Clinical Research Facility (CRF) Involvement and Engagement Steering Group

 

Call for expressions of interest from public members to join the Clinical Research Facility Involvement and Engagement Steering Group (one post)

 

1.      What is the CRF Involvement and Engagement Steering Group?

The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)/Wellcome Trust Central Manchester Clinical Research Facility (CRF) supports experimental medicine research. This includes a wide range of clinical research projects, helping to bring about innovations in healthcare and supporting the development of new drugs and medical devices. For further information on the CRF please visit:

We are looking for an enthusiastic member of the public to join the CRF Involvement and Engagement Steering Group. This group has been set up to develop, integrate and implement a Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Strategy that aims to ensure that public and patient voices are included in all activity within the CRF.

2.      What is Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement?

Public involvement is research being carried out ‘with’or‘by’ members of the public rather than ‘to’,‘about’or‘for’ them. It does not refer to participation in research (e.g. someone taking part in a clinical trial). For more information please visit the INVOLVE website: http://www.invo.org.uk/find-out-more/what-is-public-involvement-in-research-2 

Public engagement describes different ways in which research can be shared with the public.For further information please visit: http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/about

3.      The aims of the CRF Involvement and Engagement Steering Group

• To oversee the implementation of the CRF Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Strategy.
  
• To ensure that patient and public involvement and engagement activities are in line with organisational objectives and patient priorities.
  
• To ensure compliance with NIHR requirements as and when required.
  
• To horizon scan and link in with local, regional and national involvement work.
  

 

4.      CRF Involvement and Engagement Steering Group Membership

Two public members will work in partnership with professional members of the CRF. Membership will include:

• Gail Woodburn (Chair and Lead Nurse for the R&I Division at CMFT
• Suzanne Parsons ( Public Programmes Team, Nowgen, CMFT)
• Patient member x 2
• Staff representatives from the CRF

 

5.      What is involved?

Duties of the CRF Involvement and Engagement Steering Group will include:

• To monitor the effectiveness of the implementation of the CRFs engagement and involvement strategy and associated work plan.
  
• To consider the cost implications and make recommendations to the management board regarding implementation of the strategy.
  
• To oversee and coordinate involvement and engagement activities within the CRF.
  
• Current projects include:
  • Exploring patient experiences at the CRF
  • Developing an information app for study participants
  • Data at the door
• To provide feedback on involvement and engagement activities for inclusion in annual reports.
  
• To advise on best practice in relation to involvement and engagement in research activities.
  
• We expect that one public member will also be elected as co-Chair.
  

 

 

6.      Eligibility

We are looking for one member of the public who lives in the Greater Manchester area. This individual will help to ensure that the views, experiences and interests of patients, carers, service users or community members inform the CRF Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Strategy.

The following experience may help you to get the most out of your membership in this group:

• An interest in health related research (rather than, for example, expertise on a specific topic or condition).
  
• Previous experience in confidently expressing your views in a group situation.
  
• Experience of research and/or NHS services within Greater Manchester. 

 

7.      Commitment

Members of the CRF Involvement and Engagement Steering Group will meet on a bi-monthly basis for two years in the first instance. There will also be some reading of relevant documents to do before each meeting and/or some limited email correspondence in between meetings. The first meeting of this group took place in October 2014.

 

8.      Compensation and recognition of your involvement

We will offer a fee of £75 per monthly meeting to pay you for your time. This includes preparation time for each meeting. Additionally, we will cover travel expenses for attendance at monthly meetings.

 

9.      Application process

Please contact Suzanne Parsons () if you are interested in this opportunity with your name, contact details and a paragraph on why you would like to be a public member on this group by February 16th 2015.

 

An informal phone interview will take place shortly after this date. The Chair of the CRF Involvement and Engagement Steering Group will then be in touch with the successful candidates to discuss your role and identify any training needs.