Primary Care Network (PCN) Manager

Primary Care Network (PCN) Manager

The closing date is 20 July 2026

Are you an experienced healthcare leader looking for an opportunity to shape the future of primary care? Childwall & Wavertree PCN is seeking a motivated and strategic Primary Care Network Manager to lead organisational transformation, governance, finance and workforce initiatives across our network of eight GP practices serving approximately 48,000 patients in South Liverpool. This is a role to work alongside Clinical Directors, the PCN Board and practice teams to deliver innovative services, develop new models of neighbourhood healthcare, and support the PCN’s journey towards CQC registration.

We offer a collaborative and forward-thinking culture with access to the NHS Pension Scheme, professional development opportunities, flexible working arrangements and a strong local network of PCN leaders. We provide a rewarding setting where your ideas, expertise and leadership can thrive.

If you are a collaborative and values-driven leader who thrives on creating positive change for patients and communities, building relationships, and driving continuous improvement, we’d love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

The key aspects of the role include: Organisational strategy and development, Governance, Contract Management, Human Resources, and Financial Management.

This role involves working closely with the board of directors, PCN leadership team and practices to develop the organisational infrastructure of the PCN to reach its fullest potential. They will collaborate with patients and providers in health and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sectors to expand primary care services and enable the PCN to register with the CQC. The post holder will be on site at one of the member practices at a minimum of 50% of the time and must be able to travel between practices.

The PCN landscape is evolving with new demands and opportunities. This role suits a self-starter who can work autonomously and build strong relationships with key stakeholders across sectors. A high attention to detail and a commitment to an innovative and dynamic approach to organisational, service and staff development is expected.

About us

Childwall and Wavertree Network is a Primary Care Network made up of eight GP practices: Valley Medical Centre, Rutherford Medical Centre, Penny Lane Surgery, Greenbank Road Surgery, Greenbank Drive Surgery, Lance Lane Medical Centre, Beacon Health at Mossley Hill Surgery, and Storrsdale Medical Centre. We provide high quality, compassionate care for around 48,000 patients in South Liverpool.

Our mission is to deliver efficient, innovative, and high quality care, ensuring excellence in every aspect of our service. We believe that happy, supported staff lead to happy patients, and we are committed to fostering an environment where both staff and patients thrive. With general practice at our core, we aim to support and empower healthcare practices, driving positive outcomes for all.

Our multidisciplinary team includes GPs, Clinical Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Practice Nurses, Nurse Associates, Social Prescribers, Health and Wellbeing Coaches, Mental Health Practitioners, First Contact Physiotherapists, Physician Assistants and Neurodevelopmental Practitioners. We also support three aligned care homes: Oak Springs Care Home, Stapley Residential and Nursing Home, and Prince Alfred Residential Care Home.

As a recognised Unified Learning Environment, we are committed to staff development and fostering a fair, supportive workplace where contributions are valued and excellent patient care is central to everything we do.

Job responsibilities

Organisational development and strategy

• Work closely with PCN Clinical Director, PCN Operations Manager, GP Leads and Practice Managers to identify suitable projects, undertake gap analysis, scope and develop project plans
• Develop and manage an overall transformation plan for the PCN, including identifying interdependencies, managing risks, considering the potential impacts on the wider organisation, and determining resource requirements
• Advise on innovative opportunities and support practices to maximise benefits from innovation, through sharing learning and best practice
• Support the network and practices to effectively use existing and new technology systems and products to enable improvement
• Drive planning and prioritisation of changes that will improve delivery of care and patient and staff experience in the practices within the PCN
• Undertake research/investigations to prepare briefing reports on complex topics and communicate findings to the relevant parties including at Board level
• Provide hands-on capacity and support to practices and the network in implementing and sustaining agreed changes
• Drive continuous improvement across the PCN
• Take a data-driven approach to understand challenges, identify solutions and track the impacts of changes
• Present and communicate data to practices and PCN staff at all levels to explain operational challenges
• Work with the ICS to identify relevant data sets and support standardisation of measures for understanding change and improvement in general practice
• Interpret data and highlight variation to support open discussion about where variation is and is not warranted
• Seek and secure analytical resource as required to support data and information sharing mechanisms
• Collate feedback/analysis data for reporting to the ICB and other organisations and analyse service specifications, performance indicators and data collection requirements

Governance

• Prepare the organisation and apply for CQC Registration
• Lead to ensure the Network complies with relevant legislation including GDPR, Health and Safety, and Human Resources
• Maintain knowledge of key policies from DHSC, NHS England and other government departments, and support PCN staff to interpret these locally
• Work with the local ICB to support overall primary care transformation strategies, including digital transformation strategies and their delivery
• Support the PCN and member practices to adapt and apply policies to local needs and prioritise initiatives based on local requirements
• Ensure shareholder agreements, network agreements, data sharing agreements and other governance documents are up to date
• Ensure policy documents are up to date
• Accountable for high quality and effective management and administration of the PCN Board and Board Committees

Contract management

• Lead the review of contracts and documentation and ensure they are agreed and signed off in a timely manner
• Support service delivery by acting as a conduit between third-party service providers and the PCN and its member practices
• Ensure delivery plans align with GP contract/DES specifications, including writing plans and business cases
• Report and monitor PCN performance against contract requirements including clinical reports and other reporting

Human resources

• Maintain a robust governance structure for the business
• Support HR duties such as sickness management, leave requests, recruitment and onboarding
• Undertake training needs assessments and provide training opportunities alongside appraisals and personal development plans
• Work with PCN Clinical Director to develop budgets aligned to income streams
• Manage delegated budgets and ensure best impact from well-managed finances
• Authorize and approve operational services spend with appropriate allocation of funds
• Ensure financial risks are recognised and acted upon
• Coordinate submission of monthly/quarterly financial claims to maximise cash flow
• Manage monthly payroll activity
• Communications and engagement
• Build strong relationships with practices and stakeholders across the PCN to support quality improvement
• Be the first point of contact for Practice Managers on PCN projects
• Develop engagement in line with shared purpose and priorities
• Design a communication strategy for the network and maintain good working relationships with all practices
• Develop systems for effective communication and cooperation between practices, staff, and the PCN
• Ensure changes align with clinical priorities and have ownership from clinical leaders and staff
• Share best practice and learning from other areas
• Connect with the ICS and other organisations to plan and deliver changes across general practice
• Lead or participate in relevant forums, working groups and service meetings
• Support integration of ARRS staff across the PCN and community
• Engage in continual professional development and adhere to policies including safeguarding, information governance, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety
• Establish strong working relationships with GPs and practice teams
• Be flexible and carry out other duties as reasonably required
• Contribute to the wider aims of the PCN to improve and support primary care
• Competitive salary package with access to NHS Pensions Scheme
• Support for professional development and training
• Flexible working options
• Access to a supportive network of PCN Managers in Liverpool

Person Specification

Experience

• Minimum of 12 months experience in a senior management and leadership level
• Experience delivering change and improvement programmes in a patient-facing environment
• Experience within the NHS or a senior strategic role in public or voluntary sector
• Experience interpreting system-level policy into tangible delivery plans
• Experience managing a diverse team with multiple targets
• Financial and budgetary management experience
• Experience developing services at scale with general practices or cross-sector services
• Experience working in general practice with knowledge of GP systems, processes and procedures
• Knowledge of regulatory and contractual frameworks for primary care contracts
• Experience managing a Care Quality Commission registered organisation
• Confident speaking on primary care topics and advising on national primary care policy and development
• Experience writing business cases and service bids for funding
• Experience championing diversity and inclusion

Other

• Meets DBS standards and has a clear criminal record
• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality
• Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion

Qualifications

• Degree level education or experience as a Senior Manager within NHS/public services
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Masters level education
• Leadership programme or demonstrated leadership practical application
• Project Management Qualification or equivalent experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires submission for Disclosure to the DBS to check for any previous convictions.

Employer name

Childwall and Wavertree Primary Care Network

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working, Compressed hours

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