Associate Chief Medical Officer Primary Care Interface

The Associate Chief Medical Officer (Primary Care Interface) is a senior clinical leadership role focused on improving how primary care and secondary care work together for the benefit of patients.

The postholder will act as a key clinical bridge between general practice, community services and the acute Trust, strengthening relationships, improving communication, and reducing friction across the healthcare system.

The role is centred on building trust, shared understanding and effective collaboration between clinicians working in different parts of the system, ensuring that patients experience coherent, safe and timely care across organisational boundaries.

The postholder will not have responsibility for the operational delivery or management of general practice services. The focus of the role is the clinical and relational interface between organisations.

We aim to provide a high-quality patient experience and an excellent place to work for all staff. We believe that the key to improved patient and staff experience is a high quality, efficient and patient-centred pathways, in which the patient sees the 'right doctor, first time'. This post is key to developing, reviewing and maintaining these pathways.

Clinical Leadership for System Interface

Provide senior clinical leadership to improve the interface between primary care, community services and secondary care.

Act as a visible and accessible clinical leader to both GPs and hospital clinicians on interface matters.

Support a culture of shared responsibility for patient care across organisational boundaries.

Collect and collate information for self-assessment reports 6 monthly in relation to interface working and the use of the GIRFT checklist bridging the gap.

Relationship Building and Mutual Understanding

Develop and sustain strong working relationships between general practice, PCNs, neighbourhood teams, hospital specialties and system partners.

Promote mutual understanding of roles, pressures, constraints and decision-making in both primary and secondary care.

Establish regular clinical forums that enable constructive dialogue and shared problem-solving.

Referral, Advice and Transfer of Care

Work with clinical teams to improve the quality and clarity of referrals, advice and guidance, and transfer of care processes.

Support improvements in discharge communication, ensuring it is timely, clinically useful and patient-centred.

Help reduce unwarranted variation and administrative burden across interface processes.

Pathway and Interface Improvement

Identify and address recurring friction points in patient pathways between primary and secondary care.

Support clinically led pathway redesign where it impacts both hospital and community-based care.

Facilitate shared learning between hospital specialists and community clinicians, promoting best practice.

Support effective communication pathways between primary and secondary care colleagues.

Engagement and Collaborative Leadership

Facilitate regular engagement between primary care clinicians, consultants and operational leaders.

Support resolution of disagreements in a constructive, patient-focused manner.

Quality, Safety and Patient Experience

Promote improvements in patient experience at transitions of care.

Support safe, consistent and effective communication across organisational boundaries.

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest provider of acute hospital services to Surrey residents, serving a population of 410,00 people and employing approximately 4,800 staff.

Our vision is to provide an outstanding experience and best outcomes for patients and the team. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to deliver our workforce plan.

We work in partnership with Royal Surrey Hospital NHS Foundation Trust through a collaborative Group Model, supporting joined-up services, workforce flexibility and development opportunities.

St Peter's Hospital delivers complex medical and surgical care, maternity and emergency services. Day and Orthopaedic Surgery, Ophthalmology and Outpatient services are delivered at Ashford Hospital. Additional services are delivered at Woking Community Hospital.

Our Values provide us with the behaviours we respect and can commit to. By living our values through our everyday interactions, we can build a stronger, more resilient, and forward- thinking organisation, guiding us to achieve success and make a positive impact on how we deliver our services.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits & discounts.

For more information about careers at ASPH visit:www.asph-careers.org

Certificate of SponsorshipIn line with UKVI requirements, Band 2, Band 3 and Band 4 roles are not eligible for sponsorship.

Please note only certain roles at Band 5 & above are eligible for sponsorship.

Essential: - MRCGP or equivalent; - Fully registered with the General Medical Council with licence to practice

Desirable: - Management qualification or equivalent experience; - Quality improvement qualification or suitable experience

Essential: - Experience is senior clinical leadership in practice; - Evidence of continuing medical education and personal development; - Demonstrable experience in service improvement or pathway redesign; - Experience in developing effective and collaborative working relationships

Desirable: - Leading a change or innovation in the workplace with a multi-disciplinary team; - Experience of working collaboratively across primary/secondary care interface; - Experience of integrated care models