Public and Patient Representatives – Role Description

Role Title:Public and Patient Representative

Job Summary:To participate in a Swindon Procurement for Alternative Provider Medical Services (GP services) in Swindon, assessing and evaluating provider bids and representing the view of Swindon patients in this process.

Location: This role will be based in Swindon. It will require you to attend meetings in Swindon and you will ideally need to be able to access the internet from home.

What is the Alternative Provider Medical Services procurement?

SwindonAlternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) procurement is the local NHS process for identifying capable providers of new and existing primary medical care (GP) services in a number of areas of Swindon. It is being carried out jointly by NHS Swindon CCG and NHS England, who are working together as joint commissioners of GP services in Swindon.

There are a number of reasons for this:

•As Swindon’s population continues to grow, we are seeking providers to deliver general practice services in the New Eastern Villages and Wichelstowe areas.

•Following lengthy discussions and consideration of a range of options, two GP practices in Swindon, Great Western Surgery and Hermitage Surgery, have decided that they wish to end their contract. New providers are therefore required to ensure patients can continue to access these surgeries.

•A third practice, Carfax NHS Medical Centre, will reach the end of its contract on 31 March 2017. A provider is therefore required to ensure the ongoing provision of GP services.

The new contracts for these services will go live over a phased period of time. Providers for the three existing practices will all be in place by April 2018.

By undertaking a joint procurement process, we believe that we will be in a better position to secure long term providers of general practice services for our Swindon population that will offer equal access to high quality care.

What will a patient representative do?

Public and Patient representatives will be the voice of the community and will support the programme by:

  • Reading bids from the providers of services. These will be long and, at times, complex documents
  • Attending meetings to evaluate these bids
  • Giving their views about which provider(s) should deliver the services

How long will the project last?

The process will run fromAugust toDecember 2016. You will be required to review the bids during a three-week period inOctober.The time required will depend on how many tender bids are received and the number of questions you are reviewing. This time is difficult to estimate but between two to three days should be made available during this time. For more details on timelines please see Annex A at the end of this document.

Representing others

As a Public and Patient Representative you will be asked to:

  • Represent the interests and concerns of the Swindon community
  • Attend champion training and group support sessions as appropriate
  • Sign up to a confidentiality and conflict of interest agreements

What skills will you need?

  • To be able to commit to the time needed
  • Experience as a user of health and social care services in Swindon or as a Carer of someone who uses services
  • It would be an advantage if you have had experience of discussing, with others, why you prefer one option over another when evaluating different options
  • Personal commitment and enthusiasm for improving health and social care services within Swindon
  • Good listening and communication skills
  • Committed to helping people have a voice
  • Respect other people and not judge them
  • Able to separate own experiences from other people’s issues and faithfully present the wider views of the community.

Training and Support

We will run an initial briefing and training session duringSeptemberwhich you will need to attend. This will include training on how to effectively support the procurement process, which will include topics such as equalities, representing the views of others, confidentiality and meeting skills.

You will meet your designated contact,who will support you throughout your time as a Public and Patient Representative. You will have time to discuss any access needs you may have and any additional support you may need to take part in meetings.

Expenses

All reasonable travel expenses will be paid.

What do I need to do next?

Please complete the attached form and return it to us using the contact details at the end of the form.

Public and Patient Representative – Contact Information and Application Form

Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………….

Home Telephone:……………………….. Mobile Telephone: ……………..……….

Email:………………………………………………………………………………………….

Address:………………………………………………………………………………….....

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Preferred method of contact (please circle)

Email LetterTelephone Text Message

Please give the name of a person who could act as a reference for you:

Name:………………………………..…. Relationship to you:……………………………

Contact Details:………………………………………………………………...……………..

Please tell us if you are representing a particular group or specific condition

……………………………………………………………………………………………..……

……………………………………………………………………………………………..……

How often have you attended meetings and represented the views of others at these meetings in the last three years? (please circle)

Never1-5 times6-10 times More than ten times

Please give details or examples of the meetings you have attended:

……………………………………………………………………………………………..……

……………………………………………………………………………………………..…

Do you have any access needs to be able to participate in the meetings?

(e.g. do you require large print or easy read hand outs)

......

Do you have any special dietary needs? (please circle) YesNo

If yes, please give details……………………………………………………………………

Please write a short summary of why you would like to become a Public and Patient Representative in the Swindon APMS procurement process and what experience of health and social care you have.

Please return your completed form to us by midday on9th September 2016

Send your form to

Or post it to:

Freepost NHS Swindon CCG

Annex A – Key Dates

Training (Procurement / Evaluating) / One date will be chosen from the following:
12 or 14 September 2016
Please keep both dates free, the training session will last approximately 1.5hrs and successful applicants will be notified of the date/time
Evaluation process – Individual evaluations / 3 October 2016 to 24 October 2016
Deadline = 12:00pm on Monday 24th October
Consensus / Moderation Meetings / 27 / 28 and 29 October 2016
Exact dates / times to be confirmed
(Will only be required for questions you’ve been assigned to).
Presentation Sessions / 8 November 2016 to 10 November 2016
Please note: we will only require 1 patient representative at these sessions
(This may not require 3 full days; depends on number of bids returned and shortlisted to this sage)
Bidders notified of outcome
(10 day standstill period) / 28 November 2016 to 8 December 2016
Final award / 9 December 2016