Lead General Practice Nurse in Lenham

The Lead General Practice Nurse is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe and effective nursing care to the entire practice population. They are accountable for the overall delivery of nursing services and lead the general practice nursing team. Working closely with the GPs and the Practice Manager, the Lead Nurse manages all nursing resources to support the practice's priorities. Clinically, the role focuses on delivering evidence-based care for patients with both acute and chronic conditions, as well as implementing preventative nursing interventions for all patients.

The Lead Nurse collaborates with the wider practice team to meet patient needs, support service delivery, and provide clear leadership and direction for the nursing team.

Main duties of the job

• The role involves delivering safe, evidence-based, cost-effective care across a wide range of services.
• Key responsibilities include managing long-term conditions, undertaking medication reviews, and delivering nurse-led clinics for areas such as diabetes, asthma, COPD, and CHD.
• You will provide immunisations, vaccinations, travel health advice, cytology, wound care, venepuncture, health screening, and lifestyle education, as well as supporting minor surgery.
• You will contribute to practice performance targets and quality improvement, maintain accurate clinical records in line with NMC standards, and ensure safe storage and administration of medicines and vaccines.
• The role also involves making appropriate referrals, working closely with the wider multidisciplinary team, and supporting patients to self-manage their health and wellbeing.
• In addition, you will support teaching and mentoring of students and junior staff, contribute to appraisals, and share learning across the team.

Professional requirements

• Maintaining NMC registration, engaging in CPD and mandatory training, and promoting evidence-based practice.

Managerial responsibilities

• Supporting service development, contributing to protocol design, managing rotas, leave and appraisals, and acting as a role model within the nursing team.

About us

Len Valley Practice is a friendly forward-thinking GP surgery based in the historic village of Lenham, Kent, caring for just over ten thousand patients across Lenham and Harrietsham. The practice is led by five GP partners supported by salaried GPs, GP registrars, a strong nursing team, healthcare assistants, pharmacists, physiotherapy and paramedic practitioners, as well as skilled administrative and dispensary staff. We provide a wide range of primary care services including long-term condition management, immunisations, maternity and family planning, minor surgery, health screening, and treatment of illness or injury. Rated Good by the Care Quality Commission, the practice is committed to delivering safe, effective, and patient-centred care. We pride ourselves on being an approachable, supportive, and community-focused organisation with a strong emphasis on teamwork, professional development, and delivering high-quality care for all.

Job responsibilities

• Responsible to: GP Partners (clinically), Practice Manager (managerially)
• Location: Len Valley Practice
• Contract Type: Full-time
• Salary: Band 7

Job summary

The Lead General Practice Nurse is responsible for safe and effective nursing care across the practice population. They lead the nursing team, manage resources, and deliver evidence-based care for acute and long-term conditions, as well as preventative interventions. The role provides clinical leadership, supports service delivery, and works with the wider practice team to ensure high-quality, patient-centred care.

Scope and Purpose

• Lead and develop nursing services.
• Provide clinical leadership and guidance.
• Manage a personal caseload for acute and chronic conditions.
• Review medication in line with protocols.
• Prioritise complex or urgent needs and initiate emergency care.
• Deliver advanced evidence-based care.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

• Provide safe, cost-effective, individualised care.
• Assess, diagnose, treat and refer patients appropriately.
• Lead nurse-led services in chronic disease management.
• Conduct medication reviews and maintain disease registers.
• Provide immunisations, cytology, wound care, travel advice, and health screening.
• Undertake procedures such as venepuncture, spirometry, and BP management.
• Support minor surgery and promote health education.
• Prescribe safely where qualified.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records in line with NMC standards.
• Contribute to achieving practice targets and contractual obligations.

Teaching and Mentoring

• Support learning for patients, staff, and students.
• Share knowledge and best practice within the team.
• Undertake appraisals for the nursing team.

Professional

• Attend practice and external meetings.
• Maintain NMC registration and personal CPD.
• Meet statutory and mandatory training requirements.
• Promote evidence-based practice and quality assurance.
• Work to the NMC Code and relevant health policies.
• Demonstrate leadership, equality, and diversity good practice.

Managerial

• Act as team leader and role model.
• Support service development and protocol design.
• Contribute to management meetings and quality improvement.
• Prioritise workloads and ensure effective time management.
• Manage rotas, leave, appraisals, and team development.

Terms and Conditions

• This post is superannuable and subject to satisfactory health clearance.
• An enhanced DBS check is required.
• Must hold full NMC registration.
• All staff must comply with Data Protection, Health and Safety, and practice policies.
• The job description may be reviewed and updated as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

• Desirable: Specialist qualifications in chronic disease, cytology, travel medicine, prescribing, or mentorship.

Skills and Experience

• Essential: Minimum 5 years post-registration, 2 years in primary care, experience of chronic disease management, immunisations, cytology, and wound care. Leadership and teaching experience, strong communication and organisational skills.
• Desirable: Experience in education, protocol implementation, team leadership, change management.

Behaviours

• Motivated, reliable, flexible, good team worker.
• Able to lead, mentor, and manage under pressure.
• Commitment to professional development and equality.

Other Requirements

• Full driving licence and access to a car.
• Fitness to meet manual handling and travel demands.
• Ability to manage emotional and distressing situations.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Adult nursing qualification.
• Qualified to degree level.
• Clinical supervision training and experience.
• Be subject to an enhanced CRB check with satisfactory outcome.
• Holding or working towards qualifications in family planning, asthma, diabetes, CHD, and cytology.
• Independent and/or supplementary nurse prescribing qualification.
• Community nursing specialist qualification or equivalent.
• Extended and supplementary prescribing qualification.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years post-registration experience.
• At least 2 years recent primary and community nursing experience.
• Understanding of the role of the practice nurse.
• Experience in nurse-led management of chronic conditions.
• Experience in implementing protocols and clinical guidelines.
• Clinical leadership skills.
• Skills in management of staff and teams.
• Good time management, punctual, able to manage and prioritise workload.
• Clinical skills: cervical cytology, immunisation and vaccination, wound care including ABPI.
• Change-management skills and ability to support patients to change lifestyle.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work unsupervised.
• Ability to communicate difficult messages to patients and families.
• Teaching and mentorship experience in a clinical setting.

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.