The Primary Care Managers Academy is an independent organisation who delivery a series of different training and courses specially tailored for the needs of practice managers dependent on where they are in their career. Please contact the PCMA directly for further information on llr.pmacademy@nhs.net
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Upcoming courses delivered by the Primary Care Management Academy
PCMA Funded 30-Minute Virtual Coaching Sessions for Managers
PCMA are offering a limited number of funded 30-minute virtual coaching sessions, available to managers and team leads in General Practice who would benefit from focused support with a specific issue or challenge.
We recognise that management roles in General Practice can be demanding and pressurised, with very little time to step back and consider different approaches to the difficult situations you may be facing.
These Laser Coaching sessions are designed as a short, focused intervention. In just 30 minutes, the session will help you:
- Focus on a specific issue or challenge
- Explore the situation from a different perspective
- Consider your options and identify what may work best for you
- Leave with at least one practical action to help you move forward
What is expected of participants?
You should be open and willing to be coached and understand that coaching is a process of answering questions that encourages you to think differently and generate your own ideas and solutions.
The coach will not provide advice, share their own experiences or suggest what you should do. Instead, they will use questioning and coaching techniques to help you find the best way forward for yourself.
Sessions will be delivered by Philippa Guy, an experienced Business Manager, Qualified Coach and Accredited DISC Practitioner.
You can book up to three sessions if required.
To arrange a session, please email llr.pcma@nhs.net.
NEW Lunch & Learn Session: Business Continuity
Have you started thinking about the future of your practice?
Planning ahead is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the long-term success and resilience of your practice but it’s often something that’s only considered when circumstances become urgent.
Join us for this practical and interactive Lunch and Learn session, designed to give you the clarity, structure and confidence to start planning for the future.
Date: Wednesday 30 September 2026
Time: 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Format: Virtual (MS Teams)
During this session, you’ll:
- Understand the core principles of business continuity in General Practice
- Explore practical steps, useful tools and realistic timelines to support effective planning
- Share ideas, experiences and learn from colleagues across General Practice
- Reflect on your own practice’s future needs and begin developing a practical action plan
The session will be delivered by Keleigh Atkin, an experienced Business Partner and Practice Manager, who has worked in General Practice for over 20 years.
Who should attend?
This session is ideal for Managers and Team Leads within General Practice who want to support the long-term resilience and sustainability of their practice.
Whether you’re:
- Planning for partnership changes
- Thinking about retirement or workforce transitions
- Preparing for future growth and sustainability
Or simply want to be proactive rather than reactive – this session will help you take meaningful first steps in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Book your place today! To reserve your place, please email llr.pcma@nhs.net.
The Building Blocks for Effective Management within General Practice.
A comprehensive 5 module course open to all managers working within General Practice.
Introduction
This face-to-face modular course covers the core skills to help anyone in a management role within general practice become a more effective and skilled manager, taking common management theories and tools and looking at the practical application on a day-to-day basis within a general practice environment.
Suitable for both new managers and more experienced managers looking for a refresher, these modules can either be booked as a complete course or as individual modules.
This course will be delivered by Philippa Guy, an experienced practice Business Manager, Qualified Coach and DISC Practitioner.
We will be linking to DISC preferences throughout the modules, for anyone who has not previously done their DISC profile, this will be included as part of this course and will require a questionnaire to be completed before the course starts.
*If you do not have a DISC report, an invoice will be raised for £43.50, which covers the cost of your individual report*
The modules will be interactive with group work and discussions with opportunities for delegates to share and learn from each other’s experiences.
Learning Objectives
- • Understanding the role of a manager
- • Explain the “management cycle”
- • Learn how to set SMART objectives
- • Learn how to give effective feedback
- • Learn how to motivate others
- • Learn how to develop others
- • Learn how to manage yourself
- • Increase your confidence when dealing with conflict and other common challenges
- • Tools to help you delegate effectively and more confidently
- • Tools to manage change
- • Understand the difference between management and leadership
- • Understanding the climate you create for others
- • Understanding the power of influencing and networking
- • Action planning for your own professional development
Course Outline
Module 1 – Introduction to Management
- – Introductions and expectations
- – The role of a manager
- – The “management cycle”
- – Understanding your own scope of accountability and decision making (RACI model/Accountability Ladder, Decision Making Circles)
- – Tips for delegating effectively
- – Dealing with common challenges – transitioning from team members to manager, “Imposter Syndrome”
- – Summary of learning points
- – Action planning
Module 2 – Managing Yourself as a Manager
- – Introductions and expectations
- – The impact you have on your team/s
- – Prioritisation skills
- – Planning your time effectively (Eisenhower matrix / Interruptions log / time spent audit)
- – Systems and processes to help you and the practice (who to go to for what, keeping actions alive, tracking progress, communicating with wider team and direct reports)
- – Organisational options
- – Dealing with common challenges – interruptions, last minute requests, change in direction
- – Summary of learning points
- – Action planning
Module 3 – Motivating and Developing Your Team
- – Introductions and expectations
- – Understanding the climate you work within and the climate you create for your team/s
- – Different management styles
- – Career Anchors, Drivers and Strengths
- – SMART Objective setting
- – Giving effective feedback
- – Ways to develop others
- – Rewarding others
- – Dealing with common challenges – who are you spending most of your time on – the best or the poorest performers?
- – Summary of learning points
- – Action planning
Module 4 – Managing Change Effectively
- – Introductions and expectations
- – Common pitfalls when managing change?
- – Examples of managing change within general practice
- – Tools to help with decision making (Fist 5, De Bono Thinking Hats)
- – Understanding the Kübler-Ross change curve
- – Kotter 8 step model for managing change
- – Tips for effective audits
- – Dealing with common challenges -we’ve tried this before and it didn’t work”, returning to previous ways,
- – Summary of learning points
- – Action planning
Module 5 – Combining Management with Leadership
- – Introductions and expectations
- – The difference between management and leadership
- – Why do we need a Vision?
- – Short, medium and long term planning
- – Practice objectives and the line of sight to individual objectives
- – Identifying what is in your /teams /practice control (Coveys Circle of Influence)
- – The power of networking and influencing
- – Understanding basic negotiation skills
- – Summary of learning points
- – Action planning
Course dates
Module 1 – Introduction to Management – Thursday 10th September 2026
Module 2 – Managing Yourself as a Manager – Thursday 24th September 2026
Module 3 – Motivating and Developing Your Team – Thursday 8th October 2026
Module 4 – Managing Change Effectively – Thursday 29th October 2026
Module 5 – Combining Management with Leadership – Thursday 12th November 2026
All modules will take place 1-4.30pm at The Salvation Army Leicestershire South Conference Centre, LE18 4UZ.
Please email llr.pcma@nhs.net to reserve your place.
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