Primary Care Network (PCN) Manager in Reading

Join Our Primary Care Network as a PCN Manager. Are you an experienced, motivated leader with a passion for transforming primary care? We are seeking an exceptional Primary Care Network (PCN) Manager to lead the financial, operational and strategic delivery of our PCN. This is a key leadership role working alongside our Clinical Directors and member practices to drive innovation, improve patient outcomes, and ensure the successful delivery of NHS priorities.

Main duties of the job

Job Purpose: The PCN Manager will provide financial, operational and strategic management to the Primary Care Network. They will support the delivery of PCN objectives, contractual requirements (including the PCN DES), and the effective coordination of services across member practices. The role focuses on managing the overall PCN budget, maximising funding streams and opportunities, unifying member practices and managing a growing multidisciplinary workforce to reduce practice workloads and improve patient outcomes. The post holder will work collaboratively with GP practices, NHS partners, and wider stakeholders to ensure high-quality, sustainable primary care services. They will be responsible for HR and Management of all PCN staff, this will include staff located at specific general practices and those that work across the PCN.

About us: Wokingham North PCN comprises 3 local GP Surgeries: Parkside Family Surgery, Woodley Medical Centre and Wargrave Surgery with a combined population of around 38,000. Our vision is to create a patient care system that includes everyone. A system where member practices work closely together and in collaboration with health and social care, voluntary sectors, community groups and local people to deliver efficient and timely personalised care.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the PCN Clinical Director in the development and delivery of the PCN's strategic vision and operational plans.
• Coordinate and oversee the implementation of the PCN DES, including ARRS, IIF, and enhanced service delivery.
• Ensure PCN objectives align with ICs and local commissioning priorities.
• Support service development and transformation projects across the PCN.
• Monitor PCN performance against contractual requirements.
• Support data collection, reporting, and submission of returns.
• Identify risks to delivery and elaborate appropriately with mitigation plans.
• Oversee ARRS workforce funding, tracking, and reporting.
• Work with practice managers and finance leads to ensure appropriate financial governance.
• Support business case development and funding bids.
• Coordinate the recruitment, onboarding, and deployment of PCN staff.
• Provide operational oversight and coordination of PCN-employed staff.
• Support workforce planning across the PCN.
• Ensure ARRS roles meet eligibility and supervision requirements.
• Support effective PCN governance arrangements.
• Ensure compliance with information governance, data protection, and NHS policies.
• Support equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Coordinate responses to audits, reviews, and inspections.
• Act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support collaborative working across practices and with wider system partners.
• Represent the PCN at relevant meetings as required.

Financial Governance & Resource Allocation

• Budget Accountability: Oversee the PCN's overall budget and specialized funding streams, maintaining sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Monitor income and expenditure, ensuring financial sustainability. Provide regular financial reports to the PCN Board.
• Claims & Reimbursements: Coordinate the accurate and timely submission of monthly and quarterly financial claims (including ARRS claims and local incentive schemes) to ensure cash flow is maximized.
• Equitable Allocation: Work alongside finance leads to distribute resources and funding fairly among member practices in accordance with the Network Agreement.

Strategic Development & Stakeholder Engagement

• Support the Clinical Directors in developing and delivering the PCN strategy.
• Identify opportunities for service development and innovation.
• Act as project manager on new and existing initiatives and set out strong business plans, record progress, deliver reporting on performance and quality development reviews.
• Support long-term sustainability and transformation of primary care services.
• Act as the primary administrative bridge between individual Practice Managers, the Integrated Care Board (ICB), community health teams, mental health trusts, and voluntary organizations.
• Organize, chair, or facilitate PCN Board meetings; prepare comprehensive agendas, performance data, and ensure action logs are rigorously followed up.

Operational Management

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the PCN.
• Coordinate PCN services across member practices.
• Ensure effective systems, processes, and workflows are in place.

Workforce & HR (ARRS & PCN shared employees)

• Support recruitment and management of ARRS roles.
• Ensure effective onboarding, supervision structures, and utilisation.
• Support workforce planning aligned to population need.
• Work with practices on HR processes where required.

Performance & Quality

• Support delivery of Enhanced Access, IIF, and local targets.
• Drive continuous improvement through data and insight.
• Lead on quality improvement initiatives (including PDSA cycles).

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with CQC, data protection, and NHS standards.
• Lead on policies, SOPs, and governance framework.
• Manage risk registers and incident reporting processes.
• Support information governance and data security requirements.

Person Specification

Experience: Significant management experience within General Practice, Primary Care, or NHS settings. Strong understanding of PCN structures, ARRS funding mechanics, PCN DES, and NHS primary care commissioning. Strong financial awareness and budget management skills. Experience managing complex, multi-layered budgets. Exceptional communicator capable of uniting diverse stakeholders. Self-motivated, highly organized, and comfortable with ambiguity. High emotional intelligence and resilience. Direct experience as an NHS Practice Manager or PCN Manager. Background working within an Integrated Care System (ICS/ICB) environment. Excellent analytical and data handling skills. Knowledge of Xero accounting systems. Knowledge of Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliance standards.

Qualifications: Degree level education or equivalent vocational management experience.

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.