HealthMakers

Join a community of patients

making a real difference

Following the success of the Olympics’ Gamesmakers we have been inspiredto create a community of HealthMakers who can support one another in their long term health conditions.

We are looking for people who want to make a difference for themselves and for others by becoming HealthMakers.

We know that patients with long term health conditions often face crisis with their health which can be frightening and can lead to a feeling of having lost control. We know that most patients want to have confidence in looking after themselves and in recognising the signs when they need help.

We want to recruit 20 patients initially to join up as HealthMakers. This will be a pilot group and we will learn together about what parts of the programme work best before rolling it out. Ultimately, we would like to recruit many more people to become HealthMakers.

For the pilot, we are looking for patients who are living with or interested in one or more of the following conditions:

  • Diabetes
  • Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Arthritis

As with the Gamesmakers , being a Healthmaker is a voluntary role but training will be given and travel and carer expenses will be reimbursed.

Getting involved will mean:

  • Attending training sessions.
  • Participating in discussions and making time to share your experience with others.
  • Providing regular feedback on training and events so we can make changes if necessary.
  • Informing your GP that you are participating.

There are three complementary training programmes. You may not be asked to participate in all of these and this will be discussed with you before you are recruited.

  1. Self-Management: This will explore how patients can understand their condition, thinking about the ‘whole person’, not just the disease, develop confidence in caring for themselves and in knowing when to seek help, understanding what can be done to avoid a crisis and developing the skills and confidence to be effective in communicating preferences to those involved in their care.
  2. Patient Leadership: This programme will explore how individual patients can support each other, what it means to be an advocate, how to use personal experience to effectively influence decisions about local health services.
  3. Self-Care Facilitation: Together with Health Care Professionals you will be trained to facilitate self-care training to patients as described above.

What will you gain?

  • An opportunity to influence health services and improve patient care.
  • An opportunity to benefit from the training programmes aimed at developing confidence and skills.
  • Involvement in developing the HealthMakers Programme.
  • Meeting and working alongside others who are also keen to make a difference.
  • An opportunity to raise the patient voice within the CCG.
  • Evidence of team building/counselling and leadership for your CV.

Person specification

Essential criteria

  • Living with or supporting someone a long term health condition.
  • Some flexibility in your time to allow you to fully participate in the role.
  • Ability to absorb and express a broad range of information and opinion, reflecting the diversity of patients living with different conditions in a variety of circumstances;
  • Ability to attend the training courses and meetings, having read associated documentation, or be supported to do so.
  • An ability to communicate with others, being a motivator and a love of sharing information.

Personal qualities

  • A willingness to develop your confidence to express your views at meetings attended by a range of professionals.
  • A willingness to share experience and listen to others’ experience.
  • The ability to keep asking questions until you get enough information /explanation to understand what people are talking about;
  • A willingness to listen to and consider different views;
  • An ability to challenge current thinking in ways that are both creative and supportive;
  • The ability to manage and plan your own time.
  • A willingness to provide constructive and on-going feedback during the pilot.
  • A willingness to give a long term commitment to support the roll out of HealthMakers as an ambassador following the pilot.

Including preparation time, you can expect to devote approximately12 days during the year. This includes six days for training, up to three days for meetings and preparation and up to three days being available for talking to and listening to others.

The pilot programme will begin in November 2014. Graduates of the programme will be asked to help recruit and support others coming through in the next year.

There may also be opportunities to develop the role; therefore a willingness to get more involved is welcomed.

Support

You will be offered dedicated support on all practical issues such as help with claiming expenses, access to training materials and meeting papers, support during training and meetings, answering queries and any additional advice as needed.

Confidentiality

You must not communicate any confidential information you learn as a result of being a member of this group. If you are unclear about whether or not information that you have access to is confidential, please seek clarification from your dedicated support. You will be requested to sign a confidentiality agreement.

Recruitment may be terminated if you fail to attend meetings/training events.

To apply for this role please complete the attached form, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role’s criteria, and send to:

Ally Green

Associate Director of Communications and Engagement

Bracknell and Ascot CCG

King Edward VII Hospital

St Leonards Road

Windsor

SL4 3DP

Or via email to:

Dates to note:

Please submit your application form for the Self-Management training, click here for the form, by Friday 17th July 2015.

Self-Management training will be scheduled between April-August.

If you would like to be kept up to date with any future training dates then please register your interest by completing the below application form and send via email to or

If you would like further information on this role, please contact Ally Green r Karen Maskell r Ryan Dunstan

Application Form: Healthmaker

Bracknell and Ascot Clinical Commissioning Group

If you would like to apply to become a Healthmaker, please complete the following application form:

Name:
Address:
Telephone Number:
Email Address (if applicable):
GP Practice:
Do you have one of these Long Term Conditions?
Please tick one or more that apply. / Diabetes ☐
Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ☐
Arthritis ☐
Other: …………………………………………
Are you a Carer? / Yes ☐ No☐
Have you recently used NHS services in Bracknell Forest or Ascot area?
How do you feel you meet the Essential Criteria, listed in the Role Description?
Do you have any additional qualities you feel you could bring to the role?