Our values shape how we work, how we lead, and how we stand alongside General Practice, especially when it matters most.
Why our values matter
At Devon LMC our values are not an abstract statement or a set of words we revisit once a year. They shape how we show up for our members, how we make decisions, and how we work alongside practices, partners, and the wider system – especially when things are difficult.
They guide how we represent General Practice, how we support individuals and teams, and how we hold ourselves to account. In a complex and often pressured environment, our values provide clarity, consistency and purpose.
Our Mission
To provide high-quality and trusted support, protecting the interests of the profession through effective leadership and representation, by maintaining a golden thread of engagement from practice to government.
This “golden thread” matters. It reflects our commitment to listening carefully at practice level, translating lived experience into meaningful representation, and ensuring the voice of General Practice is heard; clearly, credibly and consistently, at every level.
Our Vision
Devon LMC is heralded as professional, relevant, and innovative; valued by its members, who hold our service to them in high regard.
This vision speaks not just to what we aim to achieve, but how we want our members to feel: confident in our role, assured in our professionalism, and supported by a service that understands the realities of General Practice.
Our Values
Integrity
Always being open and honest in order to represent the best interests of our members.
Integrity underpins trust. It means acting transparently, speaking plainly, and holding the interests of General Practice at the centre of everything we do, even when conversations are challenging.
Respect
The way we treat each other; the way we treat those we represent.
Respect shapes our relationships with members, partners and colleagues. It means listening carefully, valuing different perspectives, and recognising the pressures people are working under.
Representing
Putting our members at the core of what we do
Representation is our core purpose. We exist to amplify the voice of General Practice and ensure it is informed by real experience, not assumption or abstraction.
Professionalism
Seeking to achieve excellence by conducting our work with professional competence and expertise, in accord with the highest standards of ethics and proficiency.
Professionalism is about credibility and consistency. It is how we earn trust, through high standards, thoughtful leadership and reliable delivery.
Courage
Speaking up and taking action to protect the interests of those we represent.
Courage means having difficult conversations when they are needed and taking principled positions in complex systems. It is essential to effective representation.
Loyalty
Always ready to stand by the membership, no matter the circumstances, in order to provide support to individuals and teams.
Loyalty reflects our commitment to General Practice, particularly during times of pressure, uncertainty or challenge. It means standing with our members, not stepping back.
Cheerfulness
Positivity with a smile; allowing for urgency and velocity when things are going well, and mistakes and forgiveness when they are not.
Cheerfulness is not about minimising difficulty. It is about resilience, humanity and perspective; creating space for progress, learning and hope, even in demanding circumstances.
What this means in practice
They underpin our approach to representation, negotiation, professional support and leadership. They inform how we design services, how we respond to challenge, and how we remain agile without losing sight of what matters most; supporting General Practice across Devon.
Our values in action
Our values are most visible in how we work day-to-day; in the choices we make, the way we show up for members, and how we respond when General Practice is under pressure.
Integrity
We are open and honest with our members, even when messages are complex or challenging. We communicate clearly, avoid spin, and ensure decisions are grounded in evidence and lived experience.
Respect
We listen carefully to practices and individuals, recognising that no two situations are the same. Our support is shaped by understanding context, pressures and people, not assumptions.
Representing
We actively seek insight from practices and ensure those voices inform negotiation, system conversations and policy engagement. Representation starts with listening and ends with action.
Professionalism
We bring rigour, consistency and expertise to everything we do, from negotiations and governance to professional support and leadership development. Our work is designed to stand up to scrutiny and build trust.
Courage
We are prepared to challenge decisions, raise concerns and advocate strongly on behalf of General Practice when needed, particularly where pressures risk becoming normalised or overlooked.
Loyalty
We stand alongside our members, offering support through both routine challenges and exceptional circumstances. We do not step back when things are difficult, that is when our role matters most.
Cheerfulness
We bring warmth, humanity and optimism to our work. We create space for learning, acknowledge mistakes, and maintain momentum, balancing urgency with compassion.