Background
The UK Kidney Association (UKKA) are working to improve patient involvement and leadership across the organisation. The aim of this role is to involve patients in leading the directions of the SIG’s, and ensuring UKKA meet its mission statement to support the whole multi-professional team (MPT) in the delivery of kidney care, education and research - enabling people to live well with kidney disease.

The role
The successful candidate will work with the two existing multi-professional co-chairs to support the SIG’s in delivering their work streams and projects. This will involve chairing SIG meetings, developing the agendas and liaising between the UKKA executive council and other SIG’s (in close working with the two existing co-chairs).

The patient co-chair will aim to
• Ensure meaningful patient involvement and diverse patient representation across the SIG’s
• Identify gaps and opportunities for meaningful and significant involvement and leadership utilising the patient voice in the work of SIGs, and development of strategies to increase this
• Nurture future leaders who are living with kidney disease for this role and for other roles within UKKA
• Attend meetings on a quarterly basis

It is expected the 3 co-chairs will collectively strive to
• Ensure all SIG’s align with and implement the aims of the RSTP and GIRFT and any future similar nationwide initiatives
• Identify gaps in the work streams of the established SIG’s and propose and support the development of new SIG’s
• Develop networks, including clinical and patient leaders and directors, to make connections to enhance the effectiveness of activity across the SIG’s
• Work with the existing co-chairs to further refine and develop this leadership role
• Seek opportunities for cross-pollination within academic, quality improvement and clinical speciality groups across the kidney community (e.g. UKKRC)
• Use existing and create new connections, liaising with patients and professional groups across the kidney community

Terms of appointment
• Serve for a term of 3 years
• This role will receive support from the existing co-chairs and the UKKA secretariat, and reasonable expenses incurred during the duties will be reimbursed

The person
The co-chair will:
• Have a good understanding of the structure, nature, purpose and mission of UKKA
• Possess effective interpersonal and influencing skills
• Be an effective leader
• Have access to networks and groups throughout the kidney community
• Be passionate about patient involvement and leadership

Application
Please send a brief statement outlining your interest in the role to renal@renal.org

Please forward this role to anyone in your network you think might be interested.