Job summary
We are looking for a new Head of Public Involvement to lead our work to embed public involvement in health and social care research.
This is an exciting time with a big opportunity to make change happen. The Health Research Authority (HRA) has recently led, together with NIHR, the creation of a cross-sector Shared Commitment to Public Involvement, and the work starts now to deliver real change. The HRA's new strategy places an emphasis on ensuring that health and social care research is done with and for everyone. To do this, we need to do things differently. The Head of Public Involvement will be central to helping the organisation achieve this.
You will lead your team, supporting them to perform to the best of their abilities, and form part of the leadership team for the Policy and Partnerships Directorate, helping to shape the work of the HRA to make it easier to do research that people can trust.
Main duties of the job
The Head of Public Involvement will lead and embed the HRA's approach to public involvement, helping the HRA to do things differently to ensure that our work is truly with and for everyone.
This includes developing and implementing HRA policy, guidance and practice to embed meaningful public involvement throughout health and social care research and shaping how the HRA involves people in its own decision making.
They will be a visible lead on public involvement for the HRA, building relationships with the HRA's many stakeholders, representing the HRA and contributing to the development of national and international policy and practice on public involvement. This includes taking forward the cross-sector Shared Commitment to Public Involvement in health and social care research.
They will also be a member of the Leadership Team for the Policy and Partnerships Directorate, providing leadership and supporting the close working and development of individuals within the Directorate.
About us
Working at the HRA, we are reminded daily of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for you, not just us and the work we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community: age, disability, gender identity and expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and other diverse characteristics, and we have policies in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process. When applying to work here, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement -if it works for us, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This role sits within the Policy and Partnerships directorate which is made up of four teams: policy and engagement, communications, public involvement and data and AI policy. We provide support and advice across the organisation on communicating with staff and external audiences, engaging with stakeholders and involving patients and the public in our work. To find out more and to understand the full duties of the role, please refer to the job description attached. In submitting your application with us, please note the following: We currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies. We do not hold a sponsorship licence and are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement. Where applicants fail to demonstrate how they meet any one of the essential criteria of the person specification, the application will not be shortlisted. You will be considered based only on the information in your application form. CVs will not be considered. The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This role sits within the Policy and Partnerships directorate which is made up of four teams: policy and engagement, communications, public involvement and data and AI policy. We provide support and advice across the organisation on communicating with staff and external audiences, engaging with stakeholders and involving patients and the public in our work. To find out more and to understand the full duties of the role, please refer to the job description attached. In submitting your application with us, please note the following: We currently do not accept applications via recruitment agencies. We do not hold a sponsorship licence and are unable to offer employment under any sponsorship arrangement. Where applicants fail to demonstrate how they meet any one of the essential criteria of the person specification, the application will not be shortlisted. You will be considered based only on the information in your application form. CVs will not be considered. The HRA reserves the right to close this vacancy early should it receive a sufficient number of applications.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Highly developed, specialist knowledge of public involvement in any sector with a thorough theoretical understanding and considerable practical experience. This should be equivalent to a Masters level of training and experience, but we recognise and welcome that you may have taken very different routes to this.
Desirable
- An understanding and experience of public involvement in health and social care research.
Knowledge, Skills and Expertise
Essential
- Experience of leading and developing a public involvement function that can successfully earn people's trust and support colleagues to share power.
Knowledge, Skills and Expertise
Essential
- An understanding of inequalities in health and social care and experience of trying to address these.
- Understanding and lived experience of, or involving and supporting individuals with, health and social care issues.
Experience
Essential
- Able to act as an inspiring leader, communicating your vision to bring many different people with you and make change happen.
Analytical and Judgemental Skils
Essential
- Able to develop a long-term vision and manage people and projects to deliver this across the organisation, identifying when changes are needed to keep things on track and make these.
- Able to conduct research, analyse data and produce reports to inform the work of the public involvement team and support its work.
Interpersonal Skills
Essential
- Confident to talk to everyone in a way that works for them and be open to what they tell you to inform your actions, even if it means you need to change your approach.
- Can lead and manage diverse teams of people to deliver their best.
Other
Essential
- Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity
- Demonstrate a commitment to your values
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Highly developed, specialist knowledge of public involvement in any sector with a thorough theoretical understanding and considerable practical experience. This should be equivalent to a Masters level of training and experience, but we recognise and welcome that you may have taken very different routes to this.
Desirable
- An understanding and experience of public involvement in health and social care research.
Knowledge, Skills and Expertise
Essential
- Experience of leading and developing a public involvement function that can successfully earn people's trust and support colleagues to share power.
Knowledge, Skills and Expertise
Essential
- An understanding of inequalities in health and social care and experience of trying to address these.
- Understanding and lived experience of, or involving and supporting individuals with, health and social care issues.
Experience
Essential
- Able to act as an inspiring leader, communicating your vision to bring many different people with you and make change happen.
Analytical and Judgemental Skils
Essential
- Able to develop a long-term vision and manage people and projects to deliver this across the organisation, identifying when changes are needed to keep things on track and make these.
- Able to conduct research, analyse data and produce reports to inform the work of the public involvement team and support its work.
Interpersonal Skills
Essential
- Confident to talk to everyone in a way that works for them and be open to what they tell you to inform your actions, even if it means you need to change your approach.
- Can lead and manage diverse teams of people to deliver their best.
Other
Essential
- Commitment to inclusivity and valuing diversity
- Demonstrate a commitment to your 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.
