PCN Manager & Digital Transformation Lead

The PCN Manager & Digital Transformation Lead will provide strategic and operational leadership across the Primary Care Network (PCN), ensuring the effective delivery of PCN priorities, contractual requirements, workforce initiatives, partnership working and service development.

Alongside core PCN management responsibilities, the postholder will lead the PCN’s digital transformation agenda, identifying opportunities to improve patient access, clinical pathways, workforce productivity, data quality and operational efficiency through effective use of digital technology and innovation.

The role will work closely with the PCN Clinical Director, GP practices, multidisciplinary teams, ICB colleagues, community and voluntary-sector partners, and other stakeholders to develop and implement sustainable improvements across the PCN.

The postholder will be expected to balance strategic leadership with hands-on operational management, ensuring that agreed plans are translated into measurable improvements for patients, practices and staff., 1. PCN Leadership and Management

• Provide effective day-to-day management and coordination of PCN activities.
• Support the PCN Clinical Director and PCN Board in delivering the PCN’s strategic priorities.
• Develop and maintain the PCN operational plan, ensuring objectives, milestones and responsibilities are clearly defined.
• Coordinate PCN meetings, ensuring effective agendas, papers, actions and follow-up.
• Monitor delivery against PCN objectives, contracts, service specifications and agreed priorities.
• Prepare reports, performance updates and briefing papers for the PCN Board and relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate PCN workforce programmes, ensuring effective integration of additional roles and multidisciplinary teams.
• Support recruitment, onboarding and development of PCN staff where appropriate.
• Develop effective working relationships across member practices and promote collaborative ways of working.
• Identify operational risks and develop appropriate mitigation plans.
• Maintain appropriate governance, policies, procedures and documentation.

1. Digital Transformation Leadership * Lead the development and implementation of the PCN’s digital transformation strategy. * Identify opportunities to use technology to improve patient access, experience, safety and outcomes. * Work with practices and clinical teams to understand current processes and identify opportunities for digital improvement. * Lead digital projects from initial scoping through implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement. * Evaluate and support the introduction of appropriate digital tools, systems and technologies. * Promote effective use of existing digital systems and ensure that opportunities to maximise their functionality are identified. * Support the development of digital-first pathways while ensuring that patients who require alternative routes of access are not disadvantaged. * Work with clinical and operational teams to redesign processes around patient needs rather than simply digitising existing processes. * Support interoperability and effective information sharing between PCN practices and partner organisations. * Monitor the impact of digital initiatives using appropriate data and performance measures. * Ensure digital projects have clear objectives, benefits, ownership, implementation plans and evaluation measures. * Act as the PCN’s key point of contact for digital transformation initiatives and relevant external programmes.

2. Service Improvement and Transformation * Lead and facilitate service redesign and continuous improvement projects across the PCN. * Use data, feedback and stakeholder insight to identify areas for improvement. * Map current processes and develop improved future-state processes. * Support practices to implement standardised approaches where this would improve quality, efficiency or patient experience. * Develop business cases and options appraisals for new services, technologies and transformation initiatives. * Identify opportunities to reduce duplication, administrative burden and unwarranted variation. * Support a culture of innovation, learning and continuous improvement. * Ensure changes are evaluated and lessons are shared across the PCN.

3. Data, Performance and Reporting * Develop and maintain appropriate PCN performance dashboards and reporting systems. * Monitor key performance indicators and provide regular updates to the PCN Board. * Use data to identify trends, variation, opportunities and areas requiring intervention. * Support practices and PCN teams to improve data quality and completeness. * Ensure that digital and transformation projects have measurable outcomes. * Produce reports for the PCN, ICB and other stakeholders as required. * Translate complex data and performance information into clear recommendations for clinical and operational teams.

4. Partnership and Stakeholder Working * Develop strong working relationships with PCN member practices and their teams. * Work collaboratively with the ICB, local NHS organisations, local authority, community services, voluntary-sector organisations and other partners. * Represent the PCN at relevant meetings and forums. * Develop effective relationships with digital, transformation, IT and service improvement teams. * Facilitate communication and collaboration between practices and partner organisations. * Support the PCN Clinical Director and Board in developing relationships with wider system partners.

5. Governance, Risk and Compliance * Ensure PCN activities are delivered within appropriate governance frameworks. * Maintain effective project, risk and issue management processes. * Ensure appropriate consideration is given to information governance, confidentiality, data protection and cyber security within digital projects. * Support appropriate equality, accessibility and inclusion considerations when developing new services and digital pathways. * Maintain accurate records of decisions, actions, risks and project outcomes. * Escalate significant risks and issues appropriately.

6. Financial and Resource Management * Support the PCN Clinical Director and Board with financial planning and monitoring. * Monitor expenditure against agreed PCN budgets and identify potential financial pressures. * Support procurement and implementation of digital products and services in accordance with relevant processes. * Ensure transformation projects demonstrate appropriate value for money. * Identify opportunities for efficiencies and reinvestment through service redesign and digital transformation.

7. Change Management and Staff Engagement * Lead and support organisational change across the PCN. * Engage staff and clinical teams early in the development and implementation of new initiatives. * Communicate the purpose, benefits and impact of proposed changes effectively. * Identify barriers to implementation and develop practical solutions. * Support staff to adopt new systems, processes and ways of working. * Promote a positive culture towards innovation and improvement. * Share learning and successful approaches across the PCN., Performance in the role will be assessed against agreed PCN objectives, including: * Delivery of the PCN operational plan and agreed priorities. * Successful delivery of PCN projects and programmes within agreed timescales. * Effective implementation and adoption of digital transformation initiatives. * Demonstrable improvements in patient access and experience. * Improvements in operational efficiency and workforce productivity. * Effective delivery and integration of PCN workforce programmes. * Improved use and quality of data across the PCN. * Effective stakeholder and practice engagement. * Delivery of measurable benefits from transformation projects. * Effective financial, governance and risk management. * Evidence of continuous improvement and innovation across the PCN.

Scope of the Role

This is a combined PCN management and transformation leadership role. The postholder will be expected to operate at both strategic and operational levels, working closely with the PCN Clinical Director and practices to ensure that the PCN not only delivers its contractual requirements but also develops new and sustainable models of care.

The role will have a particular focus on using digital technology, data, service redesign and innovation to improve how the PCN operates and how patients access and experience primary care.

• Experience of managing projects, services or programmes within a healthcare or similarly complex organisation.
• Experience of working across multiple organisations, teams or professional groups.
• Experience of implementing service improvement or organisational change.
• Experience of managing competing priorities and delivering projects to agreed timescales.
• Experience of using data to monitor performance and support decision-making.
• Experience of working with digital systems and/or leading digital change.

Knowledge

• Good understanding of primary care and the wider NHS environment.
• Understanding of PCN structures, objectives and multidisciplinary working.
• Knowledge of service improvement and change-management methodologies.
• Understanding of information governance, confidentiality and data protection.
• Understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with digital transformation in healthcare., * Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Ability to build effective relationships across professional and organisational boundaries.
• Ability to analyse information and translate it into practical actions.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to influence and engage stakeholders without relying solely on formal authority.
• Confident presenting information to clinical, managerial and external audiences.
• Good IT and digital skills.

Desirable

• Experience of working within a PCN, general practice, ICB or other NHS primary care environment.
• Relevant qualification in healthcare management, business management, project management, digital transformation or service improvement.
• Formal project/change-management qualification or experience.
• Experience of implementing digital healthcare solutions.
• Experience of developing business cases and managing budgets.
• Knowledge of primary care digital systems and technologies.
• Experience of population health management and/or use of healthcare data., * Strategic thinking - able to see the wider PCN picture while understanding operational detail.
• Digital leadership - able to identify how technology can improve services rather than simply introduce new technology.
• Project delivery - able to turn ideas into structured, measurable and sustainable programmes of work.
• Collaboration - able to bring together practices, clinicians, staff and external partners around shared objectives.
• Change leadership - able to engage people, manage resistance and support adoption of new ways of working.
• Commercial awareness - able to understand budgets, resources, procurement and value for money.
• Data-driven decision making - able to use evidence and performance information to inform priorities.
• Communication - able to communicate effectively with clinical, managerial, administrative and external stakeholders.
• Patient-centred approach - ensures that transformation improves patient experience, access, quality and outcomes.