Practice Managers are integral to the smooth and effective running of a GP practice. Depending on the size of the practice, the manager will be involved with a wide range of activities, such as strategic business planning, finance, HR, training and IT.
Although it is not necessary to hold a qualification in health care management or have experience within the health service before taking on this role, most practice managers have experience of management in some context and in particular experience of finance and of managing people.
Practice Managers are not required to hold a registerable qualification, however, the Institute of General Practice Management are working towards a formal accreditation process that is recognised nationally.
Other registration bodies that provide both membership and training pathways –
- AMSPAR Education & Health Academy – https://www.amspar.org
- Institute of Leadership & Management – https://www.i-l-m.com
- Chartered Management Institute – https://www.managers.org.uk
- Institute of Health & Social Care Management – https://ihm.org.uk
Leadership and Management qualifications can also be obtained through apprenticeships–
- Level 5 – Operations/Departmental Manager
- Level 6 – Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship
- Level 7 – Senior Leader Apprenticeship
The NHS Leadership Academy, also has programmes that are designed to help everyone in the NHS discover their full leadership potential https://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk