Job summary
Would you like to work with us to improve patient care? Join us as a Patient Leader and become part of a network of specially trained volunteers, who are working with us to design and transform services in our Trust.
(Please note - this is an unpaid volunteer role)
Main duties of the job
Patient Leaders work alongside colleagues across the Trust, influencing and shaping decisions at all levels.
Patient Leaders can help us build on established relationships between health professionals, patients, carers and the public. They ensure we are putting the voice and needs of patients at the forefront of decision making, and that views of patients, carers and families are represented at all levels of the organisation. This includes across partner organisations in the region (such as voluntary organisations, community and mental health services).
Patient Leaders should be keen to develop their understanding of challenges faced by the Trust, and be committed to improving NHS services. Patient Leaders will be able to think widely about health and wellbeing.
Patient Leaders will be able to positively motivate and support people to work with change, and have a mindset for improving outcomes and the experience of patients and service users.
Projects may arise when a department has identified a potential improvement they could make, and they want your input as a Patient Leader to provide constructive feedback or balanced debate on how to move that idea forward. Alternatively you may have identified (or someone may have let you know about) an idea for improvement, which you can bring to us so we can help you explore avenues for taking it forward.
About us
Our values reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be.
Compassionate - Our relationships are based on empathy, respect, integrity and dignity. In every interaction and communication we treat colleagues, patients and families with care and understanding.
Aspirational - We strive to continuously improve, to be the very best that we can be as individuals and an organisation.
Resourceful- Living within our means. Responding to the challenges of today and tomorrow in effective, efficient, innovative and optimistic ways.
Excellent- Committing to excellence in everything that we do; placing patient safety and quality at our heart. Learning from mistakes, doing what we say we are going to do and holding ourselves and others to account.Upholding a culture where the voices of our patients, carers, and communities are at the heart of all that we do. Actively listening to their knowledge and lived experiences will enable us to deliver high quality, innovative, inclusive and safe care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Activities Patient Leaders may be asked to participate in:
MDT interviews (including interviewing consultants and senior nurses)
Policy reviews
Quality improvement projects
Steering/Working groups
Overseas Nurse Training (patient acting)
Ward Accreditation
Task and Finish Groups
Reviews of nursing skill mix/levels
Clinical leadership development programmes
Regular meetings, including:
Clinical Governance
Patient Safety Partners
Transformation projects
Digital Improvements
Building Berkshire Together
WHO CAN BECOME A PATIENT LEADER?
As a Patient Leader you should have a have a willingness to develop an understanding of NHS services; be able to think widely about health and wellbeing; be committed to improving NHS services; and able to provide and be open to constructive challenge. It may be that you have recently accessed NHS services yourself and/or have experience of caring for someone with a health condition.
You must be able and willing to reflect the different views and diversity of patients/service users, including those living with different conditions and from different backgrounds. Having an understanding of the different challenges faced by the local community who use the hospital would be considered an advantage.
You will need to be able to attend all 5 days of the Patient Leadership Programme (held on one day a week over 5 weeks). The training programme is run twice a year, in April and September. Myers Briggs testing will be undertaken as part of the training process. This will enhance your understanding of yourself, your motivations, your natural strengths and your potential areas for growth and is something all our staff have the opportunity to do.You will need to be able to commit to the role for a minimum of 2 years, after completing the Patient Leadership Programme. After this time you can opt to continue, if you would like to.
There is no set requirement for the number of hours you need to commit to on a weekly basis, but we do ask you specify the number of hours you are able to volunteer and confirm that if you join a group, meeting or project that youll be able to continue attending as a regular and sustained commitment. It might be that a department needs a Patient Leader to be on a committee for an hour a week for several weeks, or for two hours a month as an ongoing regular meeting, or a department would like help over several days with interviews for a specific role.
Please see attached job description for full details.
MAKING YOUR APPLICATION
Please describe to us in your application why you are interested in becoming a Patient Leader and how you meet the listed person specification, values and behaviours. You may also wish to:
- express any additional qualities you feel you would bring to the role
- share your experiences of accessing services at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- share your experiences of caring for someone with health conditions.
* Previous applicants need not apply*
It is our vision to work together to provide outstanding care for our community. We aim to deliver this through five strategic objectives:
- Quality (including Safety) - Deliver the best and safest healthcare in the best possible place for patients.
- People - Provide the best place to work, train and learn.
- Partnership - Work together to create a modern and sustainable healthcare system.
- Innovation Recognise productivity improvement opportunities and utilise technology to improve efficiency.
Sustainability Live within our means, optimise our capacity and get it right first time.
EXISTING ROYAL BERKSHIRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST STAFF
If you are already an employee of the RBFT you may want to become a Patient Leader when you retire or leave the Trust. You cant be a Patient Leader whilst you are also an employee of RBFT, but there are many other volunteering roles available that you can take part in whilst still employed.
As a member of staff, if you carry out voluntary services for the Trust while employed, you would be eligible to be part of the Deliver a Difference scheme. This recognises staff who go that extra mile, by volunteering as well as working for the Trust. If you are interested in Deliver a Difference, contact either the Patient Experience Team or Voluntary Services.
Email: patient.experienceteam@royalberkshire.nhs.uk
Email: voluntary.services@royalberkshire.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
Activities Patient Leaders may be asked to participate in:
MDT interviews (including interviewing consultants and senior nurses)
Policy reviews
Quality improvement projects
Steering/Working groups
Overseas Nurse Training (patient acting)
Ward Accreditation
Task and Finish Groups
Reviews of nursing skill mix/levels
Clinical leadership development programmes
Regular meetings, including:
Clinical Governance
Patient Safety Partners
Transformation projects
Digital Improvements
Building Berkshire Together
WHO CAN BECOME A PATIENT LEADER?
As a Patient Leader you should have a have a willingness to develop an understanding of NHS services; be able to think widely about health and wellbeing; be committed to improving NHS services; and able to provide and be open to constructive challenge. It may be that you have recently accessed NHS services yourself and/or have experience of caring for someone with a health condition.
You must be able and willing to reflect the different views and diversity of patients/service users, including those living with different conditions and from different backgrounds. Having an understanding of the different challenges faced by the local community who use the hospital would be considered an advantage.
You will need to be able to attend all 5 days of the Patient Leadership Programme (held on one day a week over 5 weeks). The training programme is run twice a year, in April and September. Myers Briggs testing will be undertaken as part of the training process. This will enhance your understanding of yourself, your motivations, your natural strengths and your potential areas for growth and is something all our staff have the opportunity to do.You will need to be able to commit to the role for a minimum of 2 years, after completing the Patient Leadership Programme. After this time you can opt to continue, if you would like to.
There is no set requirement for the number of hours you need to commit to on a weekly basis, but we do ask you specify the number of hours you are able to volunteer and confirm that if you join a group, meeting or project that youll be able to continue attending as a regular and sustained commitment. It might be that a department needs a Patient Leader to be on a committee for an hour a week for several weeks, or for two hours a month as an ongoing regular meeting, or a department would like help over several days with interviews for a specific role.
Please see attached job description for full details.
MAKING YOUR APPLICATION
Please describe to us in your application why you are interested in becoming a Patient Leader and how you meet the listed person specification, values and behaviours. You may also wish to:
- express any additional qualities you feel you would bring to the role
- share your experiences of accessing services at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- share your experiences of caring for someone with health conditions.
* Previous applicants need not apply*
It is our vision to work together to provide outstanding care for our community. We aim to deliver this through five strategic objectives:
- Quality (including Safety) - Deliver the best and safest healthcare in the best possible place for patients.
- People - Provide the best place to work, train and learn.
- Partnership - Work together to create a modern and sustainable healthcare system.
- Innovation Recognise productivity improvement opportunities and utilise technology to improve efficiency.
Sustainability Live within our means, optimise our capacity and get it right first time.
EXISTING ROYAL BERKSHIRE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST STAFF
If you are already an employee of the RBFT you may want to become a Patient Leader when you retire or leave the Trust. You cant be a Patient Leader whilst you are also an employee of RBFT, but there are many other volunteering roles available that you can take part in whilst still employed.
As a member of staff, if you carry out voluntary services for the Trust while employed, you would be eligible to be part of the Deliver a Difference scheme. This recognises staff who go that extra mile, by volunteering as well as working for the Trust. If you are interested in Deliver a Difference, contact either the Patient Experience Team or Voluntary Services.
Email: patient.experienceteam@royalberkshire.nhs.uk
Email: voluntary.services@royalberkshire.nhs.uk
Person Specification
Education
Essential
Desirable
- Evidence of recent appropriate experience eg: Customer Relations, Quality Management, Business Management, NHS or other business involvement
Experience
Essential
- Experience of healthcare systems as a patient or carer
Desirable
- Experience / knowledge of setting up and implementing processes and procedures
Person Specification
Education
Essential
Desirable
- Evidence of recent appropriate experience eg: Customer Relations, Quality Management, Business Management, NHS or other business involvement
Experience
Essential
- Experience of healthcare systems as a patient or carer
Desirable
- Experience / knowledge of setting up and implementing processes and procedures
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
