NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Patient Leader - Barking & Dagenham

The closing date is 24 February 2026

Job summary

We are looking for an individual who is passionate and assertive to join our Barking and Havering directorates in an exciting new role as a Patient Leader. This role will be a key member of the directorate leadership team, who believes the voice of theservice user and carer should be at the forefront of everything we do. We are looking for individuals who are committed to improving clinical services involving full co-production processes.

Applicants should have a keen interest in service improvement and in supporting and facilitating positive developments, be an effective communicator and be able to work proactively.

You should have good organisational skills and be able to manage a varying workload efficiently.

Candidates must have lived/living experience of accessing NELFT services and live in the Barking and Havering area. Candidates must be able to work and travel within the directorate they are applying as these roles are directorate & place based.

Main duties of the job

This new and innovative posts focus on the need to bring strong leadership around the engagement and participation of people who use services and their carers in all aspects of both planning and delivery of services within the directorate.

As a key member of the leadership team you will work collaboratively to promote improved outcomes for service users and improve service user and carer experience through new insights and perspectives.

They will provide strong leadership, advice and practical project work across the directorate in the development of a culture that is socially inclusive, values participation and diversity. Supporting and maintaining effective communication the post holder will need to develop relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

About us

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have coproduced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.

They are:

We are kind.

We are respectful.

We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Starting with NELFT

NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focussing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High Cost Area Supplement - Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 per annum (pro rata for part time).

Details

Date posted

12 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum plus HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

395-CC035-26

Job locations

Barking & Dagenham Hospital and NELFT Services within Barking & Dagenham

Place Based

RM9 4SR


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points-based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High-Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A willingness to undertake further training and/or qualifications
  • NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy

Desirable

  • Educated to degree or equivalent level or equivalent, relevant experience
  • Further education/training in the areas of user and/or carer involvement

Other

Essential

  • To be able to travel effectively between NELFT sites
  • Lives within the Borough

Trust Values

Essential

  • Demonstration of Trust Values

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of work on users and carer related issues
  • Experience of working in a health-related setting
  • Personal experience of accessing NELFT services

Desirable

  • Personal experience of working within the voluntary sector and/or NHS
  • Experience of preparing and delivering presentations
  • Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
  • The ability to demonstrate sound practical experience and understanding of current issues and challenges within the NHS

Knowledge

Essential

  • Awareness of the national patient experience agenda
  • An awareness of NELFT & NHS priorities

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent IT skills
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Able to develop and maintain positive working relationships
  • Ability to inspire, motivate and empower service users & carers
  • Ability to network and establish strong working relationships
  • Excellent communication skills written and verbal
  • Ability to engage with patients/ service users and carers with empathy and compassion
  • Commitment to the Trust's Equality and Diversity scheme and core values
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • A willingness to undertake further training and/or qualifications
  • NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy

Desirable

  • Educated to degree or equivalent level or equivalent, relevant experience
  • Further education/training in the areas of user and/or carer involvement

Other

Essential

  • To be able to travel effectively between NELFT sites
  • Lives within the Borough

Trust Values

Essential

  • Demonstration of Trust Values

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of work on users and carer related issues
  • Experience of working in a health-related setting
  • Personal experience of accessing NELFT services

Desirable

  • Personal experience of working within the voluntary sector and/or NHS
  • Experience of preparing and delivering presentations
  • Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
  • The ability to demonstrate sound practical experience and understanding of current issues and challenges within the NHS

Knowledge

Essential

  • Awareness of the national patient experience agenda
  • An awareness of NELFT & NHS priorities

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent IT skills
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Able to develop and maintain positive working relationships
  • Ability to inspire, motivate and empower service users & carers
  • Ability to network and establish strong working relationships
  • Excellent communication skills written and verbal
  • Ability to engage with patients/ service users and carers with empathy and compassion
  • Commitment to the Trust's Equality and Diversity scheme and core values

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Barking & Dagenham Hospital and NELFT Services within Barking & Dagenham

Place Based

RM9 4SR


Employer's website

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

Address

Barking & Dagenham Hospital and NELFT Services within Barking & Dagenham

Place Based

RM9 4SR


Employer's website

https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Involvement

Jo Hansford

Jo.Hansford@nelft.nhs.uk

07522713837

Details

Date posted

12 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum plus HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

395-CC035-26

Job locations

Barking & Dagenham Hospital and NELFT Services within Barking & Dagenham

Place Based

RM9 4SR


Supporting documents

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