We are looking for a physician leader who is passionate about encouraging collaborative working to ensure that the voices of patients, carers and communities are at the heart of and inform all Royal College of Physicians (RCP) activities.
We are inviting applications for this voluntary role which requires experience in acting as a champion for patient and carer involvement and engagement and experience of involving and supporting patients and the public to co-produce engagement activities.
Applicants should be consultants or SAS doctors who are fellows of the RCP.
The RCP strategy (2022-2025) outlines three areas of strategic focus for the RCP:
- To educate physicians and support them to fulfil their potential.
- To improve health and care, leading the prevention of ill-health across communities.
- To influence the way healthcare is designed and delivered.
We have developed an RCP wide Patient Carer Network (PCN) strategy that aligns with and supports the delivery of these three strategic priorities over the next three years. This role will oversee and support the delivery of the PCN strategy working in partnership with key stakeholders across the college and with partner organisations.
Patient Involvement Officer - the role
The purpose of the role will be to provide strategic and thought leadership to the RCP, its fellows and members, volunteers and staff, on matters relating to patient involvement and engagement. The Patient Involvement officer will:
- Promote patient, carer and public involvement to RCP fellows and members and encourage the appropriate inclusion of Patient and Carer Network (PCN) members in RCP activities.
- Work with the Network Involvement and Engagement Manager to develop patient, carer, and public involvement in RCP activities aligned to the RCP and PCN strategies.
- Help generate interest and support from the patient and carer community and relevant external stakeholders in the work of the RCP.
- Represent the RCP at external meetings, conferences, seminars where patient and carer involvement and engagement issues are to be discussed.
- Represent the work of the PCN and the voice of patients and carers at RCP Council meetings and RCP governance meetings.
- Work closely with the lay chair of the PCN and undertake, support and oversee projects.
- Attend and contribute to PCN meetings and attend workshops (face to face and remote) held with the PCN (minimum two per year).
- Promote and support inter-agency & partnership working where it enhances the contribution of the PCN
- Understand the RCP’s equality, diversity and inclusion commitments and in a proactive manner ensure the work of the PCN is aligned to achieve diversity and inclusion within the network.
- Help ensure PCN membership includes a diverse range of people, backgrounds and interests aligned to the RCP and PCN strategies.
- Promote and role model equality, diversity and inclusion to ensure these values are embedded in all aspects of patient and carer involvement and engagement.
How to apply
Application is via CV and cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining your suitability for the role based on the person specification. This should be sent to pcn@rcp.ac.uk
Interested parties are welcome to have an informal discussion ahead of application with members of the appointment panel Dr Andrew Rochford, improvement clinical director, Teena Chowdhury, deputy director, Care Quality Improvement Directorate, Eddie Kinsella, chair of the RCP PCN and Emily Hockenhull, network involvement and engagement manager. Please contact Anne Yates to arrange this (anne.yates@rcp.ac.uk).
The deadline for applications is 18 Septmember 2023.
Interview and appointment to role
Shortlisting will be completed during the week commencing 18 September 2023. Candidates are expected to be available for a virtual interview on the morning of 6 October 2023.
The panel will be chaired by Dr Andrew Rochford, improvement clinical director and also include Teena Chowdhury, deputy director, Care Quality Improvement Directorate, Eddie Kinsella, chair of the RCP PCN and Emily Hockenhull, network involvement and engagement manager. There will also be a stakeholder activity with PCN members.
The start date for the role will be Autumn 2023. The appointment will be for two years in the first instance with an opportunity to renew for a further 12 months following a formal review with the improvement clinical director.
The time commitment is on average half a day per week. Candidates for this role should be aware that it is the duty of a candidate to obtain advance agreement from his/her employing authority that they will be given adequate time to perform the duties of this role. The role is unremunerated.
The RCP positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.
The RCP is all about our people – our members, our staff, our volunteers and leaders. We educate, influence and collaborate to improve health and healthcare for everyone and know we can only do this by being inclusive, encouraging and celebrating diverse perspectives. That’s why welcoming and having people who represent the 21st-century medical workforce and the diverse population of patients we serve is so important to us.