About this role
Job summary
The Operations & Governance Lead will work alongside the PCN Operations Manager to support the delivery of improvement, transformation, and governance activities across the Primary Care Network (PCN).
Main duties of the job
The postholder will provide administrative and operational support to the PCN Clinical Director and Operations Manager, working together with them in effectively carrying out their operational and governance responsibilities. The postholder will work closely with all PCN staff.
This role will also work closely with Practice Managers, providing practical support to ensure their compliance with governance requirements and the effective operation of PCN-wide systems and processes, including platforms such as Practice Index and other shared PCN systems.
Key responsibilities will include leading governance and compliance activities, maintaining accurate records and documentation, monitoring compliance requirements, and assisting with the implementation and ongoing management of digital technologies. This includes information governance, compliance, and assurance processes relating to the use and deployment of digital tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, in accordance with relevant legislation, policies, and best practice guidance.
About us
Mewstone Primary Care Network has a list size of approximately 32,000 patients. The PCN practices are Church View Surgery, Wembury Surgery, Yealm Medical Practice and Dean Cross Surgery, the practices share the same ethos of supportive learning.
You will work alongside our GPs, nurse teams, administrators and extended workforce including clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, first contact physiotherapist, mental health practitioner, social prescribing link workers, health & wellbeing coaches and care co-ordinators.
All network practices are high achieving practices with a commitment to mentoring and supporting their staff.
Job description
Job responsibilities
General
- Work alongside the PCN Clinical Director and Operations Manager and the wider PCN team to understand and meet local, national and organisational targets in relation to compliance, regulation and Governance.
- If/when the PCN becomes an Incorporated organisation, assist the PCN Clinical Director and Operations Manager in applying/maintaining effective Governance at the PCN Executive Board.
- Provide support to Practice Managers to assist them in understanding and meeting local, national and organisational targets in relation to compliance, regulation and Governance.
- Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of compliance, regulation and Governance requirements.
- Communicate effectively with the PCN, Practices and system partners. Implement and oversee compliance management across the PCN.
- Ensure that the Practice Index Compliance module is fully utilised for the PCN and promote/support its use across the network Practices.
Policies
- Ensure current policy and SOPs are in line with regulations and ethical standards.
- Oversee the development and implementation of Mewstone PCN policies and SOPs using Practice Index.
- Maintain an up-to-date template library of local policies for Practices to use.
- Ensure that the range of policies available to the Practices is comprehensive.
- Report on compliance with application and knowledge of policies.
- Conduct regular reviews of the completeness of policy & SOP libraries and advise where gaps need to be addressed/managed.
- Use Practice Index Library and Noticeboard to support awareness of and access to policies and SOPs.
Safety Alert system (CAS alerts etc)
- Ensure relevant safety alerts are managed across the PCN; this will include working in tandem with the PCN Operations Manager who will manage all Medicines related safety alerts.
- Centralise and manage the safety alerts for non-dispensing Practices using Practice Index.
- Report on the management of Safety Alerts at Practice level.
Infection Prevention & Control (IPC)
- Support all Practice IPC Leads by ensuring they are up to date with and aware of National Standards for Infection Prevention & Control.
- Support the administration of the Practices annual audit of IPC practice; this will include:
- Managing the Teams Mewstone PCN > Infection Prevention & Control channel.
- Ensuring the relevant/agreed documentation is available in this channel
Audit documentation
Action plan templates
Up to date IPC Audit SOP
- Annual statement templates
- National guidance documents/posters
- Quarterly check on compliance using the quarterly checklist
- Report on compliance with IPC audit to PCN Executive Board.
- Assist IPC Leads to work as a group to provide support to each other.
- Where required, seek clinical advice/support from the Clinical Director or the PCN Lead Nurse.
CQC Compliance
- In conjunction with the PCN Operations Manager, ensure that all PCN staff comply with all aspects of CQC compliance pertaining to their roles in the Practices where they are deployed (for instance HR records).
- Provide specific agreed support to service improvement & action plans following CQC inspections in individual Practices.
- If the PCN becomes CQC registered, work in close partnership with the PCN Clinical Director and Operations Manager in the completion/submission of the Statement of Purpose and lead the process of evidence provision for registration.
Governance reporting
- PCN
- Develop & implement a report structure with the PCN Clinical Director and Operations Manager.
- Once agreed, provide this report on a quarterly basis to the Execs meeting.
- Practices
- Where capacity allows, support the Practice Managers in developing their governance/compliance reports; ideally this would be a shared approach.
- Develop reporting that feeds into PCN Governance reports.
PCN operational responsibilities
Practice Index
- Act as the Lead for Practice Index across the PCN and its Practices.
- Support each Practice in the application & use of the compliance modules.
- Manage an agreed set of Library folders/pages for all PCN & Practice staff to access.
- Report on compliance with Mandatory Training for all PCN staff at agreed intervals.
- Work in collaboration with the PCN Operations Manager, Practice Partners, Practice Managers, and Lead Practice Nurses, to agree the relevant modules and re-take periods for Mandatory training, ensuring this meets relevant national guidelines.
- Use the Noticeboard to publicise key events, including local and national health campaigns where relevant.
- Report development requests to Practice Index and track their conclusion; support implementation where development requests are actioned.
General
- Manage & oversee specific projects under the direction of the PCN Clinical Director and Operations Manager
- Work closely with the PCN Operations Manager in the development, implementation, evaluation of new services.
- Maintain an up-to-date and comprehensive Business Continuity Plan for the PCN.
- Administer agendas and action tracking for:
- Practice Managers meetings
- PCN Team meetings
- Executive Board
- Foster an environment within the team that supports staff development, staff well-being and open constructive feedback from staff.
- Work alongside the PCN Operations Manager in:
- the development & agreement of a Digital Strategy.
- developing use of the NHS App in line with the NHS 10-year plan.
- Lead, and report to, the PCN Operations Manager in ensuring we have reviewed all current risks and identified/added any outstanding risk assessments.
- Support the PCN Clinical Director and Operations Manager in all aspects of the planning/managing/delivery evaluation of the PCN annual half day closure.
- Construct and publish a monthly newsletter for the PCN for distribution to the PCN and its network Practices. This should set out key developments, dates of note and noteworthy personnel changes and acknowledgements.
Training (Provision)
- Provide group and or 1:1 training for PCN & Practice staff in the use of the Compliance modules.
- Lead, in close collaboration with the PCN Clinical Director and Operations Manager, project work to ensure compliance with Learning Organisation requirements.
- Support the PCN Lead Nurse in coordinating the allocation/completion and return of the annual ICB allocated CPD monies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Healthcare qualification (not necessary to hold a current registration). OR
- Practice Management Training Level 5 (completed or in progress), or demonstrable equivalent experience.
Desirable
- Health & Safety qualification
- COSSH qualification
- Governance qualification
- Digital qualification
- Leadership course (complete or in progress)
Experience
Essential
- Healthcare role (including managerial), working in a CQC regulated healthcare environment.
- Governance role, at minimum in support of a Governance lead.
- Evidence of ongoing relevant CPD.
Desirable
- Experience of working in Primary Care or Social Care
- Working in a training role or one where training was a part of the role
Additional
Essential
- Strong communication skills
- Good written and verbal presentation skills
- An ability to manage & prioritise multiple tasks and projects
- Ability to work with & without supervision, working to tight and often challenging timescales
- Use of initiative and an ability to solve problems
- Excellent IT skills Microsoft package to include Word, Excel (basic), Powerpoint, and use of Teams channels and chat functions.
- Knowledge of Governance/compliance related to the implementation of Digital tools.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation
- Ability to provide training to groups and on a 1:1 basis
- Knowledge of the requirements for Primary Care organisations to be validated Learning Organisations.
- Able to adapt approach to working with various professionals.
- Calm, patient and objective.
- Positive & open-minded approach to change.
- Strong communication skills
- Good written and verbal presentation skills
- Knowledge of relevant legislation
- Calm, patient and objective.
- Positive & open-minded approach to change.
- Strong communication skills
- Good written and verbal presentation skills
- Knowledge of relevant legislation
- Calm, patient and objective.
- Positive & open-minded approach to 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.
Employer details
Employer name
Mewstone PCN
Address
Wembury Surgery
51 Hawthorn Drive
Wembury
Plymouth
PL9 0BE
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.wemburysurgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)