Lead Practice Nurse

Posting date:	02 April 2026
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	Negotiable
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	26 April 2026
Location:	Canterbury, CT2 7PB
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	A3620-26-0003

Summary

Job Title -Lead Practice Nurse Responsible to -GP Partners (clinical matters) Practice Manager (other matters) Accountable to -GP Partners Hours P/W - 32 Objectives - To deliver a high standard of patient care as an experienced practice nurse, using advanced autonomous clinical skills, and a broad and in-depth theoretical knowledge base. To manage a clinical caseload, dealing with presenting patients needs in a primary care setting. To develop the nursing services offered by the Medical Centre ensuring these are in line with NHS strategic plans and clinical best practice. To provide clinical leadership within the nursing team. To provide clinical leadership and line management to the nursing team and ensure the highest standards of care are provided for the patients. Job Responsibilities - To manage own clinical workload in general practice responding effectively to patient need and ensuring patient choice and ease of access to services. To mentor and support other nurses in developing and maintaining their clinical skills. The following are the core responsibilities of the Lead Practice Nurse in delivering health services: Act as the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) lead, providing leadership and support to the Practice IPC team. Ensuring all nursing staff work to the IPC Policy providing audits, training, support and evidence of compliance. Consult with patients and their families to undertake assessments of patient need. Lead long-term condition management within the organisation, supporting quality improvement and assurance initiatives. Support public health and screening programmes, including immunisations, vaccinations, and cervical screening. Embed population health management approaches within general practice, targeting health inequalities and improving access. As required, provide routine nursing care to patients in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF. Support, mentor, and supervise new-to-practice nurses and other healthcare professionals within the organisation. Be an integral part of the general practice team as well as supporting the wider practice nurse network and multi-disciplinary team. Prescribe medication for patients in accordance with PGDs and own scope of practice and advise patients and their families on how to manage their condition. Participate in clinical audits and research projects and implements changes as required, including supporting with the development, and updating of practice protocols/guidelines and procedures locally. Work within national and local protocols where these exist. Recognise the boundaries of their practice and know when and to whom patients should be referred. Demonstrate initiative and be creative in finding solutions to problems. Provide supervision to student nurse associates and other students assigned to the University Medical Centre. Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements. Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on Safeguarding Adults and Safeguarding Children. Participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through incidents and near-miss events. Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes. Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance. Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., flu clinics). Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times. Contribute to practice targets (QOF, etc.), complying with relevant guidance. Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation ensuring that SNOMED CT codes are used effectively. Maintain chronic disease registers and implement an effective call/recall system. Chaperone patients where necessary. Support the team in dealing with clinical emergencies. Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients, etc.). Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate. Provide comprehensive travel health advice for patients prior to travel including malaria prophylaxis, health insurance and vaccinations. Help develop and set up new patient services and participate in initiatives to improve existing patient services. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels. In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Lead Practice Nurse has the following wider responsibilities - Develop, review and implement nursing protocols in conjunction with the partners. Support all members of the nursing team, providing guidance when necessary, conducting appraisals and training needs analyses as required. Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care. Support and participate in shared learning within the practice in order to improve patient care. Coordinate the nursing team rota, ensuring sufficient staff are available to meet patient needs. Lead the planning and implementation of changes within the nursing team, enhancing the provision of services to patients. Support the practice team with the reviewing and implementation of practice policies and protocols, ensuring conformance to extant legislation. The post-holder will- Promote evidence-based practice through the use of the latest research-based guidelines and the development of practice-based research. Monitor the effectiveness of their own clinical practice through the quality assurance strategies such as the use of audit and peer review. Maintain their professional registration. Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to ensure that up-to-date evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role is maintained. Work within the latest NMC Code of Professional Conduct at all times. Record accurate and timely consultation data in patients records in accordance with the latest NMC guidance and other pertinent standards. Keep up to date with pertinent health-related policy and work with the practice team to consider the impact and strategies for implementation. Work collaboratively with colleagues within and external to the Practice. Demonstrate strong clinical leadership. Pro-actively promote the nursing roles within the Practice, and externally to key stakeholders and agencies. The post-holder will - Act as a positive role model to staff and patients. Act as direct line manager for the nursing team, and through this, support their personal development to maximise potential. Conduct regular appraisals with individuals within the team. Participate in clinical supervision for the nursing team, and act as nurse advisor to other members of the Practices Clinical Team. Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice. Support and contribute to the teaching of nursing staff / medical students / GP Registrars / HCAs and administration staff as appropriate. Encourage others to make realistic self-assessment of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency or actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or users of services. Encourage and develop teamwork within the Practice. Participate in multi-disciplinary protocol and Patient Group Directions development and ensuring these are current and up-to-date. Identify appropriate opportunities to delegate both clinical and administrative tasks to more junior staff. Work with the practice management to ensure sufficient staff of appropriate ability, quality and skill-mix are available to meet current and future service delivery, that selection and recruitment processes are effective and that equality of treatment of the team incorporates quality HR principals and processes. Assist the practice in managing CQC assessment visits and providing self-assessment data as and when requested. Responsibility in ensuring CQC outcome evidence data is collected and co-ordinated on a regular basis as required. Help the Practice operate in a cost-effective manner. Identify and manage nursing care risks on a continuing basis. Participate in practice meetings, practice management meetings, University Nursing Service team meetings, reporting progress as required. Participate in audits and inspections as appropriate. Work closely with the doctors and administrative managers in the setting up and/or improving of practice systems for monitoring/measuring performance against Clinical Governance and Quality Indicator targets. Ensure that all Practice Policies are fully implemented. In liaison with HR Administrative Support, maintain necessary occupational health records for clinical staff. CQC (Care Quality Commission) Under supervision of the GP Partners / Practice Manager to assist staff and clinicians to ensure that the practice fully complies with the CQC regulations To ensure that all policies and procedures within areas of responsibilities are up to date and are amended as and when required The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.