DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

PUBLIC APPOINTMENTS

ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE

ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS

ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS Background

The Advisory Committee of the Allied Health Professions is a statutory Advisory Body established in 1976 under Article 25 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972. Its function is to provide advice to the Department on the planning and provision of Allied Health Professions' services in Northern Ireland having regard to national policy. This includes consideration of manpower policy, including staffing and professional training needs. The remuneration and conditions of service of staff, being the concern of separate Joint Council machinery, do not come within the remit of the Committee.

Matters will be referred to the Committee for advice by the Department and the Committee may also initiate matters to be brought under consideration.

Membership

The Chairperson and members of the Committee are appointed by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. The present membership of the Committee consists of 19 members, inclusive of the Chairperson and comprises of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Chiropodists /Podiatrists, Dieticians, Speech and Language Therapists, Radiography (Diagnostic and Therapeutic) Orthoptists, Arts Therapists, Prosthetists and Orthotists.

Members are selected after consultation with the following nominating bodies: NI Board of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, NI Regional Group of the British Association of Occupational Therapists, Society of Podiatrists (NI Branch), Ulster Branch of the British Dietetic Association, N.I Speech and Language Therapy Manger's Forum , NI Group of the British Orthoptic Society, N.I. Council of Society of Radiographers ,Association of Professional Music Therapists, Drama Therapy N.I, N.I Group of Arts as Therapy and Prosthetists/Orthotists Profession N.I.

Members serve in an individual capacity and not as representatives of the nominating bodies.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS

Role of Members

It is the member's role to:-

• share in corporate responsibility for the provision of informed advice to the Department and the Officer for the Professions Allied to Medicine as appropriate;

• provide the views of all interested groups within the Professions Allied to Medicine (although members serve in an individual capacity and not as representatives of the nominating bodies);

• assist with the development of mechanisms and priorities to secure this advice;

• assist with the development of a yearly workplan;

• contribute to the achievement and monitoring of workplan targets;

• offer advice within your given area of experience and expertise in relation to a range of policies, strategies, standards and other documents issued from time to time for consultation.

Meetings

The Committee will meet three times a year but is empowered to call additional meetings if required. Committee meetings are of a half-day duration. Members must be willing to devote the necessary time to the appointment - approximately 4-5 days per year. The Committee may appoint sub-committees to advise on particular issues and may appoint to such sub-committees persons who are not members of the Committee.

Remuneration

The Chairman and members are unpaid, however, they are eligible to claim allowances at rates set centrally for travel and subsidence costs necessarily incurred on Committee business.

Period of Appointment

Following a selection process, members are usually appointed for a three year term of office and will be eligible to serve for a maximum of two terms, i.e. 6 years. A proportion of membership will retire on rotation every two years. Reappointments will be subject to a satisfactory review of the performance of the individual and his/her suitability for reappointment.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Members will be conversant with and be committed to the objectives and principles of the HPSS. They will subscribe to the goals and functions of the Committee and abide by its Standing Orders and Procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS

Members must be a member of the following professions:

- Dietetics

- Orthoptics

- Occupational Therapy

- Physiotherapy

- Chiropody/Podiatry

- Speech and Language Therapy

- Radiographers

- Arts Therapists

- Prosthetists

- Orthotists

Members must hold current state registration with HPC or their professional association.

Members must have had a minimum period of 5 years post registration experience in the HPSS.

COMPETENCIES

Nominees will be required to demonstrate that they possess most of the following skills and attributes:

• an in-depth knowledge of their specific area of practice and a general knowledge of the wider context of health care practice;

• an ability to think strategically and the ability to analyse complex problems;

• an ability to work as part of a team, including chairmanship skills;

• effective communication skills with fluent expression of ideas in both written and oral form;

• good interpersonal skills, developing relationships and networks within and without the Committee;

• the confidence to question and challenge other members in an objective manner, applying their own experience and expertise to the development of an independent view;

• sound personal skills such as time and stress management.

QUALITIES

Commitment

Drive

Diplomacy

Flexibility

Objectivity; and

Vision

Openness

Sensitivity

Self Awareness

Integrity

Probity

Independence

Responsible