About this role
Job summary
£13,000 - £14,000 Per Session
Penrose Health is a GP group delivering primary care across South East London. We operate with strong clinical leadership and professional operational support to allow clinicians to focus on patient care and quality.
We are recruiting Lead GPs to combine hands-on clinical practice with responsibility for leading the GP team and supporting high-quality, consistent care at practice level.
This role offers more scope and influence than a traditional salaried GP post, without the financial or operational risk of partnership.
Main duties of the job
Lead GPs continue to work clinically while also acting as the senior clinical leader on site.
You will:
Lead and line manage the GP team at your allocated practiceSupport newly qualified and transitioning GPsProvide clinical leadership and escalation support to all clinicians on siteAct as the clinical safeguarding lead on siteBe a senior clinical presence for in-person patient complaintsWork alongside AHP Leads, who retain line management responsibility for their teamsA key part of the role is improving how clinical decisions affect demand and workload.
You will lead the team to:
Reduce unnecessary GP-booked follow-upsImprove first-time resolution where clinically appropriateReduce avoidable cancelled clinics caused by absence or poor planningImprove consistency in clinical decision-making and safety-nettingYou are not responsible for appointment scheduling or operational rostering.
You are responsible for clinical standards, behaviours, and reliability.
How we work
Penrose Health is not a traditional GP partnership.
Partners lead clinicallyA Central Management Team runs the operationsClinicians are supported by HR, Clinical Admin, Welcome Teams, and cross-group AHP LeadsThis structure allows Lead GPs to focus on patients, team leadership, safeguarding, and quality improvement, supported by experienced operational colleagues.
About us
Penrose Health is on a mission to deliver outstanding healthcare to every patient we serve.
We care for 75,000+ people across 9 sites in South East London, supported by a team of 200+ clinicians and staff. Our model is built on permanent, diverse teams, strong governance, and a clear focus on continuity, quality, and access.
We work closely with NHS partners to deliver a full range of services from routine checks to complex, long-term care backed by robust systems and a culture of continuous improvement.
We're proud to hold a CQC "Good" rating and consistently receive strong feedback from patients.
Learn more at penrosehealth.co.uk.
Job description Job responsibilities
Purpose of the role
The Lead GP role is a hands-on clinical leadership position.
Alongside continuing clinical practice, Lead GPs take responsibility for how the GP team works, the reliability of GP capacity, and the clinical behaviours that drive avoidable workload at practice level.
The role exists to:
Improve consistency and quality of clinical decision-makingSupport and develop GPs, including newly qualified colleaguesReduce avoidable cancelled clinics caused by absence or poor planningReduce unnecessary GP-booked follow-ups and repeat appointmentsStrengthen team performance, standards, and ways of workingLead GPs are not responsible for appointment scheduling or operational rostering.
Their responsibility is to:
Lead behaviours that protect clinical capacitySupport reliable attendance and forward planningChallenge clinical practices that create unnecessary demandThis is not a partnership role.
It is a leadership role with real influence, protected time, and clear expectations.
The opportunity
This role sits between traditional salaried GP work and partnership.
As a Lead GP, you will:
Lead the GP team at an allocated practice or group of practicesProvide senior clinical leadership across the practiceInfluence consistency, reliability, and quality of careWork closely with operational and central clinical teamsDevelop as a medical leader without partnership riskIt offers variety, influence, and professional growth alongside clinical practice.
Session commitment and time allocation
The role requires a minimum commitment of 6 sessions.
Minimum of 6 sessions per week2 sessions are protected leadership timeRemaining sessions are clinicalLeadership sessions are used for:
GP leadership and developmentSafeguarding and clinical governanceComplaints, learning, and quality improvementDemand reduction and pathway improvementMeetings and decision-makingLeadership time is protected and expected to be used actively.
Key relationshipsInternal
GP colleagues (salaried, sessional, and locum)Newly qualified and transitioning GPsAHPs and AHP LeadsOperational Leads and on-site operational staffCentral operational functions including HR, Clinical Admin, and Welcome TeamsClinical Partner and other Lead GPsExternal
PCN colleaguesICB and system partnersFederation and collaborative forumsKey responsibilities1. Clinical leadership and standards
Act as a visible and credible senior clinician on siteSet and reinforce clear standards of clinical practice and behaviourReduce unwarranted variation in decision-makingLead learning from audits, incidents, and complaintsPromote reflective practice and continuous improvement2. Leadership and development of GPs
Lead and line manage the GP team at allocated practice(s)Provide support, challenge, and guidance to GP colleaguesTake a particular interest in newly qualified and transitioning GPsAddress performance concerns early and constructivelySet clear expectations around ways of working and reliabilityWork with HR and central teams on people matters3. Clinical leadership across the practice
Provide senior clinical leadership and support to all clinical colleagues on siteWork alongside AHP Leads, who retain line management responsibility for AHPsAct as a senior clinical point of escalation for complex or concerning casesBe available as a trusted source of clinical advice, support, and challenge4. Safeguarding and patient concerns
Act as the clinical safeguarding lead on site, in line with organisational policyProvide leadership and oversight for safeguarding concernsSupport clinical colleagues with safeguarding decision-making and escalationWork with central safeguarding leads and external agencies as requiredEnsure safeguarding learning is shared and embeddedAct as a senior clinical presence for in-person patient complaintsSupport timely, sensitive, and professional resolutionLead learning from complaints and ensure actions are taken5. Demand management and efficient care
Reduce unnecessary GP-booked follow-ups and repeat appointmentsPromote clinically appropriate first-time resolutionChallenge defensive or inefficient clinical patternsImprove consistency in follow-up planning and safety-nettingWork with operational colleagues to protect capacity6. Practice leadership and team working
Work in partnership with AHP Leads and operational colleaguesChair and contribute to clinical and MDT meetingsBuild strong relationships across clinical and non-clinical teamsSupport recruitment, induction, and retention of GPsBring the GP team together around shared standards and goals7. Governance, systems, and quality improvement
Lead clinical governance activity at practice levelEnsure registers, coding, and pathways are robustSupport delivery of QOF and local prioritiesContribute to CQC readiness and inspectionsEmbed clinical guideline changes consistently8. Working with central clinical leadership
Act as a clear link between the practice and central teamsContribute to cross-site leadership discussionsShare learning and good practiceSupport organisation-wide initiatives9. Continued clinical practice
Continue to practise as a GPDeliver high-quality patient careBalance clinical and leadership responsibilities effectivelyHow we work at Penrose HealthNot a traditional GP practice
Penrose Health operates differently from a traditional GP partnership.
We have deliberately designed our organisation to protect clinical time and maximise value for patients.
Partners lead clinicallyA Central Management Team runs the operationsClinicians are supported by: Central Clinical AdminWelcome TeamsCross-group AHP team leadsHRThis model exists to:
Reduce administrative burden on cliniciansDelegate work to the right levelSupport consistent, high-quality care at scaleFor Lead GPs, this means:
You are not expected to carry operational problemsYou work alongside experienced operational professionalsLeadership time is focused on patients, people, and improvement
Person Specification
Professional registration & qualifications Essential
Qualified GP with a minimum of 2 years post-CCT experience GMC registered with a licence to practise - Registered on the NHS Performers List
Clinical experience Essential
Experience working as a GP in UK primary care Strong, up-to-date clinical knowledge
Leadership & management capability Essential
Experience supporting or influencing other clinicians Confidence addressing challenge and performance concerns Willingness to take responsibility for standards and outcomes
Safeguarding and complaints Essential
Confidence acting as a senior clinical point of escalation Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities in primary care Comfortable handling in-person patient concerns
Availability & commitment Essential
Able to commit to a minimum of 6 sessions Willingness to undertake at least 2 protected leadership sessions
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 Penrose Health
Address Lewisham Medical Centre
308 Lee High Rd
London
SE13 5PJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.penrosehealth.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)