ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the professional requirements needed to manage staff. It looks at staff roles and responsibilities within the practice, staff management, human resource management and some of the issues that impact on good management within the practice: training and professional development, leadership styles, communication styles and motivation. The chapter analyses the future and the management techniques used to manage change successfully. It also looks at the essential procedures—job descriptions, and employment contracts that primary care team would expect all practices to have in place. General practice as a whole recognises that its staff are its most valuable asset and are also the most expensive. The key function of staff management is to enable management to enhance the contributions people make to the success of an organisation. Most practices coach and mentor staff as a way of developing. They appraise performance and counsel staff as a first line management approach for poor performance.
