Supporting the process of appointing a Practice Manager
Acton Shapiro is regularly asked to help GP Practices in supporting the appointment of senior managers, such as Practice Managers, and also GP Partners and other clinicians.
One instruction for this type of work came in August 2008 from a consortium of three GP Practices in Sale, Manchester, who were in the process of a merger and co-location in new premises, which were being purpose-built for them. As a consequence, the Practices needed a top-level Executive Practice Manager/Director to reinforce their management team. The commission concluded in November 2008, when the new appointee took up post. Acton Shapiro’s role was to provide specialist independent support and expertise throughout the process. This enabled a speedy appointment to be made and also ensured that the consortium could avoid some of the legal and other pitfalls with making such appointments.
Acton Shapiro developed a timetable and series of related actions to underpin the appointment process. Key stages included:
- Developing a clear brief and role for the new appointment and encapsulating this within an agreed Job Description
- Creating a Person Specification, including identification of “essential” and “desirable” characteristics being sought
- Advertising in appropriate local and national media
- Facilitating and recording the outcome of shortlisting of the 25+ applications received
- Arranging for formal interviews – including ensuring that each candidate was systematically evaluated against the criteria set out in the Person Specification
- Facilitating the actual appointment of the successful candidate – including advising on pay, terms and conditions, references, etc.
- De-briefing the unsuccessful candidates.
Following the appointment, Acton Shapiro was also able to help with induction and orientation of the new appointee. Acton Shapiro also regularly works with Practices, once appointments to new roles have been in post for a period, and undertakes independent assessments of the new role, joint performance reviews, etc.
The Client expressed full satisfaction with the process of this appointment that proceeded in advance of the original expected timetable.
Working with an independent party such as Acton Shapiro in such senior-level appointments provide particular added value, including:
- Inputting expertise and experience for a process that tends to occur infrequently for a Practice
- Ensuring that all legal and related requirements for appointing staff were not overlooked
- Reducing unnecessary additional administrative workloads for the Practice
- Being available to act as “honest broker” and facilitator as and when any difficulties in the appointment process occur
- Systematic project planning thus ensuring adherence to timescales and effective communications between all involved parties
- Relieving the Practice of the need to feedback to unsuccessful candidates.
|
 |