Don’t be a ‘Jack of all trades’

I have been the practice manager of two practices in Cheshire for 21 years. With approximately 40 staff in total, I love the role – it’s enjoyable, varied and challenging. During this time, as the size and responsibility of the role has grown, I’ve realised it’s not fair or safe to expect an individual to take charge of all elements of running a practice. There are certain ‘challenges’ where I put my hand up and seek the help of external parties. The role of practice manager has evolved hugely over the time I’ve been doing it and you are expected to be something of a ‘jack of all trades’ at times – across marketing, human resources (HR), employment law, finance, business expansion, reception and possibly even some nursing thrown in. Of course, it’s not possible for anyone to be ‘master’ of all these areas. In the case of employment law and HR for example, it is time consuming, often complex and the consequences of making a wrong decision – even if well intentioned – could be costly. Whilst I have an understanding of the law as it applies to HR management within a dental practice, I am no expert in the field so will not make decisions on such matters without first seeking counsel from someone who is.I use the team at FTA Law to provide me with advice on legal matters and they, in return, produce legal documentation.