Lead Practice Nurse

Job summary

Due to retirement, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a practice nurse to join our nursing team.

We are looking for a highly capable, organised, enthusiastic and motivated person. The successful candidate will provide clinical leadership to the nursing team, supporting the delivery of high quality, safe and effective patient care.

The successful candidate will lead the management of long-term conditions, screening programmes, oversee infection prevention and control standard and contribute to the ongoing development of nursing services within the practice. They will play a key role in supporting the nursing team and will help to develop their skills.

We would be keen for the successful candidate to have their prescribing qualification but this is not essential.

The role is part time, we are looking for 24 - 28 hours to be worked over 3 days. These hours are negotiable.

Main duties of the job

Main duties are as follow:

• Provide clinical leadership to the nursing team and support high quality delivery of patient care. Support nurses, nurse associates, healthcare assistants and student nurses through supervision and mentorship
• Act as the practice infection prevention and control lead, ensuring compliance with national and local standards
• Lead the management of patients with long term conditions, including Diabetes, Asthma, COPD, Heart Failure
• Deliver chronic disease reviews, child immunisations, vaccinations, cervical screening and health promotion activities
• Contribute to clinical audits and service development projects
• Support the practice QOF achievement

About us

Gainford Surgery is a well established GP surgery located between Barnard Castle and Darlington. Our surgery is proud to have received a 100% approval rating in the 2026 national GP patient survey, reflecting our commitment to high quality, patient centred care and a supportive working environment.

Our practice list size is approximately 3800 patients. We currently have 3 GP partners, 1 GP registrar, 1 Lead practice nurse, 1 practice nurse and 1 HCA.

We work within the Teesdale PCN and through the PCN we also benefit from working with pharmacists, first contact physiotherapists, mental health support workers (adult and children), nurse associates, care coordinators and social prescribers.

Job responsibilities

The Lead Practice Nurse will be responsible for the clinical management of the practice nursing team, consisting of nurses and HCAs. The role is to support, mentor and supervise the nursing team and other healthcare professionals within the organisation.

The post-holder supports public health and screening programs, including infection prevention and control, chronic disease management, immunisations, health promotion and prevention, well man/woman clinics and cervical screening. Furthermore, they embed population health management approaches within general practice, targeting health inequalities and improving access.

See attached document for full job description.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• 1) Registered nurse with current NMC registration
• 2) Experience of working within general practice or primary care
• 3) Qualified to deliver the management of chronic diseases including diabetes, asthma and COPD
• 4) Qualified to deliver cervical screening
• 5) Qualified to deliver childhood immunisations
• 6) Qualifed to deliver vaccinations including travel
• 7) Knowledge of quality outcome framework (QOF)

Desirable

• 1) Qualified prescriber
• 2) Knowledge of SystmOne
• 3) Qualified as an IPC lead