NHS England
National Primary Medical Services Assurance and Quality Improvement Steering
Group - Patient and Public Voice Representative Recruitment Information pack
Background, context and aims of the programme
The work and dedication of staff across general practice in England has delivered
improvements in quality, outcomes and patient experience. However, despite these efforts,
variation in general practice provision remains. Although there is excellence in some areas,
many patients still do not receive the high quality service they deserve.
A national approach to improving quality, outcomes and patient experience has been
developed by NHS England, making use of the best approaches of what has worked in the
past and developing these further in a once for England approach. This approach relates to
NHS England’s responsibility for direct commissioning of services in primary care and
supporting a drive to improve quality; this has been described further in the primary medical
services assurance framework policy and guidance documents.
Part of the approach taken in England is to provide GPs, NHS England, it's area teams
(ATs) and strategic partners (including department of health and clinical commissioning
groups (CCGs)) access to practice level information (i.e. data indicators) relating to
outcomes, quality and patient experience. These data are available through a restricted
access NHS web interface (www.primarycare.nhs.uk) and supports GPs, commissioners
and strategic partners to see where we are now, and helps us to improve in the direction of
where we would like to be, asking better questions along the way. There are 38 indicators
which have been defined for assurance management (called General Practice High Level
Indicators (GPHLIs)) and a further 28 outcome standards for quality improvement (called
General Practice Outcome Standards ((GPOS). In London, GPOS information is currently
shared with patients and the general public, through a friendly public facing website
www.myhealth.london.nhs.uk
A national primary medical services assurance and quality improvement steering group has
been established to help enable improvements in health outcomes and quality in primary
medical service provision. This will be achieved by maintaining oversight of the five
components of primary medical services assurance management framework, whereby
ensuring these remain relevant and fit for purpose over time and acting as a decision making
body on changes by drawing on expert opinion within the group, as well considering
recommendations by an indicator management sub group, the national steering group have
oversight responsibility and will provide recommendations to the senior responsible officer.
The five components of the primary medical services assurance management framework
include:
1.
Guidance to support good assurance management
2.
Policy for assurance management of primary medical services
3.
Electronic Practice Profile,
4.
Electronic Practice Declaration
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5.
A suite of General Practice High Level Indicators
The steering group also has oversight of and accountability for reviewing the indicators
defined for quality improvement (GPOS), and to have oversight of the web interface itself:
www.primarycare.nhs.uk.
Title and Purpose of the group seeking a PPV representative
National Primary Medical Services Assurance and Quality Improvement Steering Group
The role of the public and patient voice representatives
NHS England is committed to ensuring that public and patient voices are at the centre of
shaping our healthcare services. Every level of our commissioning system needs to be
informed by insightful methods of listening to those who use and care about our services.
We need to ensure we do more than listen to our citizens. Their views should inform service
development. Public and patient voice will be embedded into our commissioning processes
in a range of ways, including insight and feedback to shape services, voices in the
governance frameworks of our programmes of work, as well as patient and public
engagement in our assurance processes.
Patient and public involvement in the National Primary Medical Services Assurance and
Quality Improvement Steering Group seeks to achieve the following objectives:
Key principles around patient and public voice
1. Patient and Public voice is represented and heard across levels of governance,
including at the highest level of governance of the programme
2. There will be four patients / public voice representatives, bringing perspectives from
patient organisations and individuals who use our primary medical services
3. Bringing the voice of patients, carers and groups who may disproportionally
experience difficulties in accessing services e.g. those experiencing health
inequalities
4. In addition, consideration should be given to seeking perspectives from both
patient/carer organisations and individuals who use our services
ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE PPV REPRESENTATIVE
What is the role and responsibilities of PPV representation on the group?
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The patient and public voice representation bring important views, perspective and
challenge into the group – this role is essential in championing a service user, patient
and carer/family viewpoint, ensuring that the needs of the patient/carer are meet
through the outcomes of the programme
The role of the public and patient voice is to champion the diversity of patient and
public views (not to only represent their own experience)
Provide some critical friend challenge into the group
To champion and advocate for increasing patient and public awareness of the
programme outcomes and achievements
To provide objective input about the needs of patients and carers using the service in
question. This may be as a current user of services, as an advocate of patients or
carers, or as an employee of a patient organisation that supports services users and
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carers
6.
To review programme plans and documentation (Prospective applicants should also
be aware that many of the documents and programmes being reviewed will be fairly
technical in nature)
 To attend and contribute to the Steering group meetings
 complying with the Standards of Conduct and respecting the confidential nature of
discussions when it is made clear by the Chair that this is a requirement
Experience required: what skills, interest, experience, specialist knowledge or training are
required for this role?
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Experience of speaking in large groups
Data interpretation
Interacting with multiple stakeholders at senior management level
Ability to understand and evaluate a range of information and evidence
Representing patient and public voice in healthcare forums
Experience of working in partnership with healthcare organisations or programmes
Can display sound judgement and an ability to be objective
Ability to read technical manuals andprocess technical data in written reports
possess effective written and verbal communication skills
Have an awareness of, and commitment to, equality and diversity
Understand the need for confidentiality
The time commitment for this role
To 3 hours once every three months, with the potential to increase to monthly during January –
March 2014. In advance of each meeting, approximately one hour to read meeting papers in
advance of the meetings, submitting issues and potential discussion points or questions (by email
or post) regarding agenda items which have been marked ‘for discussion’ or ‘for decision’.
Membership will be reviewed annually
Support information for PPV representatives
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A named link will be provided at the steering group who will be able to support
representatives with background or context material that they may require.
If necessary pre-meeting briefings will be provided either by email, post or telephone
call.
Meeting documents will be emailed and/or provided in an accessible form as
requested by the PPV member. Including printed versions and (if requested) A4
paper, postage stamps and envelopes for submitting written responses will be
provided.
For individual patient/carer patient representatives – Travel and subsistence
expenses occurred as part of the work will be reimbursed in line with NHS England’s
policy, including travel, accommodation subsistence and child care costs where
necessary
Organisations are expected to cover expenses relating to meetings.
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Diversity and equality of opportunity
We value and promote diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity for all. To help
us understand if we are achieving this, we ask you to fill out a diversity monitoring form as
part of the application process. We also ask you to let us know if you have special needs
that we need to support to enable you to participate fully.
Standards of conduct and conflict of interest
Steering group members will be asked to subscribe to an agreed code of conduct and to
declare any potential conflicts of interest. Examples of conflict of interest might include:
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a patient group that receives funding from a pharmaceutical company supplying
drugs for a condition covered by the services under review
a charity or health trust that provides services which are covered by the CRG in
question.
How to apply
i.
Application form is attached the deadline for applications is 12noon on 8th July
2013. It should be returned to Becky Ozman: bozman@nhs.net
ii.
Braille, large print and tape versions of this information pack and the application form
are available from NHS England by emailing nhscb.participation@nhs.net or phoning
0113 825 1399
We will rely on the information you provide in the application form to assess whether you
have the experience required, so please ensure you give us written evidence in the form
to support how you meet the identified criteria
iii.
Once we receive your application
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Applications will be shortlisted by a panel including members drawn from the following
groups: members of the NHS England Patient and Public Voice team, the steering group
secretariat
Applications will be assessed against the experience listed above
Selection will be made on the basis of the content of the application form. There will not
be an interview process, but references will be taken up for successful applicants.
Successful applicants will receive an email from NHS England notifying them of this and
informing them of next steps
Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified via email.
There is an option on the application form for applicants to be informed about future
involvement opportunities with NHS England
More queries?
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For an informal discussion about these posts or the national Steering group – please contact
[Paul Foggitt, tel 0207 932 3700 ext 4254 or email paulfoggitt@nhs.net
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