Veterans Clinical Champion

Reports to: Senior Clinical Project Manager
Accountable to: Medical Director – Clinical Quality
Contract term: 6-month fixed term, 1 session per week – pending programme extension to 2024

JOB PURPOSE

The RCGP and NHSE launched the Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation programme in 2018.
The programme seeks to improve the medical care and treatment for former members of the armed services by encouraging GP practices to offer additional support for ex-service personnel. Working within the Membership Development and Education (MDE) project management office (PMO), the post holder will develop strategic relationships with key stakeholders, provide support and guidance for
GP teams and will lead delivery of the RCGP-NHSE Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation Programme
The accreditation and guidance produced by the programme will support members in their professional development and learning activities in addition to ensuring a high quality of care for Armed Forces veterans across England. The post holder will engage members via publications, communications, events and support resources to guide practice in the best support of caring for Armed Forces veterans. The programme will bring meaningful resources to support GPs day to day and build local communities of practice to care for military veterans.

DIMENSIONS
Providing clinical expertise and leadership to the Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation programme the role will have three key dimensions:

1. Strategic partnerships and external liaison. Develop RCGP as a strategic leader in caring for Armed Forces veterans, interacting with high level UK-wide stakeholders and policy makers, as appropriate, to build partnerships and strategic alliances.
2. Embed the Accreditation programme England wide. The post holder will map and review adoption of the Accreditation, promoting the programme to GP teams and ensure the programme remains clinically relevant and of high quality
3. Development of educational support for GPs and practice teams and enable sharing of best practice. The project will further develop resources, including top tips that can be used flexibly, either as standalone materials or as part of the integrated accreditation package.

KEY RESULT AREAS

This role offers the opportunity to help to influence the care of Armed Forces veterans in primary care via a formal practice level accreditation programme. Working across the RCGP it will also shape the development and delivery of a range of innovative initiatives to help general practice and primary care, and to spearhead partnership working with key stakeholders, to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes. Key activities and results will include:
 

Leadership and influencing

• To act as co-Chair of the Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation Steering group
• Acting as an ambassador for the programme – raising profile for the programme in RCGP and externally.
• Attending high level national policy meetings as appropriate
• Building relationships with key sector stakeholders to promote, grow and improve the programme

Programme development and delivery

• Continued investigation and understanding of key issues facing Armed Forces veterans in their ongoing health needs.
• Advising on approximate communications and marketing to best engage GPs in the programme
• Supporting Accreditation sites and regions and identifying and sharing best practice
• Supporting the coordination of learning and networking events
• Production of resources to support GPs and general practice and working with the operation programme lead to ensure delivery against agreed plans, to time, to budget.

General

• Ensuring all activities are conducted in accordance with the College’s Health & Safety Policies and procedures.
• To take responsibility for the provision of health and safety for themselves and the compliance of other employees/colleagues in own service area.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Qualifications

• Registered health care professional
• GP or member of a general practice team

Experience

• Appropriate level of seniority and experience to work with executive teams, supporting them to develop and implement the relevant policies
• Experience in the Armed Forces or working with Armed Forces veterans
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team
• Leadership of programmes, projects, functions and/or organisations
• Drafting of documents relating to policy & professional guidance
• Public speaking/ media training (desirable)
• Experience in networking and influencing GPs and practice staff to inspire change in practice.

Knowledge / Skills / Attributes

• Good links within the RCGP and the primary care sector, maximising the reach of the work programme.
• Knowledge of UK wide-general practice and primary care
• Natural collaborator who is able to form trusting relationships and work cooperatively within a team.
• Ability to synthesise complex information from a variety of sources into deliverable plans.
• Ability to communicate effectively; oral and written.
• Politically astute. Knows how to judge an audience and amend approach accordingly.
• Proactive, self-starter

COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

RCGP:

• Assistant Director of Enterprises
• Medical Director Clinical Quality
• Head of PCI & PMO
• Clinical project managers and officers.
• College Vice Chairs, including Professional Development

External

• Structures of NHS UK wide
• Academics
• Policymakers
• The media