Research Assistant for the BPSU - 2004

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:Invited Reviews Operational Lead

GRADE:6

HOURS:28 hours a week (part time) or annualised hours

CONTRACT:Permanent

DIVISION: Corporate Services

REPORTING TO:Director of Corporate Services

PLACE OF WORK:RCPCH Offices, 5-11 Theobalds Road, London

JOB CONTEXT

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health sets and maintains standards for the education and training of all doctors working in paediatrics and child health in the UK. Additionally, through a variety of activities, it influences the quality of medical practice for children in hospital and in the community. The College has over 15,000 members and fellows and employs around 140 staff predominately based in our London office. The College also has offices in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

A primary aim of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is to promote the highest standards of medical practice to improve health and healthcare of children. One way in which we meet this aim is by undertaking Invited Reviews. This process supports paediatricians when they feel the practice of good clinical medicine is compromised and forms an important method for protecting and improving patient care and ensuring patient safety.

INVITED REVIEW PROGRAMME

The Royal College may be contacted by an NHS or other health organisation to undertake an Invited Review when there is an issue which is proving difficult to resolve, or on which they require independent advice. This may be in respect of:

• Clinical practice
• Service delivery or clinical governance
• Concerns over patient safety
• Clinical team functionality
• Network or multi-site arrangements
• Workload and activity issues
• Integrated child health services and pathways

This post is responsible for managing the operational delivery of the Invited Reviews programme, working with the Head of Invited Reviews to maintain high standards of service and support to clients and reviewers alongside active development of the clinical reviewer team and programme into new areas of work. This includes all aspects of an assigned review, including arranging travel and general administration to provide a personalised service to clients and reviewers.

This role is likely to require some out-of hours presence and overnight stays away from home when supporting review visits. The usual working days can be either fixed or flexible to match the needs of the service and commitments of the post holder and will be agreed on appointment.

SPECIFIC DUTIES

Invited Reviews Management

1. Provide responsive contact for invited reviews enquiries, including informed questioning, swift, informed responses, development of review scopes and signposting to other organisations and sources of information.

1. Manage a portfolio of reviews, including all functions and interactions, supported by the HoIR and programme Board where necessary. Ensure that delivery schedules are met and provide a swift and personalised service to clients, reviewers and those involved in contributing to reviews.

1. Contribute to maintaining and improving the high standards of quality in all aspects of the programme, reviewing and updating mechanisms and contributing to the Quality Assurance process in order to protect and enhance the reputation of the College.

1. Manage and develop the administrative materials and systems, including core documentation, templates and forms towards an agreed, legally validated process for undertaking and reporting on invited reviews.

Stakeholder Management

1. Work with HoIR to manage and develop the reviewers including specialists and those nominated by other organisations. Maintain regular personalised contact and opportunities for participation in reviews and on-going training and development.

1. Provide support and contribute to the quarterly Invited Reviews Programme Board and the Intercollegiate IR Managers group and liaise as necessary with College Officers and senior staff.

1. Work with other College staff teams to contribute to the review and related work including sharing of intelligence, development of standards and policy influence.

1. Represent the College and/or the IR programme where appropriate in relationships with external agencies including regulatory and policy bodies.

Review and Development

1. Contribute to review, audit and development of the programme to respond to new models of service, working with theGovernance and Research and Policy teams to inform development of standards , support reconfigurations and the development of Quality Improvement tools

1. Contribute to ‘marketing’ for the programme, to raise awareness of the service to maximise the opportunities for service improvement

Other

1. Any other duties as required to support the College and the work of the programme and division.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Salary offered for this post ranges from £35, 952 pro rata, per annum. (all appointments are usually offered at the first point of the scale).

Annual Leave Allowance 27 days pro rata rising by one day every two years to a maximum of 29 days. Additional days are given for College closure between Christmas and New Year.

Employment Benefits:

• Contributory pension Scheme with an employers contribution of up to 10%
• Child care vouchers
• RCPCH Rewards scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Eye care vouchers

Working hours

There is the option to work

• 28 hours per week (office hours 9-5 Monday to Friday with one hour for lunch) or;
• Annualised hours, 1461.6 hours per year, minus annual leave and bank holidays, pro-rata. Annualised hours are working hours that reflect peaks and troughs in work demands. The appointed candidate will be contracted to work a set number of hours during the year, but weekly hours are varied depending on how much work there is to do.

The College is expanding and developing the involvement of children in its work. For some roles this may in future mean direct contact with young people. The College therefore may in the future require a Criminal Records Bureau check to be undertaken.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

WHERE EVIDENCED

1