GP practice manager mentoring — learn from those who've done it
Connect with experienced GP practice managers who understand your role because they live it. Our structured peer mentoring programme pairs new and developing PMs with seasoned professionals for a six-month journey of real, practical growth — free of charge.
Two paths, one community
Whether you need guidance or have wisdom to share, there is a place for you in the programme.
I need a mentor
Mentee path
Who it's for
- New Practice Managers (first 2 years in post)
- Deputy PMs transitioning into a full PM role
- Experienced PMs facing a specific new challenge
- Clinicians moving from clinical work into management
- PMs returning to the role after a career break
What you get
- 6 structured monthly 1:1 sessions
- Co-created goal-setting and development plan
- Access to your mentor's templates and resources
- Accountability check-ins between sessions
- Introduction to your mentor's professional network
- CPD certificate on completion
I want to mentor
Mentor path
Who can become a mentor
- 5+ years of GP practice management experience
- Genuine passion for developing others in the profession
- At least one area of recognised specialism or depth
- Commitment to confidentiality and professional conduct
What you give
- 6 × 1-hour sessions per cohort (one per month)
- Light prep between sessions (optional)
What you get
- Verified CPD hours for every session
- Mentor recognition badge on your community profile
- Access to the exclusive Mentor Community network
- Annual Mentor of the Year award nomination eligibility
- The deep satisfaction of shaping the profession
- Fresh perspective that makes you a better manager too
The process
How matching works
A thoughtful, human-led process — not an algorithm. Every match is reviewed by a coordinator who understands the NHS primary care landscape.
Apply
Submit a short application telling us about your experience level, practice type, NHS region, and the areas where you most want to grow.
Profile review
Our volunteer coordinators review every application within 5 working days to ensure the programme is a good fit for you right now.
Matched by specialism & region
We use a structured matching process — considering your goals, your practice type (single-handed, multi-site, PCN), and your geographic area — to find the best-fit mentor.
Intro session
A 30-minute chemistry call lets mentor and mentee decide whether the match feels right. If not, we rematch — no questions asked.
6-month programme
Six structured monthly sessions with a clear agenda framework, plus optional WhatsApp/email check-ins in between. CPD logged automatically.
Optional renewal
At the end of the cohort both parties can agree to continue for a further 6 months, or the mentee can be rematched with a different mentor for a fresh perspective.
Topics & coverage
What mentoring covers
Eight deep topic areas covering the full breadth of general practice management. Sessions focus on what you actually need — not a generic syllabus.
CQC & compliance mastery
- Preparing for inspections and mock CQC visits
- Building a living evidence folder and quality audit cycle
- Managing significant events and complaints without fear
- Staying current with KLOE frameworks and Well-Led standards
NHS finance & contract management
- Reading and understanding the GMS/PMS contract schedule
- QOF coding, achievement optimisation, and year-end reconciliation
- Enhanced services, DES, and ICB local schemes — maximising income
- Building a monthly finance dashboard your partners will actually read
HR & people management
- Conducting robust appraisals and personal development reviews
- Managing sickness absence, capability, and disciplinary processes lawfully
- Recruiting, onboarding, and retaining staff in a competitive market
- Creating a culture where staff speak up and morale stays high
Digital transformation
- Getting the most from EMIS Web, SystmOne, and third-party integrations
- Online consultation platforms — rollout, governance, and patient education
- NHS App, proxy access, and the move toward digital-first access
- Cyber security essentials and data security & protection toolkit completion
Stakeholder relationships
- Managing up — working effectively with GP partners and senior clinicians
- ICB relationships: understanding what commissioners actually want from practices
- PCN working: collaboration, ARRS, and shared governance without losing autonomy
- Handling difficult conversations with patients, staff, and external bodies
Personal leadership & resilience
- Moving from reactive fire-fighting to strategic leadership thinking
- Building your personal authority in a GP-led organisation
- Developing emotional intelligence for high-pressure situations
- Managing upwards, setting boundaries, and saying no without damaging relationships
Career progression & pay negotiation
- Understanding the IGPM and AMSPAR qualification pathways
- How to make the case for a pay rise — with evidence and confidence
- Building a portfolio career: PCN lead, trainer, board member, consultant
- Writing your CV and succeeding at interviews for senior NHS roles
Work-life balance in a demanding role
- Recognising and recovering from burnout before it becomes a crisis
- Delegation strategies that actually work in small teams
- Time-blocking, inbox management, and protecting your thinking time
- Long-term sustainability: building a practice that does not depend solely on you
Meet the mentors
Mentor profiles
Our mentors are real GP practice management professionals — active, recently retired, and everything in between. Here are a few of the people who might be matched with you.
Sarah M.
North West England
12 years experience
I wish someone had mentored me in my first year. The learning curve nearly broke me. I don't want the next generation of PMs to go through that alone.
Manages a 6-site federation serving 38,000 patients. Previous CQC Outstanding rating across all sites.
James T.
London
9 years experience
Going from a single-practice PM to PCN manager is a huge jump. The politics, the governance, the funding streams — it's a different world. I can help you navigate it.
Deployed 14 ARRS roles across a PCN of 5 practices. Led the implementation of a network-wide online consultation platform.
Dr Priya K.
Midlands
7 years in management (formerly GP for 11 years)
Making the switch from clinician to manager is disorienting in ways nobody prepares you for. You still have the clinical instincts but the levers are completely different. I understand both sides.
Former GP partner who transitioned into practice management. Particular expertise supporting salaried GPs and nurses moving into management roles.
Karen B.
Yorkshire
20 years experience (now mentoring full-time)
I had an extraordinary career — and a few disasters I learned from. Sharing all of it, the good and the ugly, is the most meaningful thing I've done since retiring.
Former IGPM board member. Helped 3 deputies successfully transition into PM roles during her career. Specialises in long-term career arc planning.
Names changed to protect privacy. Profiles are illustrative of mentor types currently active in the programme.
Month by month
Your 6-month journey
Each cohort follows a structured arc — from foundations to freedom. Here is what the journey looks like in practice.
Month 1
Foundations & goal-setting
Establish the relationship, agree ground rules and confidentiality expectations, and co-create a 6-month development plan with 3–5 specific, measurable goals.
Month 2
Deep dive — primary challenge
Focus entirely on the mentee's biggest current challenge. Mentor shares direct experience, relevant frameworks, and practical tools from their own practice.
Month 3
Skills & knowledge building
Targeted learning in one of the eight topic areas identified in Month 1. Mentor may assign reading, shadow opportunities, or connect the mentee to specialist contacts.
Month 4
Stakeholders & influence
Work on professional relationships — with partners, the ICB, PCN colleagues, and staff. Role-play difficult conversations; review how the mentee is perceived.
Month 5
Growth & stretch goals
Push into the stretch zone — leadership presence, career positioning, or a specific project the mentee has been avoiding. Mentor provides honest challenge.
Month 6
Review, celebrate & plan forward
Reflect on progress against the original goals, celebrate achievements, and plan the next phase of development — whether continuing or flying solo.
What people say
Testimonials
My mentor Sarah saved me from making a catastrophic staffing decision in Month 2. She had been through an almost identical situation and knew exactly what the employment law pitfalls were. That one conversation was worth the entire programme.
Mentee, East Midlands
Practice Manager, 18 months in post
I have been a PM for 14 years and genuinely thought I had nothing new to learn. Becoming a mentor has made me a better manager. Having to articulate why I do things has made me question and improve my own practice in ways I never expected.
James T.
Mentor, PCN Operations Manager
I transitioned from a deputy PM role in a 2-GP practice to managing a 12,000-patient multi-partner practice. Without mentoring I think I would have resigned within three months. The programme gave me a safe space to be honest about how terrified I was — and a mentor who helped me find my feet.
Mentee, South East England
Practice Manager, previously Deputy PM
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know before applying. If your question isn't here, ask the community.
Is this really completely free?
Yes — completely. There are no subscription fees, no hidden charges, and no upselling. Mentors give their time voluntarily and we are a community-run programme. Both mentors and mentees participate at zero cost.
How are mentors vetted?
Every mentor applicant is reviewed by our volunteer coordination team. We verify their employment history (via LinkedIn or a professional reference), complete a short onboarding call to assess their motivations, and require them to agree to our mentor code of conduct before being activated. Mentors with a history of substantiated complaints against them are not accepted.
What if the match isn't working?
We actively expect this to happen occasionally. After the intro session — and at any point in the programme — either party can request a rematch through our coordinators, with complete discretion. You will never be left without support and there is absolutely no stigma attached to requesting a change.
Can I be both a mentor and a mentee at the same time?
Yes. Many experienced PMs find great value in being mentored by someone with a different specialism — for example a compliance expert being mentored on digital transformation. You can hold both roles simultaneously, though we ask that you manage your time commitments realistically.
How is confidentiality handled?
Both mentor and mentee sign our working agreement at the start of Month 1, which includes explicit confidentiality provisions. Nothing discussed in sessions may be shared outside the mentoring relationship without explicit consent. Our coordinators are bound by the same rules — the only exception is a safeguarding or public interest concern, which follows standard professional protocols.
Does mentoring count towards CPD?
Yes — for both parties. Mentees can claim CPD hours against their sessions and any learning activities completed. Mentors can claim CPD for facilitative learning and coaching. We provide a CPD certificate at the end of each cohort that you can upload to IGPM, AMSPAR, or your personal professional portfolio.
What if I am a very experienced PM — is there still value in being a mentee?
Absolutely. We match experienced PMs with mentors who have complementary expertise or have navigated a specific challenge the mentee is facing — a partner conflict, a merger, an Outstanding rating push, a PCN leadership role. Mentoring is not just for the inexperienced.
How much time does it actually take?
For mentees: approximately 1 hour per month for the session, plus whatever preparation and action items you choose to invest in. For mentors: 1 hour per session plus light admin — roughly 75–90 minutes per month. We designed the programme around the reality of a busy PM's schedule.
Are sessions remote or in person?
The default is video call (Teams or Zoom). However, where mentor and mentee are geographically close and both prefer it, in-person sessions are entirely possible. The programme is designed to be geography-agnostic first.
Still have questions? Ask the community in the forum or contact us directly.
Ready to get started?
Applications take under 5 minutes. You'll hear back within 5 working days.
I need a mentor
You're new, you're transitioning, or you're facing something you've never faced before. Let an experienced PM walk alongside you for six months.
- 6 monthly 1:1 sessions
- Structured development plan
- Access to mentor's templates
- CPD certificate included
Free · No commitment until matched
I want to mentor
You've got experience, hard-won knowledge, and a genuine desire to help someone else avoid the mistakes you made. Share it.
- Just 1 hour per month
- CPD hours for every session
- Mentor recognition badge
- Mentor Community access
Free · Vetted · Valued
Not sure yet? Browse the mentoring forum to see the kinds of conversations happening in the community, or explore free resources while you make up your mind.