About this role
Job summary
The Lead Practice Nurse will provide clinical leadership and day-to-day management of the practice nursing team, including Practice Nurses and Healthcare Assistants (HCAs), ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality nursing services to our registered patients.
Working as a senior member of the practice multidisciplinary team, the post holder will provide expert clinical care alongside leadership and oversight of the nursing service. They will support the development of the nursing team, ensuring appropriate standards of clinical practice, competency, training and professional development are maintained.
The Lead Practice Nurse will take responsibility for key areas of clinical governance and service delivery, including Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), long-term condition management, health promotion and preventative care, immunisations, screening and treatment room services.
The post holder will work closely with the GP Partners and Practice Management Team to develop, implement and review clinical policies, protocols and procedures, supporting the practice to meet regulatory, contractual and quality standards.
The role will include supporting the effective management of patients with long-term conditions using evidence-based practice, including the care of older, frail and housebound patients. The post holder will also contribute to clinical audit, quality improvement and the ongoing development of nursing services within the practice and wider team.
Main duties of the job
The Lead Practice Nurse will provide clinical and professional leadership to the nursing team, including Practice Nurses and HCAs, while continuing to deliver high-quality general practice nursing care.
Key responsibilities include:
Providing day-to-day leadership, supervision and support to the nursing team.
Supporting staff development, competency assessment and training.
Coordinating nursing rotas and clinical cover to support safe service delivery.
Delivering clinical care including long-term condition management, health promotion, preventative care, immunisations, screening and treatment room services.
Supporting care for patients with complex and long-term conditions, including older, frail and housebound patients.
Leading and supporting Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).
Supporting clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and evidence-based practice.
Maintaining appropriate clinical standards, policies, protocols and procedures.
Working with the Practice Management Team to support CQC, NHS and professional requirements.
Working collaboratively with GPs and the wider multidisciplinary team to provide coordinated patient care.
Supporting the development and improvement of nursing services in response to patient needs and national guidance.
Acting as a clinical role model and promoting a positive learning environment.
About us
We are a small, passionate and close-knit surgery on the outskirts of Ipswich, with our staff and patients at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing high-quality, patient-centred care while ensuring our staff have a supportive and well-balanced working environment.
Martlesham Heath Surgery is a SystmOne practice with approximately 6,000 registered patients. We work closely with our sister surgery, Embrace Medical Centre in Kesgrave, as part of the same GP partnership. This provides opportunities to share knowledge, experience and resources across both practices, while maintaining the individual needs of each practice and its patients. Our teams work collaboratively across both sites, supporting each other and developing services together.
We are also part of the Wolsey PCN, working with other local practices and services to support primary care across the area.
Our patients can access a wide range of services and clinical teams, with on-the-day access supported through our digital platform, Anima. We continue to embrace new technology and innovative ways of working to improve access, communication and the patient journey.
As a Training Practice, we place a strong emphasis on learning, development and shared knowledge. We value our close-knit team environment and encourage staff to work collaboratively across clinical and non-clinical roles, both within Martlesham Heath Surgery and alongside our colleagues at Embrace Medical Centre.
Job description Job responsibilities Job Description
As Lead Practice Nurse, you will provide clinical and professional leadership to the nursing team, including Practice Nurses and HCAs, while continuing to deliver high-quality patient care. You will support the development of the nursing service, promote evidence-based practice and ensure appropriate clinical standards, governance and processes are maintained.
Key ResponsibilitiesProvide clinical leadership, supervision and support to the nursing team.
Support staff development, competency assessment, appraisals, training and professional development.
Coordinate the nursing team rota and clinical cover to support safe and effective service delivery.
Deliver clinical care including long-term condition management, health promotion, preventative care, immunisations, screening and treatment room services.
Support the management of patients with complex and long-term conditions, including older, frail and housebound patients.
Act as a point of support for complex clinical queries, using professional judgement and escalating appropriately.
Lead and support Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), including relevant audits, risk assessments and staff training.
Develop, review and implement nursing protocols, policies and procedures in conjunction with the GP Partners and Practice Management Team.
Support clinical audit, quality improvement and the review of significant and near-miss events, contributing to appropriate learning and service improvement.
Monitor clinical practice and respond appropriately to national guidance, legislation and local priorities.
Support the practice in maintaining appropriate CQC, NHS and professional standards.
Work collaboratively with GPs, HCAs and the wider multidisciplinary team to provide coordinated patient care.
Lead and support the implementation of changes within the nursing team to improve patient care and service delivery.
Promote shared learning and act as a positive clinical role model within the practice.
Clinical ResponsibilitiesIn addition to the leadership responsibilities of the role, the Lead Practice Nurse will remain actively involved in the delivery of patient care. This will include clinical assessments, treatment, chronic disease management, preventative care and other general practice nursing duties appropriate to their scope of practice.
The successful candidate will be an experienced Practice Nurse who can work autonomously, demonstrate sound clinical judgement and confidently lead and support colleagues. They will contribute positively to the continued development of the nursing service and maintain a strong focus on safe, effective and patient-centred care.
This job description is not exhaustive. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to the role and level of responsibility.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse with current registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Relevant experience and training in general practice nursing. Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the role. Current training/competence in Infection Prevention and Control.
Desirable
Independent Nurse Prescriber qualification. Family Planning/contraception qualification. Mentor, teaching or practice assessor qualification. Postgraduate qualification in a relevant area, such as Chronic Disease Management, Primary Care or Advanced Practice. Relevant leadership or management qualification.
Experience Essential
Significant experience working as a Practice Nurse within primary care. Experience of providing clinical leadership and supporting or leading a nursing team. Experience of working autonomously and managing a varied clinical workload. Experience of chronic disease management and preventative healthcare. Experience of Infection Prevention and Control within a healthcare setting. Experience of managing and coordinating care for older, frail and housebound patients. Experience of supporting staff development, training or competency assessment. Experience of clinical audit, quality improvement or service development. Experience of working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
Desirable
Experience of leading or implementing quality improvement initiatives. Experience of developing or reviewing clinical policies, protocols or procedures. Experience of clinical risk management and significant/near-miss event review. Experience of supporting CQC or other regulatory requirements. Experience of managing nursing rotas or clinical resources.
Clinical Knowledge and Skills Essential
Broad knowledge and experience of general practice nursing, including wound care, minor procedures, ECGs and routine clinical assessment. Competence in cervical screening, contraception/family planning and women's health appropriate to training and scope of practice. Competence in routine, childhood and travel immunisations. Experience in chronic disease management and health promotion. Understanding and experience of Infection Prevention and Control. Understanding of evidence-based practice and current primary care guidance. Understanding of Patient Group Directions (PGDs) and relevant clinical policies. Ability to maintain accurate, contemporaneous and confidential clinical records. Ability to work safely within own scope of practice and recognise when referral or escalation to a GP or other clinician is required. Ability to assess, manage and appropriately escalate clinical risk. Ability to prioritise and manage a busy clinical workload effectively. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work effectively both autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team. Strong interpersonal, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Ability to support and guide colleagues and act as a clinical role model. Ability to follow, implement and contribute to the development of clinical policies and procedures.
Desirable
Knowledge of local public health priorities and health inequalities. Knowledge of health promotion and preventative healthcare strategies. Experience of leading clinical audits and using findings to improve practice. Experience of clinical risk assessment and management. Understanding of QOF, enhanced services and other primary care contractual requirements. Experience of spirometry and respiratory assessment. Experience of developing or delivering staff training and shared learning.
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 (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Martlesham Heath Surgery
Address Martlesham Heath Surgery
23 The Square
Martlesham Heath
Ipswich
IP5 3SL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.mhdoctors.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)