Job summary
We are increasing thenumber of Lay Chairs to support the appointment of consultants at LeedsTeaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This is a defined NHS process for appointingconsultants and requires a Lay Member of the public to Chair the interviewpanel which are called Consultant Advisory Appointment Committees (AACs).
The expectation is thatwe will run a minimum of 60 AACs per annum and our intention is to have a poolof Lay Chair members to facilitate the AACs.
We are looking fortalented individuals with a strong background in influencing and communicationwith a talent for encouraging productive discussion.
In support of successfulcandidates, we will offer full training on The Leeds Way, our values andbehaviours and equality, diversity, and inclusion. Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed tobeing an employer that is free from discrimination. We aim to ensure our recruitment processesare inclusive for all. We will require you to undertake annual training toensure that you keep abreast with the Trusts vision, strategy, policies andprocedures and operational challenges.
To learn more aboutLeeds Teaching Hospitals please visit our website Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust(
Main duties of the job
The successful candidatewill have demonstratable skills or expertise to be able to Chair Committees orinterview panels and be able to facilitate constructive consultation betweenpanel members, remaining impartial within the decision-making process whilstmanaging differences of opinions between panel members. We are looking forsomeone who has a passion to recruit the right people into the right roles,through correct process, policies, and best practice.
Knowledge of working atsenior management level, public or private sector, magistrate, school governorand/or in a complex organisation would be advantageous.
The duration of a panelcan be a full or a part day and in recognition of expenses incurred a sessionalfee of £125 per half day is payable.
About us
Leeds TeachingHospitals is one the largest teaching hospital trusts in Europe, with access toleading clinical expertise and medical technology. We care for people from all over the countryas well as the 780,000 residents of Leeds itself. The Trust has a budget of £ billion. Our 20,000staff ensure that every year we see and treat over 1,500,000 people in our2,000 beds or out-patient settings, comprising 100,000 day cases, 125,000in-patients, 260,000 A&E visits and 1,050,000 out-patientappointments. We operate from 7 hospitalson 5 sites all linked by the same vision, philosophy and culture to be thebest for specialist and integrated care.
Our vision is based onThe Leeds Way, which is a clear statement of who we are and what we believe, foundedon values of working that were put forward by our own staff. Our values are to be:
Patient-centred
Fair
Collaborative
Accountable
Empowered
We believe that by beingtrue to these values, we will consistently achieve and continuously improve ourresults in relation to our goals, which are to be:
1. Thebest for patient safety, quality and experience
2. Thebest place to work
3. Acentre of excellence for specialist services, education, research andinnovation
4. Hospitalsthat offer seamless, integrated care
5. Financiallysustainable
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Lay Chair is accountable forensuring that eachAdvisoryAppointment Committee (AAC), panel is planned and conducted in accordance withregulation and local processes. The roleof the Lay Chair is to facilitate the AAC to ensure the process is fair,transparent, and inclusive for all.Ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly and equitably upholding theTrusts Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy. They should also allow each panel member anequal and fair opportunity to pose a question to the candidate.
A key part in the process for the LayChair is to discuss with panel members and conclude the questions to be put tocandidates ensuring there is an adequate spread of questions, and to confirmthe order in which members will ask their questions. Ensuring panel members are given anopportunity, prior to interview, to clarify points of detail concerning the jobdescription and/or person specification.
The Lay Chair facilitates discussionsafter the final candidate has been interviewed, to enable the committee to cometo a decision. It is the Chair who makesthe recommendation to appoint the most suitable candidate(s).
TheLay Chair will ask AAC members to positively declare for each candidate whetherthey believe them to be appointable or not.There then follows a detailed discussion about each candidate in turn,as would be the case for a normal interview panel. Each AAC member has an equal voice in thecommittee, and if it comes to a vote, all votes carry equal weight.
Throughfacilitated discussion and dialogue the Lay chair should allow for an equalexchange of constructive views.
Ensureappropriate feedback is offered to unsuccessful candidates following theinterview stage of the recruitment process.
AMedical background is not necessary for this role.
Person Specification
Management & Leadership
Essential
1. Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of regulation and trust policies and procedures. Good understanding of wider political, economic and NHS developments.
Communication
Essential
2. Demonstrates clarity in written/spoken communication and have the capacity to adapt language as appropriate to the situation.
Chairing Skills
Essential
3. The ability to facilitate constructive and productive panel discussions, enabling all panel members to contribute to decision making and managing differences of opinions between panel members.
4. Maintain impartiality during the process exercising reasoned judgement.
Integrity & Discipline
Essential
5. The ability to uphold strong moral principles, honesty, and transparency.
6. Understands Leeds Way Values.
7. Understands Nolan Principles of Public Life.
Qualifications
Essential
8. Educated to degree or equivalent.
9. Managerial and leadership evidence.