I feel like I should presage this with some sort of Mark Twain statement that ‘rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated.’

For, yes, although I am standing down as Chair of INVOLVE this year, I am continuing as the NIHR National Director for Patients and the Public.

Plenty of time to go before ruminating on what it is to be Chair other than to say it is inspiring, exhilarating, an honour, a privilege, fun, hard work and I envy the next person who gets it. Advert below with links to INVOLVE web page with more details.

Can you champion the role of patients and carers in improving UK health and care research? 

Do you have the skills to help our advisory group become a leading influence in global public involvement? 

The INVOLVE Advisory Group, a respected source of expertise nationally on public involvement in health and care research, is recruiting for a new Chair.

Leading with your public, patient or carer voice, you will work collaboratively to develop and amplify the Group’s standing and their contribution to advancing public involvement, both inside and outside the National Institute for Health Research.

You might be a patient or interested member of the public with relevant professional, voluntary or personal experiences and a passion for developing others. Perhaps you are a Charity Director/CEO with an interest in health or research who would benefit from a secondment with INVOLVE?

Whatever your background or professional experience, if you have the skills and passion we are looking for, we’d love to hear from you.

This exciting role, involves a minimum commitment of 18 days a year (days to be agreed) with some regional travel. There is an involvement fee associated with this role of £300 per day/£150 half day, with reasonable expenses (e.g.: travel and subsistence) covered.

For more information about the INVOLVE Advisory Group Chair role please download the Recruitment Pack or call 02380 595628.

You can download a Word version of the application form here.

Please note that the closing date for applications is 31st August 2017

Interviews will take place at Chilworth, Southampton on 10th and 11th October 2017.

If you would like to speak to someone in more detail about this post please contact Wendy Baird (Research Design Service Director, Yorkshire and Humber) on 0114 222 0819 or w.o.baird@sheffield.ac.uk,  or Gill Green (Research Design Service Director, East of England) on 01206 874144 or gillgr@essex.ac.uk.