NHS South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit

Independent / Lay Member

The closing date is 28 September 2025

Job summary

The Lay Member will bring a 'grass roots' perspective to the work of the various Groups and Panels hosted by the Kent & Medway Individual Funding Request Team, which hear requests for funding for interventions not routinely available to a given individual. They will act as sitting members of these groups but in an independent capacity. Suitable for someone with a desire to work within the NHS, ensuring value for public money and helping to improve outcomes for patients through innovative, efficient and robust governance.

The role is approximately 4-6 hours per month, ALL WORK IS CARRIED OUT REMOTELY VIA EMAIL AND TEAMS.

This role can be delivered virtually with no expectation of work travel or site visits other than by arrangement and agreement.

A flat rate of £75 per half day (3.75 hours) on a pro rata basis.

Main duties of the job

o Attend via TEAMS the Triage Group and Panel meetings in the role as Lay/Independent Member, representing a common-sense approach to decision making.o Provide input to discussions and outcomes.o Follow all policies and processes to ensure rational decision-making.

The key responsibility of the role is to help ensure that the IFR policies, processes and procedures approved by the ICB relevant to the IFR service are followed by the IFR Triage Group and IFR Panel and WRRG when considering requests. Specifically, the Lay Member, as an independent member will help ensure the process is equitable and transparent, in accordance with principles and values set out in the NHS Constitution 2015 .

About us

Part of a small team, reporting to the IFR Service Development Lead, in a fascinating, intellectually challenging environment where all participants rely on common principles, policies and processes.

This role has been assessed against the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker visa, we regret to inform you that we will be unable to consider applications from individuals who require sponsorship due to the post being ineligible because the role does not meet the necessary salary thresholds.

SCW is committed to our process of redeployment of at-risk members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Details

Date posted

18 September 2025

Pay scheme

Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary

Depending on experience A flat rate of £75 per half day (3.75 hours) on a pro rata basis

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

891-CSU-7928WH

Job locations

NHS SCW Office Base (Hybrid)

Ashford

TN23 1PP


Job description

Job responsibilities

Will contribute to the following:

  • Triaging by the IFR Triage Group of requests for healthcare interventions for individual patients who wish to access treatment not usually funded by Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). The purpose of the Triage Group is to consider whether each IFR has sufficient evidence of merit of clinical exceptionality or rarity for it to be considered for funding by the IFR Panel.
  • Consideration of IFRs submitted to IFR Panel meetings. The purpose of the IFR Panel is to determine whether an IFR should be funded or not and to make the recommendation to the ICB.
  • Consideration of Wheelchair Requests submitted to the Wheelchair Request Review Group (WRRG); the purpose of the WRRG is to determine whether a Wheelchair Request should be funded or not and to make the recommendation to the ICB.

For further information on our specific requirements for this role, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.tHIS

Job description

Job responsibilities

Will contribute to the following:

  • Triaging by the IFR Triage Group of requests for healthcare interventions for individual patients who wish to access treatment not usually funded by Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB). The purpose of the Triage Group is to consider whether each IFR has sufficient evidence of merit of clinical exceptionality or rarity for it to be considered for funding by the IFR Panel.
  • Consideration of IFRs submitted to IFR Panel meetings. The purpose of the IFR Panel is to determine whether an IFR should be funded or not and to make the recommendation to the ICB.
  • Consideration of Wheelchair Requests submitted to the Wheelchair Request Review Group (WRRG); the purpose of the WRRG is to determine whether a Wheelchair Request should be funded or not and to make the recommendation to the ICB.

For further information on our specific requirements for this role, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.tHIS

Person Specification

Values & Behaviours

Essential

  • Patient First - Customer Excellence
  • Aspirational
  • Collaborative
  • Insightful
  • Respectful
  • A commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • An understanding of the importance of patient confidentiality and the principles of Information Governance

Desirable

  • Experience of participating effectively in discussions as a member of a multi-disciplinary committee
  • Experience of working within a person-centred environment

Skills & Capabilities

Essential

  • Ability to communicate effectively to a multi-disciplinary group and to process complex information in a short time scale
  • Ability to balance the needs of an individual patient with the priorities of commissioners and the health needs of the local population
  • Commitment to ensuring that decision-making is equitable and transparent
  • Commitment to the principle of providing effective clinical heath care whilst being empathetic to the needs of the patient
  • Able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workload to set deadlines
  • Understand of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
  • An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust
  • Good time keeping
  • Flexible approach to work
Person Specification

Values & Behaviours

Essential

  • Patient First - Customer Excellence
  • Aspirational
  • Collaborative
  • Insightful
  • Respectful
  • A commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • An understanding of the importance of patient confidentiality and the principles of Information Governance

Desirable

  • Experience of participating effectively in discussions as a member of a multi-disciplinary committee
  • Experience of working within a person-centred environment

Skills & Capabilities

Essential

  • Ability to communicate effectively to a multi-disciplinary group and to process complex information in a short time scale
  • Ability to balance the needs of an individual patient with the priorities of commissioners and the health needs of the local population
  • Commitment to ensuring that decision-making is equitable and transparent
  • Commitment to the principle of providing effective clinical heath care whilst being empathetic to the needs of the patient
  • Able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own workload to set deadlines
  • Understand of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
  • An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust
  • Good time keeping
  • Flexible approach to work

Employer details

Employer name

NHS South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit

Address

NHS SCW Office Base (Hybrid)

Ashford

TN23 1PP


Employer's website

https://www.scwcsu.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

NHS South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit

Address

NHS SCW Office Base (Hybrid)

Ashford

TN23 1PP


Employer's website

https://www.scwcsu.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

.

Andrea Beckman

andrea.beckman1@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

18 September 2025

Pay scheme

Very senior manager (VSM)

Salary

Depending on experience A flat rate of £75 per half day (3.75 hours) on a pro rata basis

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

891-CSU-7928WH

Job locations

NHS SCW Office Base (Hybrid)

Ashford

TN23 1PP


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

NHS South Central and West Commissioning Support Unit's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)