Involvement Coordinator | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

At the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, we are committed to working with all experts, and the patient is the most important expert of all. A large group of local people interested in our work help us plan and deliver our research with insight into the experience of living with illness. UHL has a strong track record of delivery into clinical trials with around 1000 active studies at any time and having recruited >14,000 patients into NIHR portfolio studies in the last 12 months. In recognition of its world-class research excellence UHL has been awarded more than £30M of competitive research infrastructure funding commencing in December 2022 for 5 years. The NIHR Leicester BRC is a partnership between the University of Leicester, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Loughborough University and the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group. Our overall purpose is to translate scientific breakthroughs in these areas into diagnostic tests, preventions and life-saving treatments for our patients. We do this by creating a collaborative workspace that allows scientists and clinicians to share their findings and deliver research that is relevant to both patients and the professionals who treat them. The post will involve building relationships and networks with individuals and communities in person and online and working with those networks to support them to influence what research we do and how we do it. This part of the role is likely to involve giving talks, attending community groups and events, hosting stalls, and providing information and engagement opportunities. The work will significantly involve running consultations using focus groups, public meetings, or novel approaches like our Dance and Health programme. Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030). We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact, and
• research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities. Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive, and
• we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve. About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk

This is a unique and exciting opportunity for an experienced or aspiring public involvement professional to join the research workforce at University Hospitals of Leicester. We actively encourage applications from individuals new to the field who have an appropriate skill set and offer a training and mentoring package to less experienced personnel. We encourage applications from people who have experience in community settings as well as in the NHS or a university, and we are particularly interested in working with people who have experience working with under-represented groups.