About this role
Job summary
Lead the Way in a Practice That Values You
Are you a natural leader ready to shape the future of a close-knit practice? We're looking for a hands-on Team Leader to guide our dedicated clinical and administrative team, serving a loyal patient base of just under 3,500.
This is more than managementit's your chance to own the operational heartbeat of a practice. You'll bridge clinical and business needs, smoothing workflows, managing rotas, and mentoring staff to deliver outstanding care. With a manageable patient list, you'll have the bandwidth to focus on quality over quantitydriving genuine improvements, reducing clinician burnout, and fostering a culture where every voice matters.
Why join us?
Real impact your decisions directly improve patient outcomes and staff wellbeing.
Autonomy and trust freedom to lead and innovate without micromanagement.
A supportive home a stable, friendly team passionate about general practice. You won't just be a manager; you'll be a valued colleague.
If you're a proactive, empathetic leader ready to leave corporate chaos behind for a practice that feels like home, we want to hear from you.
Let's build a better way to practicetogether.
Main duties of the job
What you'll actually be doing day-to-day:
Leading the front line direct line manager for reception and admin: 1-to-1s, rotas, leave, performance. You'll motivate and support, not just manage.
Keeping things running from opening up to handling same-day capacity crunches, you'll troubleshoot in real-time. Upset patient? Clinician needs help? Something broken? You step in and sort it.
Owning operational flow oversee appointment optimisation, patient recalls, and daily workflows so clinicians can focus on patients, not admin friction.
Being the bridge work closely with the Practice Manager, feeding back ground-level intelligence. Translate decisions into clear team actions, and advocate your team's needs upwards.
Driving small improvements with a manageable list, you'll have headspace to spot inefficiencies and implement practical changesrefining triage, updating comms, streamlining repetitive tasks.
Getting hands-on with admin you won't just delegate; you'll also be actively involved in day-to-day administrative tasks, supporting your team directly when needed and keeping your finger on the pulse.
The reality check: Busy, people-focused, and no two days alike. You'll juggle priorities, stay calm under pressure, and make fair calls on the fly. But you'll also see your team thrive and patients notice the differenceand that's genuinely satisfying.
About us
Who we are:
We're a two-partner GP practice with a genuine family feelindependent, patient-focused, and small enough that every voice matters. With under 3,500 patients, we're sustainable yet intimate; we know our patients by name, and they know us.
Your new team:
Two dedicated partners hands-on and invested in staff and patient wellbeing.
A supportive Practice Manager mentor, not micromanager.
An experienced admin/reception team loyal, hardworking, ready to grow.
A Physician Associate and Pharmacist collaborative, easing GP pressure.
Locum GPs and nurse regular faces who'll rely on you for support.
The vibe:
Friendly, down-to-earth, supportive. No blame culturejust "how do we fix this together?" Laughter in the staff room, high standards in the clinic. We respect boundaries and believe in work-life balance.
Beyond salary:
Your ideas heard and acted on.
Autonomy to shape your role.
Stable, loyal patients.
Professional development support.
A team that looks out for each other.
In short: We're a community practice with heart, looking for a leader who shares our values. If you want a role where you're more than a numberand your contribution truly mattersthis is it.
Job description Job responsibilities
OB DESCRIPTION TEAM LEADER
Reporting to: Practice ManagerResponsible for: Reception and Administration TeamPatient list size: ~3,500Practice type: Two-partner GP practice
Role Summary
We are looking for a hands-on, proactive Team Leader to manage the day-to-day operations of our busy general practice. You will be the direct line manager for our reception and admin team, ensuring smooth workflows, high standards of patient care, and a supportive working environment. Reporting to the Practice Manager, you will act as the operational bridge between the clinical team, administrative staff, and management.
Main Duties
Operational Management
Oversee the daily running of the practice, ensuring smooth opening and closing procedures.
Manage appointment book optimisation, patient recall systems, and daily workflow to minimise administrative friction for clinicians.
Troubleshoot real-time issueswhether that's an upset patient, a clinician needing support, or an unexpected operational challenge.
Ensure compliance with practice policies, CQC standards, and health and safety requirements.
Team Leadership and Line Management
Act as direct line manager for the reception and admin team, including recruitment, induction, 1-to-1s, appraisals, and performance management.
Manage rotas, annual leave, and sickness absence to maintain adequate cover.
Motivate, support, and develop your teamcreating a culture where staff feel valued, heard, and empowered to grow.
Address any team conflicts or concerns promptly and fairly.
Administrative Duties
Undertake day-to-day admin tasks alongside your team, keeping your finger on the practice pulse.
Support with patient registrations, medical records management, and correspondence processing when needed.
Step in to cover reception or admin duties during busy periods or staff absences.
Communication and Collaboration
Work closely with the Practice Manager, providing regular feedback on ground-level operational challenges and successes.
Translate management decisions into clear actions for your team.
Advocate for your team's needs and wellbeing upwards.
Liaise with GPs, the Physician Associate, Pharmacist, and locum staff to ensure seamless integration of clinical and admin functions.
Quality Improvement
With a manageable patient list, identify inefficiencies and implement practical improvementswhether refining triage processes, updating patient communications, or streamlining repetitive admin tasks.
Contribute to practice-wide projects and initiatives that enhance patient experience and staff wellbeing.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Education Essential: Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent), including English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above.
Desirable
Desirable: Educated to A-Level standard or higher. NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration, Customer Service, or Health and Social Care. A management or leadership qualification (e.g., ILM Level 3, CMI, or equivalent). AMSPAR or other primary care administration certification. A relevant healthcare or practice management qualification.
Experience Essential
Experience Essential: Proven experience in a supervisory or team leader role, ideally within primary care or a healthcare setting. Demonstrable experience managing rotas, annual leave, and staffing cover. Experience using clinical systems (e.g., EMIS, SystmOne) and Microsoft Office. Track record of handling patient queries, complaints, and difficult situations with professionalism and empathy. Experience with patient registration processes, medical records management, and correspondence handling.
Desirable
Desirable: Experience working in a GP practice with a similar patient list size. Experience recruiting, inducting, and onboarding new staff. Experience conducting appraisals, 1-to-1s, and performance management conversations. Experience implementing process improvements or leading small-scale change projects. Familiarity with CQC inspection preparation and compliance requirements.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Essential
Essential: Excellent communication and interpersonal skillsable to build rapport with staff, patients, and clinicians alike. Ability to stay calm under pressure and make fair, decisive calls in a busy environment. Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and juggle competing demands. IT literate with a working knowledge of clinical systems and standard office software. Sound knowledge of CQC requirements, GDPR, and health and safety regulations. A proactive, problem-solving mindsetyou spot issues before they escalate. Empathetic leadership style with a genuine commitment to staff wellbeing. Reliable, punctual, and professional. Flexibility to cover occasional shifts or adjust hours to meet practice needs. Personal Qualities A natural leader who motivates and inspires others. Approachable, fair, and consistent. Resilient with a good sense of humour. Committed to continuous learning and development. Passionate about primary care and delivering excellent patient experience. A team player who leads by example.
Desirable
Desirable: Knowledge of QOF, enhanced services, and primary care funding streams. Understanding of immunisation schedules, recall systems, and screening programmes. Experience using social media or digital communication tools for patient engagement.
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.
Employer details Employer name Chelsea Medical Services
Address 45 Rosary Gardens
London
SW7 4NQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.chelseamedicalservices.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)