Patient and Public Representative to the Partnership Board (CRN Kent, Surrey and Sussex)

Are you passionate about making health and care research work for patients and the public?

Join our Partnership Board as a patient and public representative

We would like to appoint a Patient and Public Representative to the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network Kent, Surrey and Sussex (CRN KSS) Partnership Board. Anyone over the age of 18 can apply for this role. A priority for us is to make health and care research work for everyone in society and to have the perspective of people who we don’t often see taking part in research. For this reason, we are happy to hear from people who may not be involved with paid or voluntary work in the sector at the moment. We will offer support and training for this role to ensure that our volunteer is happy and feels confident in their role. We have two established Patient and Public Representatives who will help to guide and support.

The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) supports patients, the public and health and care organisations across England to take part in high-quality research, to improve care. It works with a national coordinating centre and 15 local networks, one of which is the Clinical Research Network Kent, Surrey and Sussex (CRN KSS).

The Partnership Board’s membership includes chief executives and research and development managers from local NHS organisations, CRN KSS clinical directors, chief operating officer and senior management team, and our Patient and Public Representatives. The board meets four times per year to advise on the activity of the CRN and to hold it accountable. Patient and Public Representatives are sometimes also invited to join other key groups in the CRN, as well as offer the patient and public voice in other work such as awards or the funding of important projects.

Our representatives are offered payments for their time, and can claim back costs for travel to meetings.

The role of Patient and Public Representative is very important because it makes sure that the public voice is taken into account in all aspects of research and ensures the activities of CRN KSS are focused on the local community with good use of public funds.

We are looking for someone who shares our passion for making sure that the public voice is heard across the activity of CRN KSS. We would very much like to hear from people who can represent the views of those who do not often take part in research and who face inequalities in society. Experience of taking part in boards or working/volunteering in similar environments is helpful, but not absolutely necessary as we will support our new Patient and Public Representative in their involvement with CRN KSS.

This role will continue until March 2024.

If you would like to apply for this role, please fill out our application form. We will then invite people who we feel best match the needs of the role to an interview with the PPIE Lead at CRN KSS Maddy Bell, and our two established Patient and Public Representatives Carol and Dave.

If you would like to talk to Maddy, Carol, or Dave about this role before you apply, please contact Madeline Bell, Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Lead, at madeline.bell1@nhs.net

For a copy of the full role profile and application form, please email sophie.warrington1@nhs.net

Closing date: Sunday 9 April at midnight

Interviews are expected to be held via MS Teams on Friday 21 April 2023