ROLE DESCRIPTION – LAY MEMBER

Clinical Oncology Professional Support and Standards Board (PSSB)

COMMITTEE DESCRIPTION

The Professional Support and Standards Board (PSSB) is responsible within the Faculty of Clinical Oncology for the development and review of standards and guidance for clinical oncologists, the development of resources and tools to support Fellows and members including the College’s role in the revalidation of doctors, the College’s CPD scheme, and the oversight and development of its medical workforce function in respect of clinical oncology and medical oncology (including the annual workforce census).

The terms of reference of the Board can be found on the RCR website:

Term of office

Lay members will serve a term of three years, that may be extended to a second term of a further one year. Terms will generallybegin in September at the College’s AGM, which is the start of its academic year.

Role and responsibilities

The documents produced by the PSSB contain a substantial amount of specialty specific information in respect of which the lay member will not be expected to comment. However, the delivery of good quality, safe practice in clinical oncology, which includes (among other issues) behaviours in the workplace, relationships with colleagues and patients, patient safety, leadership/management development, equality and diversity, and teaching and training will benefit from a lay perspective.

The lay member will be expected to contribute independent and objective views on the work and activities of the PSSB, not acting as a member of any organisation or of any specific group of people.

The following range of skills and attributes are desirable, but it is recognised that individuals will have different levels of experience in different areas:

  • a keen interest in, and knowledge of, healthcare in the UK
  • an awareness of medical issues and an understanding of their public perception
  • sufficiently developed knowledge of, and interest in, cancer services to carry out the specified role or a willingness to add to knowledge in this area
  • the ability to expound views, enter into constructive debate and to communicate a lay perspective
  • experience of serving on boards or committees at a senior level in a national or regional setting, and
  • political and commercial neutrality

LAY MEMBER NETWORK

Lay peoplewho serve onCollege boards, committees,etcare also automatically members of the Lay Member Network, which meets twice a year – generally in Spring and Autumn.

TheLay Member Network meetings bring all lay members together to learn more about and discuss the Colleges’ activities and aims on a broad frontand allow opportunity for networking. The topics discussed at Network meetingsare wide-ranging, usually affecting both the College’s specialties, or are of general impact on medicine or healthcare. Meetings are chaired by the President(or a Vice-President)and attended by the Vice-Presidents and College staff members. The structure of Lay Member Network meetings is deliberately fluid to enable a two-way exchange of information and views.

TIME COMMITMENT

The PSSB meets three times a year – usually in January, May and September. Meetings last for up to three hours, plus travel time and time for reading the papers. The lay member might also be invited to serve on working parties where a lay perspective is needed.

Meetings are generally held in London but it is also possible to arrange tele-conferencing and/or video-conferencing for some meetings. In addition, much of the College’s business is conducted by electronic means, largely through email, so time will be needed to review and, where appropriate, respond to emailed correspondence/documents.

In addition, the time commitment of the Lay Member Network is to attend two meetings a year, plus any other ad hoc meetings that may arise. The time commitment for each meeting is about 2-3 hours, plus travelling and preparation time.

EXPENSES

The RCR will meet reasonable expenses incurred by a lay member attending meetings in line with the RCR Travel and Expenses Policy ( In addition, lay members receive a taxable annual lump sum payment (currently £469 per annum) to assist in any additional expenses. Tax at the basic rate is deducted at the source by the RCR.

If the lay member attends an external meeting that is of interest to him/her, prior agreement with the College should be arranged that the lay member is attending on behalf of the College and is therefore able to claim travel expenses. Expenses for any meeting that the lay member is attending out of personal interest and not on behalf of the College cannot be claimed back through the RCR.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Lay people will from time to time be provided with documents at various stages of Lay people will from time to time be provided with documents at various stages of development, prior to their formal approval and publication. Lay members will always be asked to keep such drafts confidential, and not disclose any confidential information to an outside person or organisation.