Lived experience

People with lived experience of the support we provide offer an invaluable insight on what it's like to receive care.

By sharing those lived experiences you can help us identify where we could make improvements and understand more the experience of people who use our services.

Sharing your lived experience will help make a real difference to other people who are in the same position you were.

That's why we're very excited to share the following lived experience roles that you can apply for.

Current lived experience roles

All of our lived experience roles below are available as paid (Agenda for Change Band 4) or volunteer role.

We are offering you a choice on whether your role will be paid or not because of the implications of taking on paid work if you claim certain benefits.

This helpful document explains some key things you need to bear in mind if you would like to apply for a paid role.

Whether you choose a paid or volunteer role, you will be given the same training and support from our lived experience team.

To find out more about our lived experience roles and who to contact to apply just click on one of the boxes below.

If you would like to apply for one of these roles please complete this application form and email it to engage@shsc.nhs.uk

Co-Chair - Least Restrictive Practice Oversight Group (x1 role)

This role would suit an individual who has experience of restrictive practices and is keen to see changes in the use of restraint across our services
The role includes co-chairing of the meeting with a senior member of the Trust's Quality Team, which means that you will be required to attend pre meetings to agree the agenda and running of the meeting
The role will require the person to read a number of papers prior to the meeting
The role will require the person to ask questions and to test out the quality and validity of the papers
Individuals who represent persons with protected characteristics are most welcomed to apply for this post
Able to discuss potentially traumatic subject matter and remind/focus the group on lived experience of restrictive practices
Communicating with SHSC employees (including, but not limited to, Engagement and Experience Team, Occupational Therapists, Ward Staff) and Service Users
Exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable
Being able to record/write down and pass on information collected from these conversations
The meeting occurs once every three months
The time commitment is two to three days every three months to prepare and co-chair the meeting.

To find out more about this role email salli.midgley@shsc.nhs.uk or emma.highfield@shsc.nhs.uk

Lived Experience Member - Least Restrictive Practice Oversight Group (x3 roles)

This role would suit an individual who has experience of restrictive practices and is keen to see changes in the use of restraint across our services
The role requires attendance at the meeting and an understanding of what constitutes restraint and restrictive practices
The role will require the person to read a number of papers prior to the meeting
The role will require the person to ask questions and to test out the quality and validity of the papers
Individuals who represent persons with protected characteristics are most welcomed to apply for this post
Able to discuss potentially traumatic subject matter and remind/focus the group on lived experience of restrictive practices
Communicating with SHSC employees (including, but not limited to, Engagement and Experience Team, Occupational Therapists, Ward Staff) and Service Users
Exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable.
Being able to record/write down and pass on information collected from these conversations
The meeting occurs once every 3 months
The time commitment is 1 days every 3 months to pre read and attend the meeting.

To find out more about this role email salli.midgley@shsc.nhs.uk or emma.highfield@shsc.nhs.uk

Lived Experience Member - Quality Assurance Committee (x1 role)

This role would suit an individual who has an interest in quality in NHS services
The role requires the individual to read papers that are presented for assurance as part of the Trust's governance assurance processes
This role may suit someone who has experience of attending committees and understands the function of assurance
The role requires pre reading of a number of a papers for the committee, this may take up to one day in preparation before the meeting - the meeting itself takes three hours
The role will require the person to ask questions and to test out the quality and validity of the papers
Individuals who represent persons with protected characteristics are most welcomed to apply for this post
The candidate needs to be able to reflect on a range of quality topics and their role is to seek assurance that the views or experience of people who use our services have been included (or will be included) in the quality assurance of subjects presented.
Communicating with SHSC employees (including, but not limited to, Engagement and Experience Team, Occupational Therapists, Ward Staff) and service users
Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistently reliable
Being able to record/write down and pass on information collected from these conversations
The time commitment is one and a half days every month to pre read and attend the meeting. Pre meeting briefings will be offered to support induction and understanding of the role and requirements of attendance.

To find out more about this role email salli.midgley@shsc.nhs.uk

Lived Experience Member - Lived Experience and Co-Production Assurance Group (x6 posts)

This role would suit an individual who has an interest in ensuring that the voice of people who use services and their families and carers are represented in the Trust
There are a number of vacancies to ensure wide representation from mental health, learning disability and community services for people of all ages
The role requires the individual to read papers and listen to presentations for the purposes of assuring the Trust that the experience of people who use services (and their families and carers) are being heard, listened to and acted upon with respect to the quality, service design and delivery
The role requires thoughtful debate and challenge to ensure that all services are challenged to report on experience and engagement
This role may suit someone who has experience of attending meetings and understands the function of assurance
The role requires pre reading of a number of a papers for the committee, this may take up to half a day in preparation before the meeting - the meeting itself takes three hours
Individuals who represent persons with protected characteristics are most welcomed to apply for this post
Communicating with SHSC employees (including, but not limited to, Engagement and Experience Team, Occupational Therapists, Ward Staff) and service users
Exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable
Being able to record/write down and pass on information collected from these conversations
The time commitment is one day every three months to pre read and attend the meeting. Pre meeting briefings will be offered to support induction and understanding of the role and requirements of attendance.

To find out more about this role email sue.barnitt@shsc.nhs.uk or helen.crimlisk@shsc.nhs.uk

Co-Chair - Lived Experience and Co-Production Assurance Group (x1 post)

The role includes co-chairing of the meeting with a senior member of the Trust Leadership Team, which means that you will be required to attend pre meetings to agree the agenda and running of the meeting
The Co-Chair must be a current user of services in the Trust
This role would suit an individual who has an interest in ensuring that the voice of people who use services and their families and carers are represented in the Trust
The role requires the individual to read papers and listen to presentations for the purposes of assuring the Trust that the experience of people who use services (and their families and carers) are being heard, listened to and acted upon with respect to the quality, service design and delivery
The role requires thoughtful debate and challenge to ensure that all services are challenged to report on experience and engagement
The Co-Chair will require skills in ensuring the agenda keeps to time and that all members have an opportunity to speak and be heard.
This role may suit someone who has experience of attending committees at a senior level and understands the function of assurance
Individuals who represent persons with protected characteristics are most welcomed to apply for this post
Communicating with SHSC employees (including, but not limited to, Engagement and Experience Team, Occupational Therapists, Ward Staff) and service users
Exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable
Being able to record/write down and pass on information collected from these conversations
The time commitment is two days every three months to set the agenda, pre read and attend the meeting
Meeting briefings and sign off for minutes will be offered to support induction and understanding of the role and requirements of attendance.

To find out more about this role email sue.barnitt@shsc.nhs.uk or helen.crimlisk@shsc.nhs.uk

Lived Experience Member - Mental Health Legislation Committee (x1 post)

This role would suit an individual who has an interest in mental health legislation and its use in NHS services
The role requires the individual to read papers that are presented for assurance as part of the Trust governance assurance processes
This role may suit someone who has experience of attending committees and understands the function of assurance
The role requires pre reading of a number of a papers for the committee, this may take up to one day in preparation before the meeting - the meeting itself takes three hours
The role will require the person to ask questions and to test out the quality and validity of the papers
Individuals who represent persons with protected characteristics are most welcomed to apply for this post
The candidate needs to be able to reflect on a range of topics related to the mental health act, mental capacity act, human rights and restrictive practices. Their role is to seek assurance that the views and/or experience of people who use our services have been included (or will be included) in the experience of subjects presented
Communicating with SHSC employees (including, but not limited to, Engagement and Experience Team, Occupational Therapists, Ward Staff) and service users
Exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable.
Being able to record/write down and pass on information collected from these conversations.
The time commitment is one and a half days every month to pre read and attend the meeting. Pre-meeting briefings will be offered to support induction and understanding of the role and requirements of attendance.

To find out more about this role email jamie.middleton@shsc.nhs.uk

Lived Experience Member - Clinical Quality and Safety Group (x2 roles)

This role would suit an individual who has experienced care in the Trust and is keen to advise on the patient experience related to safety and quality of services. The group has presentations from clinical services, reviews information about incidents, investigations and a range of other information to understand safety and care. The aim of the group is to learn in order to improve lived experience.
The role requires attendance at the meeting and an understanding of what safety and quality mean to people who use our services and their families/carers
The role will require the person to read a number of papers prior to the meeting
The role will require the person to ask questions and to test out the quality and validity of the papers
Individuals who represent persons with protected characteristics are most welcomed to apply for this post
Able to discuss potentially traumatic subject matter and remind/focus the group on lived experience of receiving care in the Trust
Communicating with SHSC employees (including, but not limited to, Engagement and Experience Team, Occupational Therapists, Ward Staff) and service users
Exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable
Being able to record/write down and pass on information collected from these conversations
The meeting occurs once every month
The time commitment is one and a half days every month to pre read and attend the meeting.

To find out more about this role email vin.lewin@shsc.nhs.uk

Human Rights Training Programme Co-Facilitators

This role would suit an individual who has an interest in human rights in mental health contexts and is committed to ensuring the voice of service users is heard over the course of staff training
The role would be especially suitable to someone who has carried out or assisted in carrying out training or facilitated learning in the past
The role involves working in tandem with staff from SHSC and our partners at the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) to co-produce and deliver training for SHSC staff on human rights
The individuals will first assist to develop training materials with SHSC and BIHR over three days and then be supported to co-deliver a series of workshops. This will include pre and post workshop set up calls and debriefs
The role requires good oral communication and presentation skills as it is a front facing role that will require good interpersonal skills working with SHSC staff and BIHR partners
The co-facilitators will be working directly alongside SHSC and BIHR staff to co-deliver training to 30+ individuals at a time, over five days (or 10 half days) via Zoom. There maybe opportunity for the delivery of further training cohorts in the future
The role will work to assist to capture and process evaluation data and monitoring information
The job will require strong organisation and punctual and reliable time management skills as the individual will co-facilitate trainings at set time and help to distribute and manage training materials
The individuals need to be adaptive and flexible to the feedback and input from the trainees and BIHR and SHSC staff
The time commitment will be a minimum commitment of three full days and a further five full days (or 10 half days).

To find out more about this role email jamie.middleton@shsc.nhs.uk or tallyn.gray@shsc.nhs.uk

Lived Experience Readers Group

This group is a new group for the Trust which will be made up of people who use services, their families and carers. The aim of the group is to give advice to services on the development of information for patients, families and carers.

The group will approve all newly developed information leaflets for the Trust. The group will also have presentations on new policies and procedures to advise on potential impacts for people who use services their families and carers.

We are looking for Lived Experience Members to join this group and play a key role in developing the information we share. You can find out more about the role by clicking on the box below.

Lived Experience Member - Lived Experience Readers Group

This role would suit an individual who wants to learn more about our services and help us improve how we communicate with patients, families and carers
We are looking for individuals who like to review draft information leaflets and are willing to support staff by giving advice on what type of information patients /families/ carers may want and how to write it
You may like reading and what to share your plain English skills with our services
You don’t need to understand NHS terminology, in fact we are looking for people who will support us to keep it simple and advise on what type of key information patients, families and carers may be looking for
We are also looking for people who may like to understand what policies and procedures are staff follow, your job will be to help us make sure lived experience is considered in the work we do. In particular to help us think about which policies may need information developing for patients, carers and families
We won't ask you to read our policies, but we will ask policy authors to give a presentation so you can hear about the work they are doing and give advice
We are keen to hear from people who will help us think about accessibility of information and translation of information
The group will be supported by a member of the lived experience team and quality team.

You will need to:

Communicate with SHSC employees (including, but not limited to, Engagement and Experience Team, Occupational Therapists, Ward Staff) and service users
Exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable.
The meetings may occur every month or every two months dependent on workload.
The time commitment is one day every month to pre-read and attend the meeting

To find out more about this role email sue.barnitt@shsc.nhs.uk or mia.bajin@shsc.nhs.uk

Other things you need to know

Now you know a bit more about each of the roles we are offering, there's a few more things you need to know.

What you can expect from us

Nominated person to go to if any problems occur.
Adequate training to carry out the role including Volunteer or Paid Induction and any other training that they and the group leader deem to be appropriate to the role
Signposting to the relevant policies e.g Volunteer Policy, Social Media Policy or Code of Conduct
Support and supervision from SHSC Engagement and Experience Team – including specific support from other Lived Experience Practitioners if necessary
Reimbursement of expenses (e.g travel) with proof of receipts
A brief and debrief prior and after the meeting if both parties deem this necessary, including any useful information to be shared prior to the meetings.

What we expect from you

To conduct yourself in the same professional high standards expected from staff
To understand that as a member of staff (paid or volunteering) you are representing the Trust and its values
To be open and honest about any difficulties you may encounter
To maintain communication with supervisors and our Engagement and Experience Team.

Meetings

Currently meetings take place via Microsoft Teams, however, where a suitable candidate is unable to access Microsoft Teams within their usual home setting we can arrange that they attend the meeting alongside a Trust colleague on Trust premises subject to the current COVID guidance. We will actively support anyone who needs technological support to attend meetings.

Downloads

Lived experience roles - application form.docx