Could you help us make a difference? – Health Overview Committee co-optees sought
Shropshire Council is looking for people who can help scrutinise the development and delivery of health and care services as part of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee with Telford and Wrekin Council.
Shropshire Council jointly chairs the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) with Telford and Wrekin Council. Each council is represented by 3 councillors from their own Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees (HOSC) and 3 Co-optees; people who bring their knowledge, experience and perspective to the committee. The co-optees are full members of the committee including voting rights, and would attend each meeting of the committee. The JHOSC meeting every six to eight weeks in either Telford or Shrewsbury as each council shares hosting the meetings.
With the changes taking place in the NHS through the move to the integrated care systems, we are taking the opportunity to ask for expressions of interest in these roles. The three roles are:-
Co-optee 1: Healthwatch Shropshire (reflecting the organisation’s role in identifying and bringing forward issues affecting Shropshire people and communities)
Co-optee 2: Patient representative (reflecting the role of overview and scrutiny in helping give communities, patients and citizens have their voice heard).
Co-optee 3: Clinical/professional knowledge and experience whether from the care sector, the health sector and/or NHS management.
Healthwatch Shropshire is expected to identify their representative who will be their co-optee to the JHOSC. We would like to hear from representatives of patient groups who would like to become the co-optee, and from people with clinical/professional knowledge from the care sector, health sector or NHS management.
Steve Charmley, Chair of Shropshire Council’s Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Joint Chair of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said:-
“Our co-optees on the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee play an important and valuable role in representing the Shropshire Council area. They bring their knowledge and experience to the fore as the committee provides constructive challenge and give communities and citizens a voice, as we look at the development and delivery of health and care services across Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.
“I would encourage anyone who feels that they can contribute as a co-opted member of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to send in an expression of interest, and I look forward to working with those who are successful in the autumn.”
If you have any questions about the co-optee roles or you are submitting an expression of interest, please contact Tom Dodds, tom.dodds@shropshire.gov.uk . A template for completion is available. In your expression of interest please include what you feel you would bring to the role including your knowledge and experience, and any special or specific interests you have.
Expressions of interest will need to be submitted by Friday 23 September 2022.
