Director - Primary Care
Sussex Primary Care
Brighton, BN2 3EW
Salary
£94,356 to £108,814
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Not specified
Closing date
25 September 2026
25 days left
Job description
Sussex Primary Care are looking for an experienced Director to lead the company through an exciting period of change and development. With close ties ...
You will
Provide strategic leadership for Sussex Primary Care, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and financially sustainable primary care services across all practices.
Lead GP practice governance, quality, risk management and regulatory compliance, ensuring continuous improvement and readiness for CQC inspection
Be a key member of the SPC Board and senior leadership team, contributing to organisational strategy, growth and decision-making.
Lead operational performance, service transformation and innovation across multiple GP practices.
Develop strong partnerships with GP practices, Primary Care Networks, commissioners, the Integrated Care Board, local authorities and wider system partners.
Drive financial sustainability, business development and new opportunities for organisational growth.
Act as an ambassador for Sussex Primary Care across Sussex and the wider NHS system
What Were Looking For
We are looking for an experienced senior leader with a strong
track record in NHS primary care, operational management and transformational
change. You will bring exceptional leadership, relationship-building and
strategic thinking skills, together with a deep understanding of GP contracts,
governance, quality and performance management. Experience of working across
organisational boundaries and influencing at system level is essential.
Key Responsibilities - Leadership and Management
- Provides visible, effective and accessible leadership across Sussex Primary Care and across all professional boundaries; leading and supporting the Sussex Primary Care operational management team, empowering them to perform at their best through regular supervision, appraisal and performance discussions
- Line manages the senior management and operational team and individual GP Practice Managers.
- Develop a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement across all sites.
- Support and coach local management teams to achieve operational and quality objectives.
- Lead recruitment, retention, appraisal and performance management processes for non-clinical staff.
- Promote staff wellbeing, engagement and professional development.
- Effectively balances the needs and priorities of the SPC with those of the
- Trust, acting within the overall interests of the Trust.
- Formulate long term strategic plans, involving uncertainty, and considering the impact on the organisation
- Develops business plans and strategies for SPC, making a major contribution to corporate policies and strategy.
- Reviews and approves all business plans, reports, evaluations and other business, prior to submission to directors and executives
- Ensures that the services annual business plan is completed and agreed within timescales and signs-off Primary Care and service budget
Operational Management
- Develop long-term
strategic plans, considering the wider impact on organisational performance,
system priorities and future service delivery models
- Ensure the
effective day-to-day operation of all SPC GP practices.
- Develop and
implement standardised operational processes across the group.
- Monitor access
capacity and demand to ensure services meet patient needs.
- Oversee
appointment systems, reception services, care navigation and administrative
functions.
- Ensure practices
meet contractual, organisational and performance requirements.
- Is accountable for
identifying and implementing service improvements and development to enhance
efficiency and patient experience.
- Lead operational
responses to service pressures and business continuity requirements.
-
Analyse and interpret highly complex facts or
situations, comparing of a range of options.
-
Holds responsibility for policy development and
implementation
Financial Management
-
Responsibility for the budget for the SPC practices and
central function
-
Responsibility for overall budget setting for Primary
Care and the delivery of services within the allocated financial envelope
-
Lead
the development of complex strategic business cases and investment proposals to
support organisational growth and service transformation.
-
Lead
the identification and delivery of strategic growth opportunities, income
generation initiatives and new business development opportunities across Sussex
Primary Care.
-
Evaluate
and negotiate complex commercial and contractual opportunities which support
the long-term financial sustainability of the organisation
- Set, manage and
oversee practice budgets across all SPC GP Practice sites.
- Monitor financial
performance and support practices to achieve agreed financial targets.
- Work closely with
finance teams to monitor income, expenditure and financial risks.
- Identify
opportunities for efficiency, income generation and service development.
-
Grow income opportunities and potential for expansion
as a strategic priority
- Support the
preparation of business cases and investment proposals.
- Ensure effective
management of procurement and contracts.
-
Comprehensive understanding of the drivers of financial
performance across Primary Care and can effectively articulate the relationship
between financial performance, operational improvement and clinical quality and
is able to triangulate disparate data sources to proactively identify current
and potential performance failures
Governance and Quality
- Ensure all
practices meet contractual, statutory and Care Quality Commission (CQC)
standards and regulatory requirements.
- Lead governance
compliance and risk management activities across SPC.
- Ensure policies
and procedures are implemented consistently.
- Oversee the
management of complaints, incidents and significant events.
- Support
implementation of learning from audits, complaints and investigations.
- Maintain robust
systems for information governance and data protection.
-
Maintain effective briefing and updates to the Chief
Operating Officer and other members of the executive team with respect to
developments and initiatives within Primary Care
-
Support the Chief Operating Officer for
pan-organisational projects and initiatives
Workforce and Human Resources
- Support workforce
planning across SPC.
- Monitor staffing
levels and skill mix to maintain safe and effective services.
- Ensure compliance
with employment legislation and organisational policies.
-
Ensure the equality and diversity agenda is delivered
and monitored
- Lead employee
relations processes, including attendance, capability and disciplinary
procedures.
- Monitor mandatory
training compliance.
- Patient Experience and Service Development
- Promote a
patient-centred culture across all practices.
- Monitor patient
feedback, NHS Friends and Family Test results and complaints data.
- Develop and
implement plans to improve patient access and experience.
- Support patient
participation groups and engagement initiatives.
- Lead projects that
improve quality, access and productivity.
Performance Management
- Monitor practice
performance against contractual and organisational targets.
- Produce and
analyse SPC Board reports, performance reports and dashboards.
- Support practices
to achieve maximum QOF, Enhanced Services, PCN income and other contractual
- Identify
performance issues and implement corrective actions where required.
- Use data to drive
improvement and support operational decision-making.
Estates and Facilities
- Oversee management
of premises across all sites.
- Ensure compliance
with health and safety, fire safety and estates requirements.
- Manage maintenance
contracts and premises improvement projects.
- Support business
continuity and emergency planning arrangements.
Freedom to Act
- Operates
independently within agreed organisational policies and objectives.
-
Accountable for a major Primary Care provider, and the
delivery of services within sustainable resourcing
- Exercises
professional judgement in resolving operational issues across multiple
practices.
- Escalates
significant risks, financial concerns or performance issues to the SCFT Deputy
Chief Operating Officer.
- Responsible for
operational decisions affecting the SPC GP practices and associated services.
Patient/client care
-
Accountable to the Trust for the delivery of SPC services
-
Demonstrates outstanding patient commitment by putting
the patient at the centre of decision making, and by regularly engaging with
patients and service users through regular service visits
-
Demonstrates a commitment to the quality of care
provided by the Trust and quality of outcomes, by driving innovation, clinical
excellence, and performance
-
Proactively seeks out benchmarking and other external
resources to improve clinical quality and instigates improvements as a result
-
Effectively prioritises patient safety and experience
through building outstanding relationships with clinical staff and teams
-
Works with senior leadership team to ensure learning
from complaints, incidents and serious incidents is embedded within SPC
-
Promotes equality and diversity, and dignity and
respect of patients and carers as central to all aspects of the services
provided
-
Exercises responsibility for ensuring the equality and
diversity agenda is delivered and maintained, ensuring compliance with
legislation and SPC policies
-
Assesses implications of national initiatives affecting
care delivery and ensure plans of action are implemented
-
Ensures that that there is a strong culture of risk
assessment and management, including adherence to relevant policies and
procedures
-
Ensures that staff comply with Trust policies,
procedures and guidelines, taking remedial action where this is not the case
-
Works with senior leadership team to ensure clinical
engagement, taking responsibility for quality governance, safety and risk
management
Responsibility for information
resources
-
Uses software to develop performance management reports
-
Responsible for performance management and managing the
operation of several services
-
Implements appropriate performance monitoring and
management processes to ensure that all aspects of operational performance and
delivery are assessed and takes remedial action where agreed performance is not
achieved
-
Ensures the Primary Care and its constituent services
achieve all internal and external performance targets and proactively overcomes
obstacles to achieving goals and objectives
-
Proactively identifies operational risks and
opportunities and briefs the Chief Operating Officer as necessary
Partnership Working
-
Build strong relationships with the SPC Practice
Managers, GP and Clinical Leads and multidisciplinary team
-
Represent Sussex Primary Care at Place, Integrated Care
System and regional forums, influencing the development of primary and
community care services and ensuring organisational priorities are reflected
within system plans.
-
Lead strategic relationships with commissioners,
Primary Care Networks, provider collaboratives, local authorities and partner
organisations to identify opportunities for service development, integration
and organisational growth.
Sussex
Primary Care (SPC) manages six GP surgeries across Sussex with a combined list
size of £48,500 patients. The business is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sussex
Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) and was set up to support GP practices
looking for a different way of working, forming a unique and innovative
partnership between GP services and NHS community services.
Our
practices are geographically spread out across East and West Sussex, offering a
wide variety of experiences with serving different parts of the Sussex
footprint in urban and rural areas..
Were
an organisation committed to learning from our staff and patients, through
which we can deliver excellence care in or communities.
You can find out more about SPC here www.sussexprimarycare.co.uk
Experience
Essential
- In-depth professional and specialist primary care operational management experience acquired through training and experience over a significant period
- Significant experience of monitoring, analysing and assessing clinical operational performance across complex services
- Experience of managing multiple teams and services.
- Experience of budget management and financial monitoring.
- Experience of performance management and service improvement.
- Experience of staff management, recruitment and employee relations.
- Experience of drafting complex strategic business plans
- Experience of working within a highly dynamic and complex primary care environment
- Experience of working in partnership with other agencies, service users, carers, the public, regulators, local scrutiny bodies etc.
- Experience of leading successful complex change management projects and programmes, involving and supporting teams and individuals to achieve objectives
- Experience of managing risk within a complex operating environment including risk assessment, risk mitigation and risk management
- Experience of strategic assessment, choice and implementation including innovative thinking and the ability to explore imaginative ways of optimising use of resources.
- Experience of co-producing service improvement ideas with stakeholders including service users and staff
- Experience of interacting with system leaders, and senior teams within Integrated Health and Care systems, other NHS providers and other provider partners
- Experience of governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.
Desirable
- Experience managing multiple GP practices
- Experience supporting CQC inspections.
- Experience working within a Primary Care Network
- Experience of estates and facilities management
- Experience of negotiating contracts
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree level qualification or equivalent management experience.
- Management qualification or demonstrable equivalent experience.
- Evidence of continuous professional development
- Formal Leadership Development
- Project Management qualification
- Primary Care Management qualification
Skill, Knowledge and Attributes
Essential
- Detailed understanding of NHS primary care services
- Strong leadership and people management skills
- Thrives in challenging environments
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skill
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple sites
- Knowledge of NHS Human Resource Policies and Procedures
- Advanced knowledge of clinical and operational governance and its application to the services
- Knowledge of multidisciplinary team working and an understanding of differing professional roles boundaries
- Detailed knowledge of GP contracts, QOF and enhanced services
- Understanding of CQC regulations and quality standards.
- Knowledge of NHS contractual arrangements and planning approaches
- Ability to monitor and maintain standards of care across a range of clinical services
- Ability to identify, assess and manage complex clinical and operational risks
- Able to translate complex information and make it meaningful to staff at all levels and across all professions both verbally and in writing
- Able to assimilate organisational and local strategy and communicate this in a compelling way
- Ability to deal with competing demands, priorities and deadlines whilst managing operational imperatives and frequent interruptions
- Ability to engage stakeholders through discussion, presentation and direct liaison
- The ability to rapidly assimilate and synthesise complex dynamic information, and formulate a response which takes into account organisational strategy and corporate priorities
- Able to provide visible, credible leadership, and inspire staff from a range of backgrounds to perform well.
Desirable
- Change management and project delivery experience.
- Experience using SystmOne or equivalent systems.
How to apply
Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.
Provenance
Source
NHS Jobs
First seen
25 August 2026
Last checked
27 August 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
NHS organisation
This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.
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