GP Clinical Lead

Job description

Job responsibilities

Leading the clinical team:

• Line management of sessional GPs and Practice Nursing team.
• Liaison with allied health professionals and attendance at integrated care meetings.
• Leading clinical governance (as clinical lead of an IGPF service) to ensure the service provides high-quality, safe, and confidential care.
• Driving high performance in Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), Investment and Impact Fund (IIF), and other contractual KPIs.
• Facilitating dynamic clinical meetings that support the development of the wider clinical team.
• Demonstration of robust quality and safety of care at the practice with excellent use of service data.
• Close collaboration with the IGPF Medical Director.
• Clinical oversight of the development and implementation of clinical systems.
• Work in partnership with appropriate IGPF and practice leads to address problems that may arise with members of the clinical team.
• Review of clinical protocols with communication of changes to clinicians.
• Ensure, along with operational leads and the IGPF Lead Nurse, that federation clinical and safeguarding policies are implemented with the team.

Provision of clinical care:

Provide clinical care to Islington GP Federation practices' patients, including:

• Provision of urgent and non-urgent general practice consultations - telephone, face-to-face, and visits - as required.
• Contributing to continuity of care: managing a personal list as defined within the practice (for example, for prescription, inbound documentation, and non-urgent results review).
• Oversee and participate in chronic disease management, which you may lead, for defined conditions and/or patients.
• Participate in specified clinical meetings and lead weekly clinical meetings.
• Participate in, and on occasion lead, clinical audit and quality improvement activities.
• Review of clinical protocols with communication of changes to clinicians.
• Acting on QOF, IIF, and governance alerts to maintain compliance with clinical standards.
• Ensure the practice meets audit deadlines, quality standards, and funding requirements for key frameworks such as QOF and LCS are met.
• Supporting the timely submission of audits and compliance with QOF, LCS, and all primary care funding frameworks.

Management & strategic role:

• The practice has its own operational leadership that works in close collaboration with the IGPF operational team. You will provide, when needed, clinical leadership and a clinical perspective. This will help the operational team identify and act on priorities to support high-quality and safe clinical care.
• Ensure that the practice(s) of responsibility achieve and maintain optimal financial performance in collaboration with the wider practice team, IGPF leadership team and IGPF Finance team.
• Lead in collaboration with the wider practice team on achievement of all income streams, national and local.
• Work collaboratively with the Operations Manager and with IGPF leadership team and IGPF Digital Products Lead to implement workflow efficiencies, digital innovations, and service optimisation.
• Ensure ongoing review and monitoring of costs for the practice(s) of responsibility, identifying and managing the delivery of improvements where required.
• Be jointly responsible with IGPF Leadership team for the strategic direction of the practice.
• Develop and maintain excellent relationships with senior representatives across NCL ICS and wider to support a collaborative patient-centred approach.
• Review business opportunities with the IGPF Leadership team and operational leads that optimise value for money and maintain excellent quality of care.
• Be the responsible lead for management of patient and staff complaints, including review of actions and feedback to patients and staff.
• Ensure all premises are CQC ready jointly with Federation estate leads and the Operational lead.
• Communication to the IGPF executive team on updates within the practice.
• Acting as a key clinical point of contact for the Primary Care Network (PCN), working collaboratively with PCN Clinical Directors and other PCN leads to meet Network Contract DES requirements.
• Participating in the delivery of PCN services and supporting workforce integration, including Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) staff.

Financial performance:

In partnership with the Operational Lead, you will be responsible for overseeing and supporting the financial sustainability and performance of the practice. You will be expected to work closely with the IGPF Finance Team, attending regular financial review meetings to assess practice performance against targets and budgets.

Where financial recovery is required, you will take a lead role in developing and implementing a robust financial recovery plan. This includes identifying areas for improvement, agreeing on actions with relevant stakeholders, and ensuring timely and effective implementation. You will also support the embedding of systems and processes that improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance value for money across the practice(s) of responsibility.

Quality improvement:

In collaboration with others, the post holder will:

• Identify and focus on priorities for improvement.
• Enable rapid and systematic implementation of evidence-based interventions
• Use and enable opportunities for clinical learning in practice teams

Accountability:

Although accountable to the senior leadership team, you are ultimately responsible for your own practice and must ensure that limitations are always acknowledged.

To maintain a safe and effective level of practice and to bring any deficits in training to the attention of the Operations Manager so these can be addressed.

To always act in a professional manner, and adhere to IGPF policies, protocols, and guidelines.

Ethos:

• The concept of Primary Care, the organisation of General Practice and the roles played by other members need to be understood.
• Good communication and relationships must be established and maintained with patients, colleagues, and employers.
• Take reasonable care of his/her own safety and that of other persons who may be affected by his/her act or omission.
• Co-operation with IGPF to ensure all members of the team adhere to statutory regulations/policies and codes of practice and department safety rules.
• Offer innovative ways of working and opportunities to facilitate learning.
• Facilitates a learning environment within the team.
• Maintains a caring environment through the support of colleagues.

Staff Wellbeing and Support:

Islington GP Federation (IGPF) is committed to fostering a positive and supportive working environment across all practices, services, and programmes of work delivered.

We recognise that staff wellbeing is essential to delivering safe, effective, and person-centred care. As a GP-led organisation, we understand the unique pressures faced by primary care teams and actively promote wellbeing through a range of initiatives, including:

• Access to occupational health services and dedicated support helplines (details available upon request)
• Regular 1:1 check-ins and wellbeing conversations with line managers
• Referral pathways for additional support, including mental health resources
• Protected time for peer support, clinical reflection, and leadership development through Clinical Leads Meetings
• Encouragement of a healthy worklife balance, including use of full annual leave entitlement and avoidance of unnecessary out-of-hours work
• Opportunities for flexible or portfolio working within both the practice and the wider Federation
• Promotion of an inclusive, team-oriented culture where concerns can be raised openly and support is readily available

IGPF is proud to support staff at every level and is committed to building a culture where colleagues feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive in their roles.

This job description provides a general overview of the key duties and responsibilities of a Clinical Lead, but it is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all tasks that may be required. The nature of the role demands flexibility in both the duties undertaken and the hours worked to ensure the smooth running of the practice and the achievement of its objectives.

As and when required, the clinical lead may be called upon to take on additional duties or responsibilities beyond those outlined here, in line with the needs of the practice. It is expected that the Clinical Lead will adapt to evolving requirements and contribute to various aspects of the practices operations.

A strong understanding of the concept of Primary Care, the organisation of General Practice, and the roles played by other members of the healthcare team is essential. The Clinical Lead should also foster positive communication and maintain strong relationships with patients, colleagues, and employers, ensuring that the practice operates effectively and efficiently.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• General Practitioner on the England & Wales performers list for at least three years
• Minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience in the UK

Desirable

• Evidence of further postgraduate educational activities in relevant fields - MRCGP

Experience

Essential

• Experience in addressing complex clinical needs and supporting others to do so.
• Experience of leadership in the clinical context
• Experience in managing financial performance in the primary care/ service area of responsibility
• Experience in chronic disease management

Desirable

• Experience in quality improvement and clinical system development and change
• Experience in one-to-one or group clinical teaching and training
• Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes.
• Experience with clinical risk management
• Working in a practice in a caretaking role
• Experience in supporting service change

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Competent in the use of MS Office, Outlook and Teams
• A good knowledge of EMIS and other clinical IT systems
• Understanding/knowledge of: Quality & Outcomes Framework (QOF)and Practice income streams
• Coaching and mentoring skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of local and national NHS issues and the health and social care environment

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Islington GP Federation

Address

Unit 16-18

The Studios, Hornsey Street

Holloway

London

N7 8EG

Employer's website

https://www.islingtongpfederation.org/ (Opens in a new tab)