Assistant Practice Manager (Development Ops Manager opportunity)
Job summary
Join Our Leadership Team and Build Your Future in Primary Care
A rare opportunity to join a family GP practice where you can shape services, influence improvement and develop into a senior operational leader
Are you an organised, motivated and people-focused manager looking for a role where you can make a genuine difference?
The Neville Family Medical Centre is seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Practice Manager to join our leadership team and support the continued development of our practice.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants more than a traditional support role. Working closely with the Managing Partner, you will gain broad experience across practice operations and develop the skills needed to progress towards a future Operations Manager position.
We welcome applications from:
- Experienced Assistant Practice Managers or healthcare managers looking for their next challenge;or
- Ambitious supervisors or emerging leaders ready to take the next step into management.
Main duties of the job
This role has been created to develop the next generation of primary care leadership.
You will initially support the day-to-day running of the practice, working alongside the Managing Partner and wider team. As your experience and confidence grow, you will take ownership of additional operational responsibilities and develop towards an Operations Manager role.
You will gain exposure and experience across:
- People management and team development
- Practice governance and CQC requirements
- Service improvement and workflow redesign
- HR processes and staff support
- Patient experience and complaints management
- Operational systems, IT and premises
- Performance improvement and compliance
This is an ideal opportunity for someone who wants to build a long-term career in healthcare management.
Career Progression
Our aim is to develop the successful candidate into a future Operations Manager who will lead the internal operational performance of the practice.
This will enable the Managing Partner to focus on strategic development, finance, partnership responsibilities and external relationships.
Progression will be based on demonstrated capability, experience and readiness to take on increased responsibility.
About us
The Neville Family Medical Centre is a well-established, forward-thinking GP practice serving approximately 5,600 patients in North Manchester.
As a third-generation family practice with over 90 years of history, we are proud of our strong community roots and the values that underpin everything we do - continuity, compassion and commitment to our patients.
While we have the scale to offer variety, responsibility and professional challenge, we remain a close-knit team where every individual can have a visible impact.
We believe excellent patient care starts with a supported, engaged and empowered team. We are committed to creating a positive workplace where colleagues are encouraged to contribute ideas, improve services and develop professionally.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Description
A development-focused management role with a clear pathway towards Operations Manager. The role is designed to suit both a developing manager with relevant management experience and an experienced Assistant Practice/Operations Manager ready to take on greater responsibility.
Job Purpose
The Assistant Practice Manager will support the Managing Partner in the effective day-to-day management and operation of Neville Family Medical Centre. This is a hands-on role for someone who is organised, proactive, confident managing people and committed to delivering high standards of patient care and practice performance.
The successful candidate will initially work closely with the Managing Partner, progressively taking ownership of defined areas of practice operations. The role is specifically designed as a development pathway towards an Operations Manager position for the right individual.
The role focuses primarily on the internal operation of the practice. The Managing Partner will retain overall responsibility for finance, business strategy, partnership matters and significant external relationships.
Key Responsibilities
1. Day-to-day practice operations
Support the Managing Partner with the smooth and effective day-to-day running of the practice.
Monitor operational processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and patient experience.
Ensure agreed policies, procedures and operational standards are implemented consistently.
Coordinate and follow up operational actions arising from meetings, audits, incidents and improvement work.
Act as a visible and approachable member of the practice management team.
2. Staff management and workforce support
Provide day-to-day management and supervision of designated administrative and support staff.
Support team leaders and supervisors to manage performance, conduct, attendance and development.
Assist with workforce planning, staffing requirements and rota coordination.
Support recruitment, selection, induction and onboarding of new staff.
Help create a positive, respectful and accountable workplace culture.
Identify training needs and support staff development and appraisal processes.
3. HR and employee relations
Support the Managing Partner with the consistent implementation of HR policies and procedures.
Assist with absence management, return-to-work processes, probation reviews and performance management.
Maintain appropriate documentation and ensure confidentiality is maintained.
Escalate complex or high-risk employment matters appropriately.
4. Governance, compliance and CQC readiness
Support the practice in maintaining high standards of governance and regulatory compliance.
Assist with CQC readiness and ensure evidence, policies and operational records are maintained.
Coordinate audits, action plans and follow-up activity.
Support incident reporting, learning and implementation of agreed improvements.
Promote safe working practices and ensure staff understand their responsibilities.
5. Patient experience and complaints
Support the management of patient feedback, concerns and complaints in line with practice procedures.
Ensure issues are investigated promptly and lessons are identified and acted upon.
Monitor recurring themes and contribute to improvements in patient experience.
6. IT, systems and operational infrastructure
Support the effective use of practice IT systems and operational processes.
Identify system issues and coordinate resolution with relevant internal or external support.
Promote consistent use of agreed systems, protocols and digital workflows.
Support the implementation of new systems and changes to existing processes.
7. Premises, health and safety and operational risk
Support the management of premises-related operational matters.
Assist with health and safety compliance, risk assessments and appropriate action plans.
Coordinate routine maintenance, repairs and operational issues as delegated.
Ensure issues affecting staff or patient safety are escalated promptly.
8. Workflow and service improvement
Review administrative and operational workflows and recommend practical improvements.
Support the implementation of agreed change projects.
Use data and feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.
Help ensure that changes are embedded and sustained.
9. Communication and teamwork
Communicate clearly and professionally with GPs, clinicians, administrative staff and other practice team members.
Attend and contribute to relevant internal meetings.
Provide clear updates on operational issues, progress and risks.
Build effective working relationships across the practice.
Development Pathway
This role is intended to provide a structured development route towards an Operations Manager position. As the postholder gains experience and demonstrates competence, responsibility may increase across staff management, HR, governance, operational performance, premises, IT, workflow and service improvement.
Progression will be based on demonstrated capability, leadership, autonomy and the ability to take ownership of the internal operation of the practice. The expectation is that the successful candidate will develop from supporting the Managing Partner to independently leading an increasing proportion of operational activity.
Scope of the Role
The role is primarily internally focused. The postholder will not initially have primary responsibility for:
Practice finance and budgetary ownership.
Overall business strategy and partnership decisions.
Major contractual decisions.
Primary external representation of the practice.
Overall PCN, ICB, NHS or other external stakeholder relationships.
The postholder will, however, be expected to support the Managing Partner with information and operational input where relevant and may take on additional responsibilities as the role develops.
Person Specification
Criteria for the successful applicant
- Previous experience in a management, supervisory or team-lead role, ideally within primary care, healthcare or another complex service environment.
- Previous experience in a GP practice, primary care, NHS or wider healthcare environment.
- Demonstrable ability to manage, motivate and support staff.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing demands.
- Confident communicator with the ability to deal professionally with staff, clinicians and patients.
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
- Experience of managing or contributing to operational processes and service improvement.
- Good understanding of the importance of policies, procedures, governance and compliance.
- Ability to work independently, use initiative and take ownership of tasks.
- Strong IT skills and confidence learning and using new systems.
- Professional, calm and approachable manner.
- Commitment to high standards of patient care and staff experience.
- Willingness and ability to develop into a broader operational leadership role.
- Experience as an Assistant Practice Manager, Assistant Operations Manager, Practice Manager, Operations Manager or similar.
- Experience of CQC compliance, primary care governance or healthcare quality processes.
- Experience of HR processes, including recruitment, induction, absence management and performance management.
- Experience of managing or supporting multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience of complaints handling and patient experience improvement.
- Experience of premises, health and safety or operational risk management.
- Experience of implementing new systems, processes or service improvements.
- Understanding of primary care structures, including PCNs, ICBs and the wider NHS environment.
- Relevant management or leadership qualification or evidence of equivalent professional development.
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
The Neville Family Medical Centre
Address
25 Old Market Street
Manchester
M9 8DX
United Kingdom
Employer's website
http://www.nevillefmc.com/