Overview

Clinical Reference Groups: Patient and Carer Member Recruitment – Application Page

Apply to be a Patient or Carer Member of a Clinical Reference Group (CRG)

NHS England has opened the second wave of recruitment for patient and carer members of its Clinical Reference Groups for 2013/14. See below for a full list of CRGs who are still recruiting members.

CRGs are responsible for providing NHS England with clinical advice regarding specialised services, and for the delivery of key ‘products’, such as service specifications and commissioning policies, which enable the NHS CB to commission services from specialist service providers through the contracting arrangements overseen by its Area Teams.

Above all, CRGs are driven by a commitment to ensure equity across specialised services. This means ensuring that patients who require treatment from any of the specialised services have equitable access to those services, regardless of where they live, and that each of the services is of the highest possible quality. CRGs are also at the forefront of the drive to spearhead innovation, working with clinical leaders, patients and suppliers to identify and promote best practice; scanning the horizon for new treatment approaches; and taking action to improve patient experience and outcomes in the NHS.

This is an exciting time to join a CRG, as they take their place within the new commissioning structures which have been introduced as a result of NHS reform. The accompanying Guide to CRGs and Information Pack for Patients and Carers will provide you with more, detailed information about their work; where they sit within the NHS CB structure, and what it means to be a patient and carer member of a CRG. If you are interested in applying to be a patient or carer member, you will also find an application form which you can complete online.

The closing date for applications in this second wave is 23:59 on 13 June 2013.

Each of the CRGs will have its own, dedicated page on the NHS CB website, where you will be able to find more information about the individual CRGs. These pages are currently being developed and will be available soon. In the meantime, you can find brief descriptions of each of the CRGs, and the services they cover, in the appendix attached to the rear of the CRG Guide.

The CRGs still recruiting are:

You can find further information about CRGs in ‘Clinical Reference Groups for Specialised Services: A Guide for Stakeholders’ and in the Information Pack for Patient and Carer Members.

Both documents can be found at http://www.commissioningboard.nhs.uk/ourwork/d-com/spec-serv/crg/

The recruitment process

• You will receive an email acknowledgement when you submit your application online.
• Applications will be shortlisted by a panel which will include members drawn from the following groups: CRG Chairs,  members of the NHS CB Patient and Public Voice team, the Patient and Public Engagement Steering Group or Department of Health Strategic Partners group (ensuring no conflict of interest), and commissioners.
• Applications will be assessed against the experience and criteria listed in the Information Pack for Patient and Carer Members with a view to ensuring that at least one service user and one carer is on each CRG, where appropriate. 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.

For further information please go to Information Pack for Patient and Carer Members

The closing date for applications in this second wave is 23:59 on 13June 2013.

To access the application form, click on the 'Online Survey' link below.