Thank you for your interest in becoming a patient and public voice (PPV) partner with NHS England.
Working in partnership with people and communities creates a much better chance of ensuring services meet people’s needs, improving their experience and outcomes. Becoming a PPV Partner is one of the important ways that we can hear people’s voices.
Please read this application information pack before completing the application form for this role. It will help you decide if the role is right for you.
If you would like support or this information in another format, please contact england.lgbtadvisor@nhs.net
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 30 October 2024.
Please note that correspondence will be primarily via email, unless otherwise requested. If you do not have access to email and would like to be contacted via telephone or post, please state this on your application form.
This post attract an involvement payment in line with the PPV partner expenses and involvement payments policy.
Please note: Involvement payments are classed as a form of income by HMRC and are subject to deductions including tax and National Insurance (depending on individuals’ circumstances).
Involvement payments are made via payroll for tax purposes only, to ensure that NHS England makes payments in a tax compliant way in line with HMRC guidance. PPV partners are not employees, workers or agents of NHS England.
Before accepting an offer of a role with an involvement payment you are advised to get independent advice. You may wish to contact the job centre or Citizens Advice.
NHS England is not able to provide benefits advice (or any other financial advice) to PPV partners. However, we commission a helpline from Citizens Advice for people who are in receipt of benefits and currently involved, or considering being involved, as a PPV partner in NHS England work. Please contact england.engagement@nhs.net to access this service.
You can choose to decline an involvement payment if you wish.
How to apply
Please complete the following:
If you do not wish to complete the online form, you can send these documents by email to england.lgbtadvisor@nhs.net
We understand that filling in forms is not the most accessible way for some people to apply for roles. We do not want the application process to be a barrier to your involvement. If you would like to apply for the role in a different way, for example by telephone, or by sending a voice recording or if you would like support to apply for this role, and/or information in another format please contact england.lgbtadvisor@nhs.net
We will rely on the information you provide in the application form to assess whether you are a good fit for the role.
Diversity and equality of opportunity
NHS England values and promotes diversity and is committed to equality of opportunity for all. To help us understand if we are achieving this, we ask you to fill out an equal opportunity monitoring form as part of the application process.
NHS England is a Disability Confident employer. Disability Confident applies to all recruitment opportunities, including PPV partner recruitment. Applicants who state that they have a disability and successfully evidence the essential criteria will be offered an interview. Please note: In certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, disabled candidates who best meet the essential criteria will be interviewed rather than all of those that meet the essential criteria.
Once we receive your application
The steps will be as follows:
- we will acknowledge receipt of your application form via email (unless otherwise specified). If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 30 days, please get in touch
- applications will be shortlisted by a panel, including team members from the LGBT Health team and Experience and Partnerships team, as well as existing members of the National LGBTQIA+ Sounding Board
- applications will be assessed against the skills and experience required. Selection will be made on the basis of the content of the application form
- interviews will take place via MS Teams
- please note that two references will be taken up for successful applicants before the role is confirmed. References can be from a place of volunteering, work or study, for example
- all applications will receive a successful or unsuccessful notification. The successful notifications will include information about next steps
If you have any queries about the application process or would like an informal discussion about the opportunity – please contact england.lgbtadvisor@nhsnet
Background, context and aims of the programme
The Government’s LGBT survey of over 100,000 LGBT people in 2018 found that a concerning number of respondents said their needs were ignored or not taken into account when they accessed, or tried to access, healthcare services. Some also said they avoided treatment for fear of discrimination or intolerant reactions. In response to the findings on health and social care in the National LGBT survey, the Government published the LGBT Action Plan in July 2018. In the health section of the Plan, Government committed to appointing a National Advisor:
“We will appoint a National Advisor to lead improvements to LGBT healthcare. The National Advisor will focus on reducing the heath inequalities that LGBT people face, and advise on ways to improve the care LGBT people receive when accessing the NHS and public health services. They will work across the NHS to ensure that the needs of LGBT people are considered throughout the health system. The National Advisor will work to improve healthcare professionals’ awareness of LGBT issues so they can provide better patient care. The National Advisor will work with relevant statutory organisations and professional associations to embed LGBT issues into physical and mental health services.”
The National Advisor for LGBT Health at NHS England was appointed to advocate for the needs of LGBTQIA+ people in the healthcare system, to improve their experience of services, reduce health inequalities, and to represent the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community. One way in which the National Advisor listens and acts on the views of the LGBTQIA+ community is via the National LGBTQIA+ Sounding Board, which was set up in 2022.
The LGBTQIA+ Sounding Board provides the opportunity for NHS England to hear the views of LGBTQIA+ people. The insights gained will be part of broader NHS England work with LGBTQIA+ people and communities to inform NHS England’s decision-making.
Who are the members of the LGBTQIA+ Sounding Board?
The LGBTQIA+ Sounding Board is a group of approximately 20 people with lived experience of NHS services and being lesbian, gay, bi+, trans, intersex, asexual and other queer identities. The group includes disabled people, people with long term health conditions and/or neurodiversity, people of a broad range of ages, LGBTQIA+ people from ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ people from rural and urban communities.
What the LGBTQIA+ Sounding Board aims to achieve
The LGBTQIA+ Sounding Board aims to engage, empower and connect a diverse group of LGBTQIA+ people across England, to have a voice within the NHS and to work collaboratively to create positive change.
The Sounding Board’s goal is to shape and improve healthcare for the LGBTQIA+ community, through more inclusive healthcare, better health outcomes and reduced health inequalities.
There are visiting NHS policy leads each month – their role is to present their work, ideas and proposals, listen to the opinion of the Sounding Board members and provide feedback on what happens as a result of the discussion. To date these have included:
- NHS England Primary Care team
- NHS England Mental Health Programme
- NHS England Specialised Commissioning team
- NHS Digital
- NHS Confederation
What is the role of PPV Partners on the Sounding Board?
PPV Partners bring important views, perspective and challenge into the LGBTQIA+ Sounding Board. This role is essential in championing a service user, patient and/or carer/family viewpoint, ensuring that their needs are met through the outcomes of the programme.
The role of the PPV partner is to:
- act as a ‘critical friend’ by challenging NHS England on its work in a positive way
- bring lived experience, views, and perspectives to the LGBTQIA+ Sounding Board discussions, and work together on projects to raise the profile of issues facing LGBTQIA+ people in health
- where appropriate, represent different views within a community and not just represent their own voice
- listen actively and appreciate that everyone has different lived experiences, backgrounds, communication styles and beliefs. Any discriminatory speech or behaviour, or discrimination against a particular person or group, is not tolerated)
- members may be asked to review and comment on documents, and to prepare for meetings, and may be invited to be involved in the LGBT Health Team’s national conference (annually)
All PPV partners will need to comply with the standards of conduct and respect the confidential nature of some discussions. The team will make it clear when a topic is confidential.
Skills and experience desirable for this role
- Understand the need for confidentiality
- Passionate about advancing LGBTQIA+ equality within healthcare
- Able to communicate with lots of different people
- Able to speak about their views, and where appropriate represent the views of others
- Have an awareness and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
Time commitment
- membership of the group/committee is for 1 year initially, at which point membership will be reviewed. Please note that the maximum tenure for a PPV partner is 4 years
- you will be required to attend meetings approximately once a month. Meetings will usually take place online via Microsoft Teams
- meetings will normally last for 2 hours
Support for PPV partners
From your team:
You will receive an induction from the programme team that is leading this work. All meeting documents, and if necessary, pre-meeting briefings will be provided. The group is managed by the LGBT Health team and Experience and Partnerships team.
From NHS England:
NHS England is not able to provide benefits advice (or any other financial advice) to PPV Partners. However, free confidential advice is available for people who are in receipt of benefits and are involved, or considering involvement, with NHS England. Please contact england.engagement@nhs.net to make use of this service.
We have a digital support offer for PPV Partners who may need a laptop, internet data, or other IT equipment to do their role. If you will require this support, please contact england.lgbtadvisor@nhs.net for more details.
There are a range of learning and development opportunities available to PPV partners.
We have an online PPV partner network and regular drop-in sessions for partners to support one and other, access free training resources and ask questions.
NHS England has an Employee Assistance Programme which is available to anyone who works with or supports NHS England, including contractors and PPV partners.