Sam Williamson

Responsible for operational management of a large GP practice, supporting the Practice Manager in the delivery of safe, efficient and compliant services.

Key responsibilities include:

• Operational leadership of approximately 15–20 administrative and reception staff, including performance management, workforce planning, training and development.
• Supporting senior leadership with financial monitoring, budgeting decisions and contract performance.
• Leading recruitment and onboarding processes, including workforce planning, interviewing and staff development.
• Managing HR processes, including staff performance, absence management, disciplinary support and wellbeing.
• Oversight of regulatory compliance, governance processes and operational policies.
• Leading digital transformation initiatives, ensuring clinical and administrative systems operate efficiently.
• Acting as IT and digital lead, providing advanced system support and implementing improvements to digital workflows.
• Handling patient complaints and complex enquiries, ensuring issues are resolved appropriately and lessons learned are implemented.
• Monitoring service performance against contractual and operational targets and producing reports for leadership review.
• Coordinating operational responses to emerging pressures and supporting the practice through periods of high demand.

• I am a key player in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the surgery. I understand the importance of having a well-organised and well-functioning team.
• My role includes offering administrative support, where I assist with tasks such as preparing medical reports, responding to patient inquiries, and read coding letters from secondary care and other services
• I also support with the management of the practice finances and monitor the achievement of key targets and contracts, including the Quality and Outcome Framework (QoF), and the Primary Care Network Directed Enhanced Service to list some examples.
• Responsible for recruiting and managing the Reception and Administration staff
• I serve as the main point of contact with external organisations, attending meetings on behalf of the practice, and establishing strong working relationships with other services and teams
• I keep track of supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment, vaccinations, and other consumables, and ensure that we are always adequately stocked
• With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, I play a crucial role in handling related enquiries and ensuring that every eligible patient has been offered the opportunity to receive the necessary vaccinations
• I am trained in adult and child CPR, anaphylaxis, and am certified as a Covid-19 vaccinator
• This knowledge and training enable me to provide valuable support to the team during these challenging times
• Furthermore, I am an Office 365 champion, having completed extensive training in Microsoft Office This has equipped me with advanced knowledge of the software and its features, which I am able to demonstrate and teach to other members of staff
• As the Practice Digital / IT lead, I am responsible for ensuring that our digital systems and processes are running smoothly, and I provide technical support and service as needed

• As a member of the COVID-19 Local Vaccination Service within our PCN, I share this role with two other practice managers from other surgeries within the network, our responsibilities rotate on a weekly basis
• My role involves ensuring full staffing for each vaccination clinic by communicating with the practice managers from all PCN practices and recruiting additional volunteers
• I also work closely with local rotary volunteers to secure their assistance
• Before each clinic, I prepare the site by ensuring it is fully stocked with equipment and refreshments for staff
• I oversee the setup and closing of the site
• Additionally, I train and educate all staff members on current guidance and ensure they feel confident in their role
• I also handle any patient queries or complaints at the reception desk
• During the clinic, I assist the clinical lead by monitoring the number of doses remaining and patients still to be vaccinated, reducing waste and maximizing the usage of vaccines within their limited expiry window
• I support in verifying that each patient receiving a vaccine is eligible and suitable to receive the vaccine on the day
• I assist in planning special vaccination services, including home visits, school vaccinations, larger sites during high demand, and pop-up sites to reach homeless patients
• In times of exceptional demand, I am able to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to patients.

• As part of my role as Administrator for Lancashire and South Cumbria Primary Care Training hub. I assist in maintaining the training hub's website ensuring that all staff across Lancashire and South Cumbria have access to well presented and clear information on the free to access training offers provided by the Training Hub.
• Support in the commissioning of new training offers for the training hub, researching and liaising with providers, planning sessions and advertising targeted offers to relevant staff.
• Assisting practice managers and staff book onto session, providing advise on necessary training.
• Minute taking
• Member of the admin and clerical steering group, where I contribute to discussions on potential investment opportunities for non-clinical staff across the area, using my administrative and clerical experience as a front line point of view
• I also support the senior management team in building reports and presentations for KPI's - this includes gathering and analysing data to help drive performance and reach organisational goals.