News

Healthwatch Northamptonshire and Healthwatch Rutland Annual Reports for 2020-21 have now been published.

This year has been a very difficult one for everybody. While Healthwatch could not visit health and social care premises, they were still able to investigate the impact of the pandemic on people’s access to the services that matter to them most.

Highlights of 2020-21 included:

• A closer look at young people’s emotional wellbeing and what would support them
• Championing people’s experiences and needs during the coronavirus pandemic
• Supporting good communication, information, oversight and engagement in response to COVID-19
• Seeking out and representing people’s views and concerns about the centralisation of acute and maternity services
• Helping people to find answers and escalating concerns such as delayed access to dementia assessment

We are looking for a new chair for Healthwatch Northamptonshire’s Advisory Board. Find out more about the role.

The Healthwatch Northamptonshire Advisory Board is a statutory body established under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. The Advisory Board Chair will be responsible for carrying out and contributing to a range of activities.

It is expected that the Chair will commit at least one day per week to the role for a modest honorarium of £5,200 per annum plus reasonable expenses.

The Chair will work with staff to:

• Regularly review the overall strategy and business plan for the delivery of the Healthwatch Northamptonshire contract, agreeing changes where necessary, and be accountable to Connected Together CIC Board (the Contract Holder) for the performance of the Advisory Board in delivering the Healthwatch Northamptonshire contract.
• Ensure, as far as is possible, that the Healthwatch Northamptonshire Advisory Board functions effectively to deliver its strategy and plan, including chairing meetings of the Advisory Board, managing the appointment of members and using individual skills, knowledge and experience to assist the Advisory Board in reaching sound decisions.
• Help determine the strategic direction and work plan for the Advisory Board, working with staff to support the efficient allocation and administering of resources to perform its functions effectively.
• Ensure that the organisation, operations and practices of the Advisory Board are transparent and accountable as is reasonably possible, and that the Advisory Board seeks out and engages with members of the public, service users and carers, including minority groups, to gain their views on health and social care issues.
• Attend meetings with a variety of health and social care commissioners to represent public views as gathered through outreach work and ensure representation at fora, committees and sub-committees with a variety of stakeholders (including user-groups and partners) where these will help the Advisory Board to deliver on its aims.
• Assess a range of projects, research, and reports that will help the Advisory Board fulfil its role.
• Please read the full role description below.

What we are looking for: 

• Someone with previous experience of chairing a high-profile organisation and working at a strategic level.
• Someone with strong networking abilities and experience of community engagement and/or development.
• Knowledge and understanding of involvement, empowerment, engagement, community development and its applications.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, IT skills, good written and oral communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people and experience of working with volunteers, while being inclusive of and sensitive to the views and opinions of others.
• Able to develop and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, staff and the wider community, with a sense of civic duty.
• A flexible, creative and solution-focused approach, tact, diplomacy and problem-solving skills, and the ability to respect confidentiality.
• Ideally, you will also have knowledge and experience in the public and patient involvement mechanisms and history and an understanding of Health and Social Care services and structures.

If you are interested in becoming Chair, please read the role description and download the application form below.

The closing date for applications will be Wednesday 30 June.

If you would like to discuss the role before applying or any additional information please email enquiries@healthwatchnorthamptonshire.co.uk or telephone: 0300 002 0010 and leave your contact details with a member of staff.

Applications by email are preferred but please contact us if you require a copy of the form posted to you.

Join the Healthwatch team by volunteering for the Healthwatch Northamptonshire Advisory Board!

They are looking for new Healthwatch Northamptonshire Advisory Board members to represent West Northamptonshire or North Northamptonshire depending on their residency. They are especially looking for people with an interest in the following services and communities, who are keen to champion the voices of people: 

• Carers
• Mental Health service
• Services for children, young people and families
• Acute services (hospitals)
• Learning disabilities and special educational needs
• Physical disabilities and impairments
• GP services
• Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities
• Ambulance services, transport and accessibility

Advisory Board members will help determine the strategic direction for Healthwatch Northamptonshire and, working with the Healthwatch Northamptonshire staff team, help to develop and deliver the work plan on behalf of the people of Northamptonshire.

They will ensure Healthwatch Northamptonshire’s operations are transparent and accountable and help to engage with members of the public, consumers and carers, including ‘seldom heard’ groups, to gain their views on health and social care issues and problems in Northamptonshire.

Please read the job description to find out more about the role and the skills and experience required.

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Time commitment for Advisory Board Members:

Read Board papers and attend Advisory Board meetings every 3 months (approximately 5-6 hours).

Respond to emails and attend other meetings and events on behalf of HWN as desired (average 2-4 hours per meeting or event).

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If you are interested in becoming an Advisory Board member, please read the role description and download the application form below. (Applications by email are preferred but please email enquiries@healthwatchnorthamptonshire.co.uk or phone 0300 002 0010 if you require a copy of the form posted to you.)

The closing date for applications will be Wednesday 30 June. If you would like to discuss the role before applying, please contact katiebayliss@healthwatchnorthamptonshire.co.uk

Shortlisting and interviewing will be the first two weeks of July. 

Successful Advisory Board members will then go through a robust induction process, including safeguarding, the role of a Healthwatch Advisory Board, and working with partners.

Hours: Part-time, up to 30 hours per week, working days to be agreed

Salary: £23,000 to £25,000 pro rata

Healthwatch Rutland is the consumer champion for all users of local health and social care services.

Healthwatch Rutland have an exciting opportunity for someone to join their team to lead on the development of their volunteer base and to facilitate engagement and involvement of local people in their work.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate:

• Experience of recruiting, supporting, developing and motivating volunteers to gather experiences of health and social care effectively
• Experience of working with different communities and engaging the public, of all ages, both face-to-face and online
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including report-writing
• Experience with partnership working

The role is based at the Healthwatch Rutland office at Barleythorpe, Oakham, and you will need to be able to travel around the county when coronavirus restrictions are lifted. In the interim the successful candidate will work from home.

If you require a hardcopy application pack to be sent to you, or would like an informal chat about the role, please call 01572 720381 and leave a message or email info@healthwatchrutland.co.uk.

To apply: download and fill out the application form below addressing the criteria outlined in the Person Specification within the job description. The application can be completed in MS Word and emailed to info@heathwatchrutland.co.uk or you can print and send a hardcopy to Healthwatch Rutland, The King Centre, Main Road Barleythorpe, Oakham, Rutland LE15 7WD.