Chair
Healthwatch Lewisham
Recruitment Pack
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Chair, Healthwatch Lewisham
Healthwatch Lewisham, the local champion for health and social care is appointing a
Chair. We are looking for someone with an understanding of the importance of user
involvement, some governance experience and most importantly a passion for
promoting better health and social care for local people. Local knowledge would be
helpful but not essential.
Introduction
Healthwatch Lewisham’s mission is to enable people, communities and organisations in
Lewisham to have a say and influence the planning, commissioning and delivery of health
and social care services to improve the health and wellbeing of patients, public and service
users.
We are now in our second year and have a strong staff team, a broad-based set of
volunteers and an executive committee with a wide range of experience and skills. We
have good links with other local Healthwatch groups and the complex NHS structures both
locally, across London and nationally.
This is an opportunity for a new Chair to take a leading role in steering the organisation to
make a significant impact on the health and social care, the safety and the empowerment
of local people.
Healthwatch Lewisham is delivered and managed by Voluntary Action Lewisham (VAL), a
voluntary organisation that works with, supports and represents the voluntary and
community sector in the London Borough of Lewisham.
Voluntary Action Lewisham is the accountable body for the contractual obligations of
Healthwatch Lewisham, including the employment of individuals to carry out the key
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Healthwatch functions. VAL is governed by an Executive Committee (Board of Trustees),
led by an elected Chair of Trustees, made up of board members from local, regional and
national organisations with a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience.
The Healthwatch Lewisham board is a sub committee of VAL’s Executive committee, and
works to formally agreed terms of reference. In addition to the Chair, the Healthwatch
Lewisham sub committee currently comprises of two nominated members of VAL’s
Executive Committee and two members appointed from the health and social care sector.
The Chair of Healthwatch Lewisham is accountable to the Chair of the Executive Board of
Voluntary Action Lewisham.
The Director of VAL and the Healthwatch Lewisham Manager attend all meetings of the sub
committee
We wish to appoint a Chair of Healthwatch Lewisham to help guide and steer the
development of this project. The Chair of Healthwatch Lewisham will chair all the sub
committee meetings (currently monthly) and lead the strategic development of
Healthwatch Lewisham in line with the agreed contract. The Chair will be coopted to
VAL’s Executive Committee, with a single portfolio for Healthwatch Lewisham and will
therefore be expected to report to, and attend, bi-monthly VAL Executive Committee
meetings.
There will be opportunity to attend a wide number of external boards, forums and events
(depending on availability and level of interest) and on occasion to represent Healthwatch
Lewisham to the wider health community, including statutory partners. One of these is the
Lewisham Health and Wellbeing Board. The Chair of Healthwatch Lewisham has a seat at
this strategic board, so attendance at these bi-monthly meetings is essential in this role.
The position of Chair of Healthwatch Lewisham is voluntary and unpaid, however
reasonable out of pocket expenses will be paid, including travel and subsistence, as
appropriate. The Healthwatch Lewisham Chair will be supported by the Healthwatch
Manager, who supports and services the Healthwatch Lewisham sub committee.
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Role Description
The Chair of Healthwatch Lewisham will lead the governance of Healthwatch Lewisham,
primarily through the work of the Healthwatch Lewisham sub committee. This will include
working with the sub committee members in the strategic planning and direction of
Healthwatch Lewisham, in line with agreed objectives and requirements of relevant
statutory bodies, including the Department of Health and Healthwatch England. The Chair
is responsible for delivering on the governance elements of the agreed Healthwatch
Lewisham action plan and responding to any concerns/recommendations regarding
governance that are raised by relevant external partners, including London Borough of
Lewisham.
Key Responsibilities

Oversee and ensure good governance of Healthwatch Lewisham is in place, working
with the VAL Executive Committee and members of the Healthwatch Lewisham sub
committee

Chair sub committee meetings, ensuring the sub committee’s business is conducted
efficiently and effectively through a framework of appropriate terms of reference, internal
and financial controls, with strategies in place to manage and mitigate risk.

Lead the sub committee in reviewing patient, service users, carer and wider
community satisfaction in relation to the performance of Healthwatch Lewisham

Oversee the performance and continuous improvement of Healthwatch Lewisham to
ensure excellence and quality assurance.

As an Ambassador and representative, upholding the reputation and integrity of
Healthwatch Lewisham and its values. To attend, inform and influence the Lewisham
Health and Wellbeing Board and other boards and forums as relevant.

To play a proactive role in decisions relating to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and
the planning and delivery of health and social care services in Lewisham.

Ensure appropriate Healthwatch representation on CCG and its supporting partnership
boards and play a proactive role in decisions relating to the Clinical Commissioning
Strategy, and the planning and delivery of health and social care services.
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
Oversee the development and implementation of a workplan that meets the
contractual obligations, with key responsibility for delivering the elements related to
governance of Healthwatch Lewisham.

Work within the responsibility delegated by the Executive Committee of Voluntary
Action Lewisham and report in a timely and efficient manner, seeking professional advice
when needed.

To ensure that members of the sub committee understand their roles and
responsibilities on the sub committee.

Provide leadership of the sub committee that is responsive and accountable to
members, partners, and stakeholders who have an interest in its work.

Build and maintain effective working relationships with the Healthwatch Manager and
the staff team. Develop and maintain strategic relationships with senior staff within other
organisations to ensure effective partnership, as relevant.
Person Specification
1.
Good understanding of health, social care and wellbeing policy and issues/challenges
facing the NHS and Local Authorities.
2.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to liaise effectively with a wide a
range of stakeholders and audiences.
3.
Strategic thinking, able to analyse complex information, demonstrate clear analytical
intellect and guide rational decision making.
4.
Support the values, ethos and objectives of Healthwatch Lewisham.
5.
Clear understanding and experience of governance and the associated responsibilities.
6.
Commitment to promoting equality and diversity.
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Recruitment Process
We are recruiting a Chair through an open process by way of public advertisement.
Candidates will be expected to submit their interest by completing the application form.
No CV’s or other communications will be considered. Candidates must provide sufficient
evidence to demonstrate they are capable of performing the role of Chair.
Closing date for application is Friday 4th July 2014 and interviews will take place in Catford
w/c 7th July.
Following receipt of applications, the shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by a panel
of key stakeholders. Those people attending for interview will be notified of the outcome
as soon as possible after the interviews.
Voluntary Action Lewisham will conduct post interview checks and will take up references
before an appointment is formally made.
Appointment to Chair of Healthwatch Lewisham shall be for an initial period of one year,
which may be extended for a further period, if appropriate.
Eligibility
Applications will be considered from:

Anyone who is over the age of 18 and lives or works/volunteers in Lewisham.
Exclusions due to Conflict of Interest
Applications from the following will not be considered:

Providers of statutory health or social care services and their employees, where
these services are accessed by Lewisham residents i.e. NHS Hospitals, Community
Health Services, Social Workers.

Employees of organisations with a statutory role to commission health or social care
services for people in Lewisham.
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
Lewisham Councilors or MPs.
Individual circumstances will be considered by the panel, but generally people will also be
excluded if:

They have been dismissed as a trustee or a director from an organisation of any
kind.

They are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or similar order.

Anyone who is under a disqualification order under the Company Directors
Disqualification Act 1986.
Time Commitment
As well as attendance at meetings detailed above and reading the papers in advance, there
will be time required to keep up to date with communications from the Healthwatch
Manager and respond to issues raised. It is anticipated that this will be at least 4 hours per
week.
How to apply for this role
For more information, please read our website www.healthwatchlewisham.co.uk
To apply for this role, please send your completed application form to:
info@valewisham.org.uk
or if you wish to post it, send to:
Voluntary Action Lewisham
120 Rushey Green
London
SE6 4HQ
If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, then please contact:
Chris Freed
Interim Chair, Healthwatch Lewisham
Chair, Voluntary Action Lewisham
Tel: 07736 814199
Email: chris.freed@tiscali.co.uk
Miriam Long
Manager
Healthwatch Lewisham
St. Laurence Community Centre
31 – 37 Bromley Road
Catford, London SE6 2TS
Tel. 020 3417 4727
Email: miriam@healthwatchlewisham.co.uk
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APPLICATION FORM
Post applied for: Chair of Healthwatch Lewisham
Please return your completed form by: Friday 4th July 2014
Please return this application along with the Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form to:
info@valewisham.org.uk
Healthwatch Lewisham wishes to ensure that comparison between applicants for posts is
thorough, fair, and in line with the equal opportunities policy. It is essential therefore that
you complete this application form fully as it will be used to assess whether you will be
shortlisted for interview.
Please do NOT enclose a separate C.V.
Please use black ink or black type when completing this application
Name:
Home Address:
Telephone (day):
Telephone (eve.):
Email
If successful, how soon could you take up the post?
Please complete each section in full.
It is not acceptable to write ‘see attached CV’.
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Please tell us how your skills/ experience and any relevant training meet the requirements
of the role description. Do not use more than 2 pages.
DETAILS
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Do not write see C.V.
Please tell us why you are interested in applying for this role.
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References
(Please provide the names and addresses of two people who are willing to give references,
one of whom must be your current or latest employer.)
Referee 1
Referee 2
Please note that referees will only be contacted if you are offered the post.
Where did you see this post advertised?
Declaration:
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge the information I have provided in this
application is correct.
Signature
Date
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