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NHS England is seeking Independent Chairs for NHS Continuing Healthcare Independent Review Panels

NHS England is seeking a number of people to chair Independent Review Panels (IRPs) about individuals’ eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC).

Independent Review Panels can be requested by individuals or their representatives and they are co-ordinated by NHS England’s four regions. The panels comprise the chair and representatives from a clinical commissioning group and a local authority.

NHS CHC is a package of on-going care for adults aged 18 or over that is arranged and solely funded by the NHS, where the individual has been found to have a primary health need.

The Independent Review Panels work within the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS funded nursing care. Their key task is to review decisions on funding eligibility and/or the procedure followed by the clinical commissioning group, in reaching their decision.

NHS England is seeking chairs who live in, or close to, one of the four NHS England regions of South, London, North, and Midlands and East. Applicants will be required to travel across their nominated region and may also be required to travel to London for national meetings.

The initial appointment will be for three years and will be reviewed annually.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge

Chairs must have a genuine interest in healthcare and be able to demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and facilitation skills. They will be required to provide clear leadership to the Independent Review Panels, possess well-developed analytical skills and demonstrate sound judgement in complex and sensitive cases. They will be capable of securing the confidence of all parties during a review, using a collaborative and compassionate style of working that is focused on achieving evidence-based outcomes and a constructive experience for people and their families, in line with the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS funded nursing care.

The chairs will need an understanding of how health and social care services for older people, and other vulnerable care groups, have developed in recent years. The chairs will also be involved in producing written reports following the Independent Review Panels taking place.

The chair’s fees will depend on the number of cases that they have been assigned at any given time and reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

This role is not open to a current chair, member (other than a member of an NHS Foundation Trust), director, governor or employee of an NHS Body; a chair or a member of a clinical commissioning group; or an elected member or employee of a social services authority.

However, those who have previously held any of these positions (outlined above) are eligible to apply.

Closing date  

The closing date for applications is 26 January 2014. The role is also being advertised in The Guardian, The Times, The Independent on Sunday newspapers.

More information

Interested individuals can request further information from nhsbsa.recruit@nhs.net quoting reference NHSE 1077 in the subject of the email.