Wellington Medical Centre
Head Nurse
The closing date is 27 November 2026

Job summary
Wellington Medical Centre are seeking to recruit an experienced, motivated, and forward-thinking Lead Practice Nurse to head our dedicated nursing team. This pivotal role combines high-quality, direct patient care with operational leadership. Working closely with the Practice Management Team and GP Partners, you will shape service standards, manage resources, drive quality improvement, and ensure robust clinical governance and CQC compliance across the surgery. This is permanent position, 30 - 32 hours per week

Wellington Medical Centre is a high achieving, forward thinking GP practice with a strong sense of community and a commitment to continuous improvement. We are proud to provide high-quality, patient centred care, supported by a dedicated and skilled multidisciplinary team. Wellington Medical Centre is a teaching practice with a patient list of just over 22,000 patients. It sits within the Taunton Deane West Primary Care Network (PCN) and has a mixed demographic and varied rurality.

As a practice we are innovative and progressive, always looking for new ways to enhance our services, support our staff, and improve patient outcomes. We are looking for someone with the desire and ability to help us to continue to drive forward nursing excellence.

Main duties of the job
The Role

• A mix of clinical nursing and leadership duties
• Lead, support and develop the nursing team
• Oversee clinical standards including infection prevention, training.

The ideal candidate will be an experienced practice nurse with strong clinical skills, excellent communication abilities and previous leadership experience.

About us
Wellington Medical Centre is a high achieving, forward thinking GP practice with a strong sense of community and a commitment to continuous improvement. We are proud to provide high-quality, patient centred care, supported by a dedicated and skilled multidisciplinary team. Wellington Medical Centre is a teaching practice with a patient list of just over 22,000 patients. It sits within the Taunton Deane West Primary Care Network (PCN) and has a mixed demographic and varied rurality.

As a practice we are innovative and progressive, always looking for new ways to enhance our services, support our staff, and improve patient outcomes. We are looking for someone with the desire and ability to help us to continue to drive forward nursing excellence.

Details
Date posted: 05 November 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: Depending on experience
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: A1748-26-0011
Job locations: Mantle Street, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8BD, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Job role – Managerial

• To provide leadership to the Practice Nurse team, in collaboration with the GP Partners, to develop an effective, quality driven Practice Nurse service
• To provide a focus for nursing expertise within the practice, advising nursing staff and others appropriate to level of competence
• To develop, implement and monitor protocols and guidelines for nursing treatments and for the care of patients with long term conditions
• To identify the training needs of the team
• To develop an annual appraisal system for the Practice Nurse team
• To ensure the skills of the team are appropriately and effectively used to deliver care
• To ensure an effective nurse appointment system, in collaboration with the Patient Service Advisor Lead, Admin lead, Operations Coordinator and Practice Manager
• To ensure that efficient and appropriate stock control is in place
• To develop the nursing aspect of the Practice health promotion programmes
• To advise the Practice Management Team and Partners on all nursing matters including professional issues, training needs, resource requirements, health & safety issues relating to nursing
• To participate in the recruitment, selection, induction of Practice Nursing staff and continued formal assessment
• To undertake teaching and supervision of less experienced colleagues as appropriate
• To be involved in the management of change and the implementation of systems to facilitate improved patient care

Nursing – General
As Practice Nurse Lead you will tasks taken from the following list of clinical tasks:

• To plan, develop and monitor individual treatment plans that promote health and well-being agreeing these as appropriate with the patient, their carers and other health professionals
• To advise patients on the treatment of minor ailments
• To take nursing history of patients and record in the patients records
• To collect samples and initiate some laboratory requests, including venepuncture. To interpret some results and act accordingly
• To provide wound care management including the assessment of routine wounds including trauma, and assessing (and prescribing) to support good wound management in complex situations including use of Doppler techniques
• To remove sutures
• To undertake diagnostic tests, interpret results and act accordingly. This will include ECGs, ambulatory 24 hour blood pressure monitoring
• To provide first aid and management of emergencies, including emergency resuscitation
• Implement the vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children
• To provide ear examination and syringing
• To prepare for, and assist with minor surgical procedures
• Administering appropriate prescribed therapies for patients with Mental Health and communicating with key workers as necessary
• To recognise abnormalities and early signs of illness and manage or seek advice as appropriate
• To recognise issues and gather sufficient information to refer e.g. drugs, domestic violence, child protection, vulnerable adults, senior patients, social issues
• To provide routine maintenance and cleaning of instruments and other equipment in the treatment rooms and GPs surgeries
• To ensure the safe disposal of clinical waste

Nursing – Specialised
In addition to the above, you will undertake a range of more advanced clinical duties which may include some of the following tasks although the exact make up of duties undertaken will be dependent on qualifications and experience.

• To provide assessment and carry out screening procedures within agreed practice protocols, including cervical cytology
• To provide family planning services including advice on emergency contraception, pill checks, contraceptive advice
• To work with other health professionals to diagnose, monitor, manage and treat long term conditions including using non drug based treatment methods in line with national and practice policies.
• To plan, develop and evaluate treatment plans for patients with long term conditions or at risk of developing a long term condition
• To provide a comprehensive travel advice and vaccination service (including yellow fever)
• To undertake initial assessment and treatment of patients with leg ulcers, and referral to the central leg ulcer service as appropriate, in line with agreed protocols
• To ensure that working knowledge and understanding of all medical equipment required to carry out tasks is kept up to date, including the required servicing and calibration of equipment

Delivering a quality service

• Lead on the maintenance of quality governance systems for the nursing team
• To recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC
• To produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultations, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures
• To ensure that the correct control, storage and administration of drugs is undertaken in accordance with practice policies
• To participate and where appropriate lead on Clinical Audit/ Quality Improvement
• To ensure that clinical equipment is maintained in safe working order
• To establish and maintain an effective stock control system, and ensure that adequate stocks of supplies are held and to order supplies and equipment as required
• To ensure that the resuscitation equipment is kept stocked and ready to use
• To prioritise, organise and manage own and others workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality, efficiency and professionalism

Communication & Liaison

• To work in a collaborative and co-operative manner
• Explore opportunities to network with other similar post holders, to share ideas and provide professional support
• To lead team meetings and act to enhance inter professional working
• To attend and participate in practice meetings as required, delivering the nursing agenda, updating staff following relevant study day training and provide evidence of the contribution of the nursing team to the practice priorities and QoF targets
• To participate in external meetings as required and to liase with the Primary Care Network (PCN)
• To provide patients with clear and concise information appropriate to their needs
• To anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication
• To work with the wider PCN team in developing a more integrated service for patients, improving care, through cost effective services
• To represent the Practice Nursing Team as appropriate and to ensure standards are upheld by the PN team

Learning and Development

• To undertake teaching, training, supervision and mentoring of other nursing staff and students
• To undertake supervision, orientation and mentoring of new staff
• Disseminate learning and information to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments
• Be responsible for the evaluation of your own work
• To participate in Performance Reviews and in developing his/her own objectives.
• To provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues
• To continue professional development through a variety of strategies including attending study days, lecture, seminars, courses and clinical placements
• Maintain membership of a professional defence union (through the practice)
• To undertake further prescribed training as required.

General

• To ensure that the rights, confidentiality and privacy of the patient are protected at all times
• To be conversant with and comply with the Practices fire precautions and procedures for evacuation
• To be conversant with and comply with the Health & Safety Policy
• To promote equal opportunities for staff and patients in accordance with Practice Policies

This job description is not inflexible. The duties of the post holder may be reviewed and amended from time to time.
To carry out any other duties, that are within your area of competence and considered relevant to the post.

Person Specification
Experience – Essential

• Clinical skills which may include cervical cytology, vaccination and immunisation, ear care, wound care, ECGs, chronic disease management
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal and ability to communicate difficult messages to patients and families
• Ability to work autonomously
• Ability to lead and motivate a team
• Ability to use a range of IT systems effectively
• Knowledge of management of patients with long term conditions
• Knowledge of accountability for own role and other roles in a nurse leg service
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Knowledge of local and national policy
• Knowledge of clinical governance issues in primary care
• Knowledge of patient group directions and associated policy
• Ability to plan and delegate as appropriate
• Ability to provide teaching and mentorship in a clinical setting

Experience – Desirable

• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Insight and understanding of current issues in nursing and the NHS

Qualifications – Essential

• Registered nurse
• Current NMC Registration
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Accredited training in chronic disease management

Qualifications – Desirable

• Independent/supplementary nurse prescribing qualification

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Wellington Medical Centre
Address: Mantle Street, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8BD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://tauntondeanewestpcn.gpweb.org.uk/wellington-medical-centre

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: GP Partner, Dr Alathari or a member of the Management Team, somicb.wmc.practice-management@nhs.net, +1823668950

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