Lead Practice Nurse

Walnut Tree Health Centre; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A busy GP surgery in Milton Keynes is seeking a dynamic Lead Practice Nurse responsible for delivering high-quality, patient-centered nursing care. You will manage nurse-led clinics, ensure CQC compliance, and mentor students. The ideal candidate has NMC registration, primary care experience, and a strong commitment to clinical excellence. This role provides an opportunity to contribute to service development in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with NMC.
• Experience managing a team.
• Strong awareness of clinical escalation protocols.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of nursing services.
• Ensure CQC compliance across all areas.
• Mentor and support nursing team.

Skills

Infection Control

Team Management

Communicative Skills

Primary Care Knowledge

Clinical Documentation

Education

Registered Nurse with NMC

2 years experience in Primary Care

Working knowledge of SystemOne

Job description

Walnut Tree Health Centre are seeking a dynamic and experienced Lead Practice Nurse to take a clinical leadership role within our GP surgery. You will be responsible for delivering and managing safe, effective, and evidence-based nursing care across our patient population of just over 15,000.

Working collaboratively with GP Partners and the Practice Manager, the Lead Nurse will provide clear leadership to the nursing team and ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred services. You will contribute to service development, clinical governance, and quality improvement across the practice.

Main duties of the job

• To lead on Infection Prevention Control and work with the partners and practice manager to ensure CQC compliance at all times.
• Deliver evidence-based nursing care to patients with acute and chronic conditions.
• Lead and manage nurse-led clinics for diabetes, asthma, COPD, CHD and other chronic conditions.
• Perform reviews in line with protocols and best practice.
• Provide immunisations, vaccinations, cervical cytology, wound care, travel health advice, and lifestyle support.
• Ensure accurate clinical documentation in line with NMC standards.
• Work with the wider MDT to ensure coordinated care and appropriate referrals.
• Supervise and mentor students.
• Maintain nursing rotas, manage annual leave and sickness absence.
• Participate in protocol development, audits, and service evaluation.
• Engage in professional development, mandatory training, and uphold the NMC Code.

About us

Walnut Tree Health Centre is a very friendly, busy GP Surgery based in Walnut Tree, Milton Keynes and serves a population of approx. 15,000 patients with a mixed demographic. We are a training practice. We have a great relationship with our PCN and are committed to developing the services we can offer our patients. We value work life balance.

We are currently a team of 3 GP Partners and 3 salaried GPs. In addition to PCN roles we have our own very experienced multi-disciplinary team comprising:

• Paramedic
• Practice nursing team including chronic disease management, health screening and treatment room services
• A management and admin team providing comprehensive care and support
• Variety of trainees including F2, ST1/2&3 and student nurse

Job responsibilities

Clinical

• Lead the delivery of nursing services
• Undertake the role of Infection Control Lead.
• Ensure CQC compliance across all areas.
• Provide high-quality care for acute and long-term conditions
• Prioritise urgent cases and initiate emergency care when needed
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive records and documentation
• Prescribe within clinical competence (if qualified)
• Deliver care in accordance with local and national guidelines
• Undertake procedures including:
• Cervical cytology
• Immunisation and vaccination
• Venepuncture
• BP and spirometry monitoring
• Travel health advice
• Health screening and lifestyle education

Teaching and Mentorship

• Support the practice team with the mentorship of students.

Managerial

• Act as a role model and team leader
• Manage nursing team rotas, annual leave, and sickness cover
• Lead on protocol development and service improvement
• Contribute to management meetings and quality assurance initiatives
• Support practice performance targets and contractual compliance

Professional

• Maintain NMC registration and CPD
• Adhere to all mandatory training requirements
• Work within the NMC Code and NHS guidelines
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the role
• Handle sensitive information with discretion and in line with GDPR

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with NMC.
• At least 2 years experience in Primary Care.
• Experience of managing a team.
• Working knowledge of SystemOne.
• Working knowledge of ICP and CQC compliance.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with patients, their families and carers.
• Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to escalate issues to clinical team/line manager.
• Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative.
• Knowledge of, and ability to work to, policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, information governance, and health and safety.
• Experience of involvement in innovation or change

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.