Practice Manager

Darwen Healthcare; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A patient-focused GP practice in Lancashire is seeking a skilled Practice Manager to lead operations, deliver high-quality patient care, and ensure compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership and communication skills, with an emphasis on financial management. You will work closely with GP partners and the management team to develop strategies and oversee practice performance. Successful applicants will possess significant experience in healthcare management and relevant qualifications.

Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent experience.
• Management experience within the healthcare sector.
• Ability to develop and implement operational plans.

Responsibilities

• Manage operational aspects of the practice.
• Provide strategic guidance to partners.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Lead and support the management team.
• Monitor and improve practice performance.

Skills

Leadership skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Financial management

Project management

HR knowledge

Education

Degree level education

AMSPAR Diploma in Primary Care and Health Management Level 5

Relevant Business/Management/Finance qualification

Advanced Primary Care Management Diploma Level

Job description

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate robust leadership and communication skills, be well organised, highly motivated and financially astute.

Manage and take responsibility for all operational aspects of the practice, provide strategic guidance and planning to the partners, and work closely with the GP Partners and the Management team.

Be proactive, plan for the future, maximise the practice’s potential in business, finance and premises whilst maintaining patient care.

Ensure financial efficiency and compliance with health and safety, employment legislation and CQC registration/compliance.

Serve as a key ambassador for the Practice, supporting integrated working with the PCN, local health and social care organisations, and community partners.

Job responsibilities

• Commitment to supporting the delivery of excellent patient care with vision, willingness and drive.
• Demonstrate excellent organisational, project management and effective communication skills.
• Ability to manage change through motivation and leadership.
• Overview of finance and business to support Finance Lead to maintain and improve the profitability of the business.
• Strategic thinker and planner.
• Ability to deliver against key targets, contracts, and requirements.
• Knowledge and skills of HR and ability to act sensitively and effectively.
• Ensure compliance with CQC requirements and assessments.
• Manage the portfolio of projects and individual projects arising therefrom.
• Lead and chair practice meetings as appropriate.
• Develop and coordinate systems to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the practice.
• Ability to self‑motivate, prioritise, organise and/or delegate workload.
• Good IT knowledge and experience.
• Ensure practice policy and standards compliance and ability to present the practice to external groups.
• Ability to identify, develop and deliver initiatives.
• Enjoy diversity and sometimes the unexpected.
• Work across organisations in the interests of patients and improve the viability of the practice.
• Demonstrate effective leadership in supporting the management team to achieve their goals.
• Manage and drive service delivery to achieve the optimum outcome against practice contracts with NHSE, Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, and LPC GP Federation.
• Support the Partners to develop and implement processes to achieve clinical targets of QOF, Network and Enhanced service contracts.
• Directly contribute to profit improvement by exploring areas for increasing income and reducing costs working with the Finance Lead.
• Support Finance Lead to manage any amendments to the business lease with CHP.
• Oversee the Management team to support their functioning, ensuring each Lead understands their role, working with each Lead to ensure they are fulfilling all duties of their role, facilitating collaborative working amongst Leaders team, ensuring Lead cover at all times is effective, providing annual appraisal for each Lead and exploring barriers to collaborative and autonomous working in Leaders team.
• Support creating a learning environment for clinical and non‑clinical professionals in training.
• Work with the Partners, Management team and the PCN to assist with identification of potential opportunities and threats.
• Manage practice development and expansion opportunities.
• Support the Partners in creating a clinical strategy and oversee the implementation of its aims and objectives.
• Assist the practice in the wider community and forging links with other local practices and relevant agencies.
• Formulate objectives and research and develop ideas for future practice development.
• Represent the practice when required at PCN, ICB, NHSE, LPC GP Federation and any other appropriate agency meetings.
• Support relevant practice Leads in recruitment and selection of staff, including contracts of employment and job descriptions with delegation and relevant training where appropriate.
• Ensure the practice is compliant with Employment Law for the disciplinary and dismissal process, and work with the partners and LMC should any legal advice be necessary.
• Ensure compliance with staff contracts, health and safety, staff training, induction, personnel file maintenance, training requirements, appraisal cycles, sickness, leave and return to work interviews.
• Be aware of current employment legislation and ensure that members of the existing staff team are aware of any changes that occur in the practice.
• Maintain good communication at all times with the practice team.
• Support and ensure Management Team and Reception Team Coordinator provide good staff cover at all times.
• Ensure safe employment requirements are always met.
• Provide suitable facilities to enable all staff to work within the practice and that appropriate health and safety policies are in place.
• Support and ensure that the practice is working with optimal information governance systems and appropriately as per the Practice Caldicott Guardian.
• Ensure all Practice IT and telephone systems are functioning effectively.
• Work with the GP Partners and Management Team to take advantage of new technologies and efficiencies as they develop.
• Ensure the Practice complies with NHS contractual obligations in relation to patient care.
• Support and ensure Quality Lead maintains registration policies and work in collaboration to monitor patient turnover and capitation.
• Oversee and work with Deputy Practice Manager and Reception Team Coordinator, and Partners, to ensure effective appointment systems and access.
• Monitor Practice performance against patient access and demand targets.
• Support Deputy Practice Manager to manage practice complaints and ensure meeting statutory complaints regulation.
• Collaborate with Deputy Practice Manager, and Partners, to manage the significant events and safety systems activity.
• Support and collaborate with the Patient Engagement Lead, working with patient groups.

About us

Rated Outstanding by the CQC, Darwen Healthcare is a progressive, patient-focused GP practice dedicated to delivering high-quality primary care services.

Serving a patient population of approximately 14,600 from Darwen Health Centre located just off Junction 4, of the M65. We are a well-established, forward‑thinking GP Practice providing care to the local community of Darwen. Regular meetings with the proactive PPG provide the opportunity for constructive feedback and we consider this an important part of shaping patient care.

Our organisation is led by a team of 7 dedicated GP Partners, Management Team of 5 supported by a multidisciplinary team of Salaried GPs, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Paramedic Practitioner, Practice Nurses, Assistant Practitioners and a Phlebotomist.

The practice works closely with our PCN and our associated federation which means that we have a varied staff base of additional roles working in practice supporting day‑to‑day services. This includes a Physician Associate, 2 Clinical Pharmacists, 1 Pharmacy Technician, 1 Mental Health Practitioner, 1 Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner and a Trainee Nursing Associate.

The clinical team is further supported by a Non‑Clinical Team of 22.

As an established training practice, we support GP Trainees, medical, nursing and paramedic students receiving a great deal of positive feedback.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent experience.
• AMSPAR Diploma in Primary Care and Health Management Level 5 or relevant working experience.
• Relevant recognised Business/Management/Finance qualification at diploma level or equivalent or willing to work to achieve.
• Advanced Primary Care Management Diploma Level.

Experience

• Experience of General Practice.
• Experience of people management and financial management.
• Experience of developing and implementing plans and the successful delivery of objectives.
• Ability to identify and exploit opportunities and negotiate resources to ensure delivery of high quality care service.
• Management role within the healthcare sector, preferably within a primary care organisation and/or general practice.

Key Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of business planning.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant employment law.
• Knowledge and understanding of finance and payroll processes.
• Knowledge of QOF and GMS/PMS contracts.

Personal Attributes

• Flexible approach.
• Ability to multi‑task and work with an unpredictable work pattern with changing priorities throughout the day.
• Professional telephone manner and good listening skills.
• Ability to work with a wide range of professionals & patients at all levels.
• People Person Skills.

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.