• Job Description

  Req#: A3399-25-0000?language=en&page=62&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  Are you ready to lead transformative change in primary care? As the PCN Manager for Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering high-quality, joined-up healthcare for our local population. Working alongside a passionate group of GP practices, youll drive innovation, manage strategic projects, and support the delivery of enhanced services that make a real difference in peoples lives.

  This is more than just a management role its an opportunity to influence the future of local healthcare. Youll be joining a forward-thinking, supportive, and ambitious PCN that values collaboration, creativity, and compassion. If youre an experienced leader who thrives on building relationships, solving problems, and making an impact, we want to hear from you.

  Main duties of the job

  To play a pivotal role in the delivery of high-quality primary health care within Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN

  Support the Clinical Director and PCN board to ensure the smooth running of the PCN

  To be involved in the management and development of the PCN

  To be responsible for the production of performance and quality reports within the PCN and other PCN initiatives

  To provide supervision and support to the he PCN Finance Manager and have oversight of the financial systems/payments to all the practices within the PCN as required.

  To manage the administrative functions of the PCN including HR, Finance, Health & Safety and Project Management.

  To raise awareness at board level when there are issues regarding capacity to carry out PCN work in individual practices.

  To oversee data submission and ensure that data is accurate, complete and submitted on time

  Ensure the PCN is compliant with the GDPR and FOI along with other relevant legislation and professional information management standards such as GMC/BMA and LMC guidance

  To represent Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN in cross organisation meetings when agreed e.g. ICB meetings and PCN managers meetings and reporting back to the Board /PMs.

  To organise PCN meetings, prepare agendas and take and distribute the minutes and any supporting information required.

  About us

  Overview of Birtley and Central Gateshead Primary Care Network (PCN)

  Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN is a dynamic and forward-thinking Primary Care Network made up of four well-established GP practices in the heart of Gateshead:

  • Bridges Medical Practice (employing practice)
  • Oxford Terrace & Rawling Road Medical Group
  • Birtley Medical Group
  • Second Street Surgery

  Together, we care for a diverse patient population of over 40,000 people, and our collective focus is on delivering high-quality, accessible, and person-centred care. Our PCN has a strong reputation for collaborative working, innovation, and a genuine commitment to reducing health inequalities across our communities.

  Our Team and Culture

  Our team is made up of passionate, skilled, and supportive professionals including GPs, nurses, pharmacists, care coordinators, first contact physios, mental health practitioners, social prescribing link workers, and dedicated administrative staff. Each practice brings its own strengths, and we work closely as a network to share knowledge, ideas, and resources.

  Details

  Date posted

  09 July 2025

  Pay scheme

  Other

  Salary

  £55,690 a year

  Contract

  Fixed term

  Duration

  6 months

  Working pattern

  Full-time

  Reference number

  A3399-25-0000

  Job locations

  Trinity Square Health Centre

  24 West Street

  Gateshead

  NE8 1AD

  
  

  Oxford Terrace Medical Group

  1 Oxford Terrace

  Gateshead

  Tyne And Wear

  NE8 1RQ

  
  

  Second Street Surgery

  Second Street

  Gateshead

  Tyne And Wear

  NE8 2UR

  
  

  Birtley Medical Group Practice

  Durham Road

  Birtley

  Chester Le Street

  County Durham

  DH3 2QT

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  To provide day to day managerial supervision to the Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN by leading and supporting quality improvement and performance Birtley and Central Gateshead Primary Care Network

  To work closely with the relevant teams and practices to support PCN implementation of agreed service changes, pathways and quality improvement

  To help staff within the Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN understand and support delivery of its strategic objectives and outcomes framework including monitoring DES/IFF

  To develop and run administrative systems for Birtley and Central Gateshead collaboration projects, i.e. Extended Access and ARI hubs

  Manage risks, issues and actions and report these to the PCN Board

  To be fully accountable for all projects and to ensure that patient safety and quality of care is at the forefront of all projects

  To establish necessary monitoring and tracking processes to support the PCN

  Development and maintenance of policies relating to health and safety, information and clinical governance and standard operating procedures.

  Human Resources

  Staff are our biggest and most appreciated asset. The post-holder will be expected, as a minimum to:

  Assist with HR duties in collaboration with the PMs from the member practices

  Operationally manage specified staff within the Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN

  Be responsible for ensuring the compliance of mandatory training for staff employed within the Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN projects

  To convene and lead relevant meetings, ensuring outcomes are recorded and shared with member practices and key stakeholders

  To lead on training for new staff

  Develop and review Health and Safety policies in conjunction with the PMs from the member practices

  Finance

  As PCNs develop, clear and unequivocal finance management is essential. The post-holder will work in conjunction with the PCN Finance Manager and the Practice Managers and will:

  Maintain a strategic overview of PCN finance through line management of the PCN Finance Manager and monitoring of finance systems to ensure PCN finances are managed effectively.

  Identify clinical and organisational improvements to enhance and improve integrated care and services to patients

  To assist in the resolution of any complaints, resolving informal complaints locally and assisting in the investigation of and response to formal complaints as required

  Organise the procurement of equipment, supplies and services within target budgets previously as agreed by the board.

  Be aware of performance and quality indicators for all aspects of Primary Care

  To organise and minute relevant meetings, ensuring outcomes are recorded and shared with member practices and key stakeholders

  Liaise and work with different practices on an ad-hoc project basis as agreed by the board.

  Data & IT

  Accurate data flow, both to and from the PCN is essential in the planning of new services and in the reporting of existing services to both the PCN constituent members and to other stake-holders. To this end, the post-holder should:

  Secure all necessary information data and equipment from NECS, EMIS, the practices and other stakeholders in order to support delivery of projects

  Ensure that all data necessary for ongoing reporting requirements is recorded by all staff as necessary

  Evaluate and plan PCN IT implementation and modernisation as required by the Board

  Liaise with the ICB regarding systems procurement and IT funding

  Assist with the gathering of statistics and information when required

  Digital Transformation

  Work closely with digital leads from each practice to develop a digital transformation plan across the PCN.

  Identify work streams that are practice specific and those that can be rolled out across the PCN

  Work with practice leads to develop and maintain social media presence for the PCN

  Facilitate the sharing of good practice across the PCN.

  Work With the ICS to align digital strategy and agree plans as appropriate.

  Work with local delivery partners such as IT service providers and other NHS organisations

  Work with third party/ voluntary organisations to improve digital inclusion across the PCN.

  Support staff to identify and participate in relevant training and/or professional development opportunities that will support achievement of agreed improvements.

  Advise on innovative opportunities and support practices to maximise benefits from innovation, through the sharing of learning and best practice

  Take a data driven approach, looking at evidence and information available to support understanding of challenges, identify possible solutions and track the impacts of changes that have been made.

  Effectively present and communicate data to practices and PCN staff at all levels to increase understanding of operational challenges

  Education

  Act as Education Lead for the PCN and support collaborative learning and innovation to address the on-going challenges faced in Primary Care via the role of PCN Education Lead.

  These include:

  The opportunity to network, share good practice and ideas across the PCN and from other areas via the locality PCN Education leads meeting.

  Developing shared teaching across practices to help address time demands on educators, covering educator leave and the on-going challenge of estates.

  Helping to support learners and educators by signposting via the escalation pathways concerns and challenges that may arise.

  Improving the job satisfaction, development, and retention of staff within PCNs by supporting professional development and education across the primary care team.

  Developing and co-ordinating education processes for learners in collaboration with the primary care training hubs and their respective clinical leads.

  Ensuring a process is developed to collate and review and respond to feedback from targeted learners. Some learners will be attached to higher education institutions who have their own QA processes. Whilst the feedback from these groups can still be used, the feedback of those not aligned to HEIs should be targeted.

  Creating an action plan based on the educational needs of the workforce and the feedback from the learners.

  Completing an annual quality report for NHSE North East Workforce, Training and Education Directorate

  Performance and Quality Indicators

  The post-holder should strive for continuous improvement, both personally and in the services that the PCN delivers. The post-holder should, as a minimum:

  Be aware of local and national quality standards for all aspects of primary care

  Ensure that the PCN meets all Health and Social Care Act requirements

  Assist in the production of information for clinical audit as requested by other members of staff or the Board

  Work with the PCN board and ICB to validate patient information and data, performing regular checks and quality audits

  Effectively manage their own time, workload and resources

  Lead and encourage significant event audit meetings, ensuring that learning outcomes are addressed and communicated to the wider staff team

  Strategy and Development

  Opportunities and future development are what will drive the PCN forward successfully. As such, the post-holder should be aware of these opportunities and report them to the clinical directors and at board meetings as appropriate. As a minimum they should:

  Identify clinical and organisational improvements to enhance and improve integrated care and services to patients

  Represent the Board at any external meetings as requested by the Board, taking the Boards view forward

  Report back to the Board after these meetings

  Explore all possibilities for future development with outside agencies

  Health and Safety

  Assisting in promoting and maintaining their own and others health and safety and security as defined in the PCN and practice Health and Safety Policies.

  Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines

  Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks

  Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills

  Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.

  Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised

  Keeping own work areas and general/ patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role

  Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults

  Reporting any potential risks identified and with due regard to the Whistleblowing Policy

  Personal & Professional Development

  Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

  Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

  Taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal development

  Working with management on any new training requirements

  Communication

  Communicate effectively with other team members.

  Communicate effectively with patients and carers.

  Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

  Contributing to the Implementation of Services:

  Develop new policies, standards, SOPs and guidelines as required.

  Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work

  Participate in audit where appropriate

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  To provide day to day managerial supervision to the Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN by leading and supporting quality improvement and performance Birtley and Central Gateshead Primary Care Network

  To work closely with the relevant teams and practices to support PCN implementation of agreed service changes, pathways and quality improvement

  To help staff within the Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN understand and support delivery of its strategic objectives and outcomes framework including monitoring DES/IFF

  To develop and run administrative systems for Birtley and Central Gateshead collaboration projects, i.e. Extended Access and ARI hubs

  Manage risks, issues and actions and report these to the PCN Board

  To be fully accountable for all projects and to ensure that patient safety and quality of care is at the forefront of all projects

  To establish necessary monitoring and tracking processes to support the PCN

  Development and maintenance of policies relating to health and safety, information and clinical governance and standard operating procedures.

  Human Resources

  Staff are our biggest and most appreciated asset. The post-holder will be expected, as a minimum to:

  Assist with HR duties in collaboration with the PMs from the member practices

  Operationally manage specified staff within the Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN

  Be responsible for ensuring the compliance of mandatory training for staff employed within the Birtley and Central Gateshead PCN projects

  To convene and lead relevant meetings, ensuring outcomes are recorded and shared with member practices and key stakeholders

  To lead on training for new staff

  Develop and review Health and Safety policies in conjunction with the PMs from the member practices

  Finance

  As PCNs develop, clear and unequivocal finance management is essential. The post-holder will work in conjunction with the PCN Finance Manager and the Practice Managers and will:

  Maintain a strategic overview of PCN finance through line management of the PCN Finance Manager and monitoring of finance systems to ensure PCN finances are managed effectively.

  Identify clinical and organisational improvements to enhance and improve integrated care and services to patients

  To assist in the resolution of any complaints, resolving informal complaints locally and assisting in the investigation of and response to formal complaints as required

  Organise the procurement of equipment, supplies and services within target budgets previously as agreed by the board.

  Be aware of performance and quality indicators for all aspects of Primary Care

  To organise and minute relevant meetings, ensuring outcomes are recorded and shared with member practices and key stakeholders

  Liaise and work with different practices on an ad-hoc project basis as agreed by the board.

  Data & IT

  Accurate data flow, both to and from the PCN is essential in the planning of new services and in the reporting of existing services to both the PCN constituent members and to other stake-holders. To this end, the post-holder should:

  Secure all necessary information data and equipment from NECS, EMIS, the practices and other stakeholders in order to support delivery of projects

  Ensure that all data necessary for ongoing reporting requirements is recorded by all staff as necessary

  Evaluate and plan PCN IT implementation and modernisation as required by the Board

  Liaise with the ICB regarding systems procurement and IT funding

  Assist with the gathering of statistics and information when required

  Digital Transformation

  Work closely with digital leads from each practice to develop a digital transformation plan across the PCN.

  Identify work streams that are practice specific and those that can be rolled out across the PCN

  Work with practice leads to develop and maintain social media presence for the PCN

  Facilitate the sharing of good practice across the PCN.

  Work With the ICS to align digital strategy and agree plans as appropriate.

  Work with local delivery partners such as IT service providers and other NHS organisations

  Work with third party/ voluntary organisations to improve digital inclusion across the PCN.

  Support staff to identify and participate in relevant training and/or professional development opportunities that will support achievement of agreed improvements.

  Advise on innovative opportunities and support practices to maximise benefits from innovation, through the sharing of learning and best practice

  Take a data driven approach, looking at evidence and information available to support understanding of challenges, identify possible solutions and track the impacts of changes that have been made.

  Effectively present and communicate data to practices and PCN staff at all levels to increase understanding of operational challenges

  Education

  Act as Education Lead for the PCN and support collaborative learning and innovation to address the on-going challenges faced in Primary Care via the role of PCN Education Lead.

  These include:

  The opportunity to network, share good practice and ideas across the PCN and from other areas via the locality PCN Education leads meeting.

  Developing shared teaching across practices to help address time demands on educators, covering educator leave and the on-going challenge of estates.

  Helping to support learners and educators by signposting via the escalation pathways concerns and challenges that may arise.

  Improving the job satisfaction, development, and retention of staff within PCNs by supporting professional development and education across the primary care team.

  Developing and co-ordinating education processes for learners in collaboration with the primary care training hubs and their respective clinical leads.

  Ensuring a process is developed to collate and review and respond to feedback from targeted learners. Some learners will be attached to higher education institutions who have their own QA processes. Whilst the feedback from these groups can still be used, the feedback of those not aligned to HEIs should be targeted.

  Creating an action plan based on the educational needs of the workforce and the feedback from the learners.

  Completing an annual quality report for NHSE North East Workforce, Training and Education Directorate

  Performance and Quality Indicators

  The post-holder should strive for continuous improvement, both personally and in the services that the PCN delivers. The post-holder should, as a minimum:

  Be aware of local and national quality standards for all aspects of primary care

  Ensure that the PCN meets all Health and Social Care Act requirements

  Assist in the production of information for clinical audit as requested by other members of staff or the Board

  Work with the PCN board and ICB to validate patient information and data, performing regular checks and quality audits

  Effectively manage their own time, workload and resources

  Lead and encourage significant event audit meetings, ensuring that learning outcomes are addressed and communicated to the wider staff team

  Strategy and Development

  Opportunities and future development are what will drive the PCN forward successfully. As such, the post-holder should be aware of these opportunities and report them to the clinical directors and at board meetings as appropriate. As a minimum they should:

  Identify clinical and organisational improvements to enhance and improve integrated care and services to patients

  Represent the Board at any external meetings as requested by the Board, taking the Boards view forward

  Report back to the Board after these meetings

  Explore all possibilities for future development with outside agencies

  Health and Safety

  Assisting in promoting and maintaining their own and others health and safety and security as defined in the PCN and practice Health and Safety Policies.

  Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines

  Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks

  Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills

  Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.

  Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised

  Keeping own work areas and general/ patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role

  Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults

  Reporting any potential risks identified and with due regard to the Whistleblowing Policy

  Personal & Professional Development

  Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

  Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

  Taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal development

  Working with management on any new training requirements

  Communication

  Communicate effectively with other team members.

  Communicate effectively with patients and carers.

  Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

  Contributing to the Implementation of Services:

  Develop new policies, standards, SOPs and guidelines as required.

  Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work

  Participate in audit where appropriate

  Person Specification

  Personal Attributes

  Essential

  • Ability to work flexibly to meet PCN demands
  • Committed to personal and team development and agencies.
  • Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
  • Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with relevant stakeholders and key staff.
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills with
  • the ability to cope with a busy working environment, with periods of interruption throughout the day
  • Demonstrate a willingness to participate in shaping the future of the organisation by taking on responsibilities and projects in addition to core workload
  • Commit to a DBS Check
  • The ability to fulfil the travel requirements of post

  Experience

  Essential

  • Management / leadership experience
  • Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Knowledge of IT systems to include the ability to use word processing skills, emails and internet
  • An understanding of the nature of general practice and Primary Care Networks
  • Ability to build and maintain relationships whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
  • Excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels inc. patients and carers, specialist services, GPs and colleagues.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences
  • Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations including the voluntary sector
  • Experience of using EMIS clinical system
  • Good technical literacy of Microsoft Applications e.g. Word, Excel, and Access etc.
  • HR experience, including having difficult conversations

  Desirable

  • Finance / payroll experience

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Educated to GCSE or equivalent (GCSE Maths & English C or above)
  • Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development

  Person Specification

  Personal Attributes

  Essential

  • Ability to work flexibly to meet PCN demands
  • Committed to personal and team development and agencies.
  • Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
  • Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with relevant stakeholders and key staff.
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills with
  • the ability to cope with a busy working environment, with periods of interruption throughout the day
  • Demonstrate a willingness to participate in shaping the future of the organisation by taking on responsibilities and projects in addition to core workload
  • Commit to a DBS Check
  • The ability to fulfil the travel requirements of post

  Experience

  Essential

  • Management / leadership experience
  • Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Knowledge of IT systems to include the ability to use word processing skills, emails and internet
  • An understanding of the nature of general practice and Primary Care Networks
  • Ability to build and maintain relationships whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
  • Excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels inc. patients and carers, specialist services, GPs and colleagues.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to a variety of audiences
  • Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations including the voluntary sector
  • Experience of using EMIS clinical system
  • Good technical literacy of Microsoft Applications e.g. Word, Excel, and Access etc.
  • HR experience, including having difficult conversations

  Desirable

  • Finance / payroll experience

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Educated to GCSE or equivalent (GCSE Maths & English C or above)
  • Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal 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

  Bridges Medical Practice

  Address

  Trinity Square Health Centre

  24 West Street

  Gateshead

  NE8 1AD

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.bridgesmedicalpractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

  Employer details

  Employer name

  Bridges Medical Practice

  Address

  Trinity Square Health Centre

  24 West Street

  Gateshead

  NE8 1AD

  
  

  Employer's website

  https://www.bridgesmedicalpractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

Notice