About this role
Job summary
Hours: 19 hours per week
Salary: Based on Experience
Responsible to: GP Partners / Partnership
Working closely with: Practice Manager Operations, Workforce & Finance Contract:
Permanent Working pattern: To be agreed, with flexibility to attend key Partnership, governance, project and external meetings as required
Location: Birchwood Medical Practice
Pension: NHS Pension
Annual leave: 6 Weeks Pro Rata
Probationary period: 3 Months Role Purpose
Role Purpose
The Practice Manager Strategy, Development & Partnership will work primarily with the GP Partners on the long-term development, governance, sustainability and strategic direction of the practice.
The postholder will work alongside an established full-time Practice Manager who has principal responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of the practice.
The two Practice Manager roles are complementary rather than interchangeable. This role provides dedicated senior management capacity for strategic planning, Partnership development, regulatory governance, external relationships and major projects.
This is a senior and autonomous management role. The postholder will be expected to manage their strategic portfolio independently within delegated authority, while maintaining close communication with the GP Partnership and operational Practice Manager.
A significant area of responsibility will be taking a leading management role in the development of the practice's proposed new building and associated premises strategy.
Main duties of the job
Partnership & Strategic Development
The postholder will:
Work closely with the Partners to develop the longer-term strategy of the practice.
Support the Partnership in identifying and delivering strategic priorities and objectives.
Translate strategic decisions into appropriate projects, actions and timescales.
Support longer-term business and organisational planning.
Consider future models of service delivery.
Monitor developments affecting general practice and primary care and identify potential risks and opportunities.
Provide research, analysis and management support to inform significant Partnership decisions.
Provide strategic advice and constructive challenge where appropriate.
Support the Partnership through significant organisational change.
Monitor progress against agreed strategic priorities and provide appropriate reports and assurance to the Partnership.
Future Premises Development
The practice is actively exploring opportunities to develop new, purpose-built premises to support the future needs of our patients, workforce and services. While no new premises development is currently confirmed, this represents an important strategic ambition for the Partnership.
About us
About Birchwood Medical Practice
Birchwood Medical Practice is a friendly and well-established GP partnership based in North Walsham, providing high-quality primary care services to approximately 12,000 patients.
Our multidisciplinary team includes five GP Partners, three Salaried GPs, Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Nursing Associates, Healthcare Assistants and a dedicated team of administrative and support staff.
We are also a dispensing practice, providing an important service to eligible patients within our local community.
At Birchwood, we pride ourselves on working collaboratively as a supportive and welcoming team, with a shared commitment to providing excellent patient care while continually developing and improving the services we offer.
Job description Job responsibilities
Role Purpose
The Practice Manager Strategy, Development & Partnership will work primarily with the GP Partners on the long-term development, governance, sustainability and strategic direction of the practice.
The postholder will work alongside an established full-time Practice Manager who has principal responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of the practice.
The two Practice Manager roles are complementary rather than interchangeable. This role provides dedicated senior management capacity for strategic planning, Partnership development, regulatory governance, external relationships and major projects.
This is a senior and autonomous management role. The postholder will be expected to manage their strategic portfolio independently within delegated authority, while maintaining close communication with the GP Partnership and operational Practice Manager.
A significant area of responsibility will be taking a leading management role in the development of the practice's proposed new building and associated premises strategy.
Partnership & Strategic Development
The postholder will:
Work closely with the Partners to develop the longer-term strategy of the practice.
Support the Partnership in identifying and delivering strategic priorities and objectives.
Translate strategic decisions into appropriate projects, actions and timescales.
Support longer-term business and organisational planning.
Consider future models of service delivery.
Monitor developments affecting general practice and primary care and identify potential risks and opportunities.
Provide research, analysis and management support to inform significant Partnership decisions.
Provide strategic advice and constructive challenge where appropriate.
Support the Partnership through significant organisational change.
Monitor progress against agreed strategic priorities and provide appropriate reports and assurance to the Partnership.
Future Premises Development
The practice is actively exploring opportunities to develop new, purpose-built premises to support the future needs of our patients, workforce and services. While no new premises development is currently confirmed, this represents an important strategic ambition for the Partnership.
The postholder will have the opportunity to play a leading management role in exploring, developing and progressing potential premises options, working closely with the GP Partners, operational Practice Manager and relevant external organisations.
Responsibilities may include:
Exploring potential options and opportunities for future practice premises.
Supporting the Partnership in developing its vision and requirements for future premises.
Liaising with commissioners, NHS organisations and other relevant external stakeholders regarding potential premises development.
Supporting the preparation and development of business cases, proposals and other supporting documentation.
Considering future patient demand, service capacity, workforce requirements and models of care when assessing premises needs.
Coordinating meetings, discussions and actions relating to potential premises development.
Supporting the evaluation of options, opportunities, risks and dependencies.
Ensuring the operational requirements of the practice are considered through consultation with the operational Practice Manager and relevant clinical and team leads.
Providing the Partnership with appropriate updates, analysis and recommendations to support decision-making.
If a premises development progresses, supporting the Partnership with the planning, coordination and delivery of the project.
Contracts & Future Service Development
The postholder will:
Provide strategic oversight of significant practice contracts.
Identify and evaluate potential contractual opportunities.
Support development of future services.
Advise the Partnership on significant contractual changes.
Support longer-term planning associated with changes in commissioning and primary care service delivery.
Identify and escalate significant contractual risks and opportunities.
CQC & Regulatory Governance
The postholder will provide strategic management support in relation to CQC and regulatory governance.
This will include:
Maintaining awareness of relevant changes in regulatory requirements.
Supporting the Partnership with strategic CQC assurance.
Identifying significant areas of regulatory or governance risk.
Coordinating strategic improvement plans arising from CQC assessment, regulatory review or significant governance concerns.
Working collaboratively with the operational Practice Manager, Registered Manager, Partners and relevant leads.
Supporting a culture of continuous improvement and effective governance.
Ensuring significant regulatory themes or risks are brought to the attention of the Partnership.
Monitoring progress against strategic regulatory and governance improvement actions.
Day-to-day operational CQC readiness will remain primarily within the operational management structure.
Strategic Risk Management
The postholder will provide strategic oversight of the practice Risk Register.
This will include:
Ensuring significant organisational and strategic risks are appropriately recorded.
Reviewing risks with relevant responsible leads.
Monitoring significant and emerging risks.
Supporting the identification and monitoring of mitigating actions.
Ensuring major strategic projects are appropriately reflected within risk-management arrangements.
Escalating significant risks to the Partnership.
Supporting the Partnership to understand the potential impact of strategic risks on the future sustainability and development of the practice.
External Relationships
The postholder will develop and maintain strategic relationships, where delegated, with organisations including:
Primary Care Network (PCN).
Local Medical Committee (LMC).
Commissioners and relevant NHS organisations.
Local primary care organisations.
Organisations involved in premises and service development.
Other relevant external stakeholders.
The emphasis will be on strategic representation, future planning and organisational development rather than routine operational liaison.
The postholder will be expected to build effective relationships, influence appropriately and work constructively across organisations where stakeholders may have differing priorities.
Complaints & Governance
Complaints are shared between both Practice Managers.
The postholder will contribute particularly where complaints:
Identify significant or recurring themes.
Present potential governance or regulatory risks.
Have implications for the Partnership.
Highlight significant organisational or service issues.
May require longer-term change or service development.
Have implications for strategic planning or the Risk Register.
The operational Practice Manager will normally coordinate the day-to-day progression of complaints
Partnership & Clinical Governance Meetings
The postholder will attend and contribute to Partner and Clinical Governance Meetings as appropriate, particularly regarding matters within the strategic portfolio.
The postholder will also provide designated deputy cover for the operational Practice Manager in leading and coordinating these meetings when required.
Leadership of a Clinical Governance Meeting by a Practice Manager relates to coordination of the governance process and does not transfer clinical accountability from clinicians or clinical leads.
Working with the Operational Practice Manager
The postholder will work collaboratively with the existing full-time Practice Manager while maintaining clear boundaries between the two portfolios.
The operational Practice Manager remains the principal day-to-day management presence within the practice.
This role will not routinely undertake day-to-day operational management unless:
specifically requested.
required for management continuity.
the matter falls within the postholder's strategic portfolio; or
the issue has significant strategic implications.
Both Practice Managers will work collaboratively where operational and strategic responsibilities overlap.
General Responsibilities
The postholder will:
Maintain appropriate records, project plans and reports relating to their portfolio.
Maintain confidentiality and appropriate information governance standards.
Work within delegated authority agreed by the Partnership.
Escalate significant risks or matters requiring Partner decisions appropriately.
Promote collaborative working across the practice.
Use digital systems effectively to support project management, analysis, reporting and communication.
Undertake other strategic management responsibilities reasonably falling within the scope and seniority of the role.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Person Specification Essential Criteria The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate: Significant senior management experience. Experience within general practice, primary care or a closely related healthcare environment. Experience working with senior clinicians, GP Partners, boards or equivalent senior decision-makers. Strong strategic and business-planning skills. Demonstrable experience of successfully leading or coordinating complex, multi-stakeholder projects. Knowledge of governance and risk-management principles. Understanding of CQC regulation and governance within primary care. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to analyse complex information and make clear recommendations. Ability to manage competing strategic priorities independently. Strong stakeholder-management, influencing and negotiation skills. Ability to provide constructive challenge at senior level. Good understanding of the current primary care environment. High level of IT literacy, including effective use of digital systems for reporting, analysis, project management and communication. Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent senior management experience.
Desirable
It would be advantageous for the successful candidate to have: Experience of GP practice management. Experience of CQC preparation, assurance or improvement work. Experience of primary care premises development. Experience of NHS estates or capital projects. Experience preparing or contributing to business cases. Experience of significant organisational change. Experience of NHS/primary care contracting or commissioning. Experience working with PCNs, commissioners, LMCs or other external primary-care organisations. A relevant postgraduate, management, leadership, business, healthcare management or project-management qualification.
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 Birchwood Medical Practice
Address Birchwood Medical Practice
Park Lane
North Walsham
Norfolk
NR28 0BQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://birchwoodsurgery.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)