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Services
Support
Competency Framework
The framework is designed to be completed by Partners or Primary Care Managers to check that all roles within the practice or Primary Care Network (PCN) are assigned to members of the team and to what level those members are or need to be operating at.
It is a helpful tool and a way to identify any missing areas across the practice or PCN team.
Please note that a practice/PCN/individual can be performing at any of the three levels in each of the areas. Levels are simply in place to identify any areas where actions might be identified in terms of succession planning, development or organisational structure changes.
The framework is reviewed and updated annually.
Peer Appraisal
The PCMA have trained Peer Appraisers, whose biographies are available on request. We offer Peer Appraisals to Primary Care Managers.
As we know and appreciate there are greater expectations and demands on Primary Care Managers and their professionalism, capabilities, knowledge, and skills. If Managers are to meet the challenges of the ever-changing NHS, they must be more competent than ever before and have the knowledge and skills to deal with the quantity, chaos, and complexity of information relevant to their eclectic role and responsibilities.
Peer Appraisals can help Managers to effectively evaluate their role, achievements and areas for professional improvement.
It is important that it is recognised from the outset that this appraisal process is not to replace a performance review. Peer Appraisal is for reflection on the manager’s work and approach, it is to help identify areas for improvement and development and to demonstrate areas where improvement and development has already been made.
If a practice would like to use some of the evidence from the appraisal to form part of a performance review, then, with the appraisee’s permission, the summary of the appraisal and the personal development plan agreed with the appraiser can form useful evidence for this review.
Survey
Access to a survey link for all Practice Managers and a summary of the results that will enable useful discussion about who your managers are (age, experience), what their challenges are and what support would be helpful.
Mentoring
The purpose of mentoring is to tap into the existing knowledge, skills, and experience of another Practice Manager and transfer these skills to newer or potentially less experienced manager in order to advance their careers.
Mentors are available to cover all aspects of Practice Management and would usually work on one specific area at a time, these might be Premises Development, Accounting and Finance, Governance or HR issues.
Experienced Practice Managers are required to fulfil the mentor role.
Practice Manager Recruitment, Induction, Mentoring and Review
A package of support for practices recruiting a new Practice Manager through four stages of recruiting.
- Recruiting
- Appointing
- Inducting
- Supporting a new Practice Manager
Including confirming job roles and responsibilities, selection for interview, interviews, induction, mentoring, probationary review and annual review.
Parts of this package can be purchased individually and costed accordingly.
Training
Practice Manager Induction Course for new and/or Aspiring Practice Managers
The Practice Manager Induction Course is an interactive face-to-face course which has been written for new and/or aspiring Practice Managers. Participants are encouraged to collect evidence throughout the two-day programme and are given a copy of all of the course materials.
Items covered will include:
- The changing face of General Practice
- Background to the NHS
- NHS Structure
- Funding streams and commissioners
- Type of contract
- Payroll
- NHS Pension Scheme
- Understanding General Practice accounts
- Profit shares and tax liabilities
- Partnerships/Salaried/Locums – the difference
- and the pitfalls
- The Training and Teaching Practice
- Private Fees
- Premises
- Practice Manager/Business Manager/Managing Partner
- An overview of Employment Law
- Whistleblowing
- Complaints and Significant Events
- CQC
This is not an exhaustive list, and participants will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns or issues they have during the course.
Coaching Skills for Managers
This two-half-day face-to-face workshop is designed to help managers embed coaching skills into their daily practice.
You’ll learn how to:
- Improve staff performance through effective coaching
- Encourage staff ownership and responsibility
- Transform your role from ‘fixer’ to an ‘enabler’
- Apply coaching techniques in your day-to-day role
Learning objectives:
- Understand what coaching is (and isn’t)
- Recognise when a coaching approach is appropriate
- How to listen effectively
- Use active listening and effective open questions
- How to apply the GROW model for coaching
- How to incorporate coaching into everyday interactions
All delegates will receive a copy of course materials.
Bespoke Team Development Workshops
Building on the learning gained from DISC team profiling, follow on team development sessions can be designed and delivered to specifically meet the needs of that team.
Support can also be offered to help facilitate development sessions for teams using a combination of coaching and DISC skills along with other facilitator expertise.
The Building Blocks for Effective Management within General Practice
This 5-topic modular course covers the core skills to help anyone in a management role within general practice become a more effective and skilled manager, taking common management theories and tools and looking at the practical application on a day-to-day basis within a general practice environment.
Suitable for both new managers and more experienced managers looking for a refresher, these modules can either be booked as a complete course or as individual modules.
Each module is face-to-face and 3.5 hours long.
Learning objectives
- Understanding the role of a manager
- Explain the “management cycle”
- Learn how to set SMART objectives
- Learn how to give effective feedback
- Learn how to motivate others
- Learn how to develop others
- Learn how to manage yourself
- Increase your confidence when dealing with conflict and other common challenges
- Tools to help you delegate effectively and more confidently
- Tools to manage change
- Understand the difference between management and leadership
- Understanding the climate you create for others
- Understanding the power of influencing and networking
- Action planning for your own professional development
Modules
- Module 1 - Introduction to Management
- Module 2 - Managing Yourself as a Manager
- Module 3 - Motivating and Developing Your Team
- Module 4 - Managing Change Effectively
- Module 5 - Combining Management with Leadership
Lunch and Learn: The Hidden Roles we Play
Learning to spot the hidden roles that people intentionally or unintentionally play in the workplace is another important skill for managers to add to their toolkit. Once you can identify what dynamics are being played out either with yourself or between team members you can change your style to break the cycle and improve the situation.
In this 1.5-hour virtual session we will look at two of the most useful models for managers to be aware of:
- Parent / Adult / Child (Transactional Analysis)
- Victim / Persecutor / Rescuer (Kaplan Drama Triangle)
This will be an interactive session with opportunity for managers to discuss scenarios for each model in break-out rooms and share learning with each other.
Learning objectives
- Introduction to Transactional Analysis and Kaplan Drama Triangle models
- How to spot the roles people might be playing
- Tips for how to change the dynamics
Material for delegates
- Copies of slides
- Action planning template
Lunch and Learn: The Five Behaviours of a Cohesive Team
Effective team working has been shown to lead to improved patient outcomes in healthcare and in our own roles we all work in multiple teams whether within our practices or across practices.
In this session we will look at the 5 behaviours that Patrick Lencioni described as essential for cohesive and effective team working and gain insight into how a lack or low levels of these behaviours can detract from cohesive teamworking.
In this 1.5-hour virtual session we will breakdown the Lencioni model into the 5 behaviours and look at what can enable these behaviours and also what can stop them from being displayed.
This will be an interactive session with opportunity for delegates to consider how effectively the teams they work in are demonstrating these behaviours currently and where further development may be needed.
Learning objectives
- Introduction to Patrick Lencioni’s "Five Behaviours of a Cohesive Team" model
- Opportunity to reflect on the cohesiveness of own teams
- Action planning
Materials for delegates
- Copies of slides
- Action planning template
Lunch and Learn: Business Continuity
Planning for the future of your practice is one of the most important steps you can take however it’s often left until it feels urgent.
This virtual Lunch and Learn session is designed to give you the clarity, structure, and confidence to start planning ahead.
Join colleagues for a practical and collaborative session where we will:
- Understand the core principles of succession planning in general practice
- Explore practical steps, tools, and realistic timelines to support effective planning
- Share ideas, experiences, and examples from peers
- Reflect on your own practice needs and begin shaping a clear action outline
Whether you’re thinking about retirement, partnership changes, or long-term sustainability, this session will help you take meaningful first steps in a supportive environment.
Lunch and Learn: Succession Planning
Strong business planning is essential to building a resilient, sustainable general practice - but it can often feel complex or time-consuming. This virtual Lunch and Learn session is designed to simplify the process and give you practical tools you can actually use.
Join colleagues for an engaging and interactive session where we will:
- Understand the key principles of effective business planning in general practice
- Explore practical steps, tools, and timelines to support clear and achievable plans
- Share ideas, insights, and real examples from peers
- Reflect on your own practice priorities and begin developing a tailored action outline
Whether you’re reviewing your current direction or planning for future growth, this session will help you take a structured and confident approach.
Laser Coaching
Laser coaching sessions are designed to be a short, fast-paced intervention to help an individual focus on a specific issue within a 30-minute window, think it through from a wider perspective and identify at least one action that will help them move forward.
These sessions are delivered virtually.
Primary Care Management Academy Ltd
Company Number: 16091207
Company Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Rosebery Medical Centre, Rosebery Street, Loughborough, LEICS, LE11 5DX
Primary Care Management Academy Ltd is a not for profit company limited by guarantee
About Us
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