The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is looking for applications from service users or other lay people with knowledge or experience of hepatitis testing to become a community member of the group developing public health guidance on this topic. This guidance will be looking at methods to promote and offer testing for hepatitis B and C to people at increased risk of infection, such as current and former injecting drug users or those born in countries with a high prevalence of hepatitis.

Community members of the programme development group will play a key role in making sure that the views, experiences and interests of people at increased risk of hepatitis infection inform the development of the guidance and its recommendations to the NHS, local authorities and wider audiences.

All members of the programme development group have equal status, which reflects the relevance and importance of their different expertise and experience. They include health professionals and researchers as well as community members. All group members need to attend regular meetings and undertake reading (including summaries of research evidence).

Skills and experience

We would welcome an application from you if you have experience or knowledge of hepatitis testing, for example as someone who:

• has personal experience of having hepatitis themselves or who is at increased risk of hepatitis infection or
• is the relative, partner or carer of someone who has personal experience of having hepatitis or who is at increased risk of hepatitis infection or
• works (paid or unpaid) for a voluntary organisation or charity run by or directly representing the interests of people at increased risk of hepatitis infection, such as current or former injecting drug users, or people born in countries with a high prevalence of hepatitis
• has an understanding of, and a willingness to reflect, the experiences and needs of a wider network of relevant people (perhaps as a member of a voluntary or community organisation or support group)
• has time to commit to the work of the group: attending meetings (about 1 day every 4-6 weeks), background reading, commenting on draft products etc.
• good communication and team working skills.

The Centre for Public Health Excellence is recruiting separately for health professional members for this Programme Development Group so we are looking for people without this type of professional background to apply for community membership.

Meeting dates

PDG Induction - 31 March 2011, NICE Office, Manchester
PDG 1 - 5 May 2011, NICE Office, Manchester
PDG 2 - 16 June 2011, NICE Office, Manchester
PDG 3 - 28 July 2011, NICE Office, Manchester
PDG 4 - 15 September 2011, TBA
PDG 5 - 27 October 2011, NICE Office, Manchester
PDG 6 - 15 December 2011, NICE Office, Manchester
PDG 7- 2 Feb 2012, NICE Office, Manchester
PDG 8 and 9 (2 days) - 7 and 8 March 2012, NICE Office, Manchester
PDG 10 - 12 April 2012, Floor 24, City Tower, Manchester
PDG 11 & 12 (2 days) - 29 and 30 August 2012, NICE Office, Manchester

Support

Community members of the programme development group are paid an attendance fee and travel expenses are also reimbursed. The Patient and Public Involvement Programme provide community members with dedicated and ongoing support.

Tax and benefits

Please note that attendance fees and reimbursable expenses are subject to the usual tax and benefit rules that apply to earned income.

How to apply

Please read the role description and person specification, information for applicants and recruitment pack using the links below. If you are interested in applying please complete and return the application form, equalities monitoring form and declaration of interest form.

• Role description and person specification
• Application form
• Information for applicants
• Recruitment pack (contains all relevant forms, policies and procedures)

If you have any questions or wish to discuss the role further, please contact David Bevan, ppiprecruitment@nice.org.uk.

Decisions about who to recruit to the Programme Development Group will rest with the NICE Centre for Public Health Excellence. Please note that submitting an application does not automatically guarantee a place on the group.

The following forms should be completed and returned:

• Application form
• Equalities monitoring form
• Declaration of Interests form

If you would like to receive hard copies of any forms, please email or write to David Bevan. You will need to return the forms (either in hard copy or in electronic format) to:

David Bevan
Patient and Public Involvement Programme,
NICE
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA

Email: ppiprecruitment@nice.org.uk

Please return your completed forms by 20 October 2010

Equality and Diversity

NICE is committed to the values of equality and diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

More information

• The proposed Scope of this guidance project
• Patient and Public Involvement Programme
• Centre for Public Health Excellence

http://www.nice.org.uk/getinvolved/joinnwc/CommunityMemberHepBC.jsp