on diet, contraception, smoking, chronic disease management, exercise, etc.
• Initiate and carry out programmes of health screening as agreed with the practice clinical team.
• Enable, support and encourage individuals, families and groups to address issues which affect their health and social wellbeing.
• Contribute to the practice achieving its GMS contract obligations.
• Maintain accurate records according to NMC rules and ensure all data protection requirements are met.
• Liaise and maintain good working relationships with all members of the practice team.
• Collaborate with GPs and other practice staff; monitor and maintain quality systems and reporting requirements.
• May be involved in managing the Practice budget or financial targets as related to the nursing team and their activities.
• Review, enter and process data using accurate Read codes for monitoring, financial and audit processes.
• Cooperate fully and openly with the investigation of patient complaints and respond to complaints requiring a clinical response.
• Effective communication with clinical and non‑clinical colleagues; communicate with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication.
• Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
• Communicate difficult, often unpleasant or sensitive messages to patients and families.
• Attend and contribute to relevant internal and external meetings, including practice clinical meetings, nurse team meetings and gold standard framework meetings.
• Maintain a personal progress and training plan to keep up-to-date with current thinking and developments and identify own training deficiencies.
• Promote evidence based practice through use of the latest research-based guidelines.

Person Specification

Qualifications (Essential)

• Relevant nursing degree or equivalent.
• Current NMC registration with an active PIN.

Qualifications (Desirable)

• Independent prescribing qualification.
• Additional relevant qualifications, e.g. community nursing, family planning, teaching or mentoring, chronic disease, etc.
• Mentor or teaching qualification and experience of teaching in a clinical setting.

Experience (Essential)

• Significant experience in a primary care setting, ideally with a Fundamentals of Practice Nursing course – General Practice Nurse Foundation Programme or equivalent.
• Up-to-date skills and experience in the full range of practice nursing services.
• Experience in implementing protocols, clinical guidelines and/or service improvements.
• Experience of using infection control procedures.
• Knowledge of clinical governance issues in primary care.
• A commitment to providing a high standard of care that is responsive and flexible in its approach to meeting the needs of our population.
• An understanding of the importance of good data quality and information governance.
• Good IT and keyboard skills with experience of using computerised medical record systems.
• Highly motivated, enthusiastic and flexible in approach to work.
• A friendly and approachable manner with good people skills.
• The ability to work as a member of a large multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication skills – the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of individuals both verbally and in writing.
• The ability to communicate and interact with the public in a discreet and sensitive manner, recognising their needs for alternative methods and styles of communication.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• A commitment to professional and personal development.
• Willingness to be involved in teaching and training.
• The ability to influence others positively, negotiate constructively and resolve conflict successfully.
• The ability and willingness to engage with individuals to improve their personal performance.

Experience (Desirable)

• Experience of managing other people.
• Mentor or teaching qualification and experience of teaching in a clinical setting.
• Additional relevant qualifications, e.g. community nursing, family planning, teaching or mentoring, chronic disease, etc.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Details

New River Health

St Marys Courtyard, Church Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9EF

https://www.newriverhealth.co.uk