£300/day 2 days/month
Timeline for this appointment
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Opening date
12 June 2023
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Application deadline
11:59am on 4 July 2023
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Sifting date
21 July 2023
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Interviews expected to end on
10 September 2023
Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change
About the role
Introduction from the Chair
Dear candidate,
Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP).
As an advisory public body, the IRP is committed to providing independent, expert advice to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and others on effective NHS service change in England.
Since 2003 we have provided advice on a vast range of proposals across the healthcare system and I am proud of our reputation as a trusted source of impartial advice to support health ministers in their decision making so that the quality and sustainability of care for patients can be improved.
We are a diverse and inclusive panel and welcome applications from a broad range of talented individuals with a proven track record of experience in either nursing or healthcare management and leadership.
We are looking to appoint members who can demonstrate sound judgement with excellent communication skills and knowledge of the issues involved in complex service change in order to form recommendations based on an analysis of the evidence.
This is an exciting time to be joining the IRP. The Health and Care Act (2022) provided new intervention powers for the Secretary of State to call in and make decisions on reconfiguration proposals. The IRP will build on existing good practice to help inform this new process and we may see increased demand from ministers for our expert advice.
If you are passionate about health and have the skills, knowledge and experience we are looking for, we very much look forward to receiving an application from you.
Best wishes,
Professor Sir Norman Williams
Chair of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel
Role description
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is looking to make new appointments to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) to include one clinical member with nursing experience and up to four managerial members.
As an IRP member you will work with the Chair and Panel members to:
- collectively review proposals for changes to health services in England and provide independent expert advice and recommendations to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care;
- consider complex written evidence with the potential for site visits to local NHS services and oral evidence hearings with stakeholders if required;
- provide informal advice on service change to the NHS, local authorities and other interested parties upon request to promote best practice;
- maintain the reputation of the IRP as a trusted source of independent advice with a commitment to the values of equality, diversity and inclusion; and
- keep up to date with national strategies and ministerial priorities for the Department of Health and Social Care which may impact on reconfiguration policy such as the New Hospitals Programme.
Organisation description
The Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) is an advisory non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care to provide formal advice to health ministers on proposals for NHS service change in England.
The IRP is led by the Chair, Professor Sir Norman Williams, who is supported by a Panel of 15 members made up of experienced clinicians, senior managers and lay representatives, with wide-ranging skills, knowledge and expertise, including an understanding of the difficult trade-offs involved in complex service change and a commitment to integrity and the principles of public service.
The current Local Authority Regulations (2013) require NHS organisations to consult local authorities on any proposals under consideration for substantial changes to local health services. A local authority may contest a proposal by making a referral to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care who may in turn request formal advice from the IRP before making a decision on whether the proposal may proceed.
This is a significant time to join the IRP. The Health and Care Act (2022) provided new powers for the Secretary of State to intervene at any point of the reconfiguration process and will retain the role of the IRP as a trusted independent and authoritative source of advice to ministers to support their decision making.
The IRP also offers ongoing informal support and guidance to the NHS, local authorities and other interested parties on achieving successful service change to ensure that decisions about reconfigurations are sustainable and result in improved services for patients.
Further information about the structure, role and work of the IRP can be found on our website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/independent-reconfiguration-panel
IRP code of practice
The IRP code of practice is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/irp-code-of-practice/irp-code-of-practice
Board composition
The Panel meets six times a year on the second Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September and November. Additional meetings are arranged on an ad hoc basis for members to review casework and provide formal advice to ministers. Members are expected to have sufficient availability to commit at least one to two days a month to the work of the IRP, although this may vary dependent on caseload.
Currently most meetings take place virtually on Microsoft Teams with an annual face to face meeting requiring travel to London.
Regulation of appointment
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website
Person specification
Essential criteria
Ministers are seeking to make 6 appointments to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP).
The membership of the IRP is equally drawn from three groups: Clinical, Managerial and Lay. To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment.
To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment:
- knowledge and experience of the issues and trade-offs involved in complex service change and transformation;
- the ability to critically analyse lengthy and possibly contradictory detailed evidence, often to short deadlines;
- sound judgement and decision-making skills to formulate recommendations with difficult compromises, including those in which all parties may be dissatisfied with the outcome; and
- excellent communication skills with the ability to constructively challenge and build consensus in Panel discussions.
In addition, candidates should also meet the following essential criteria from one of the relevant membership groups:
Clinical member – secondary care
- A fully qualified specialist consultant working in the NHS with a high calibre background in clinical and service issues relating to one or more of the following: urgent and emergency care; obstetrics and gynaecology; or another acute medical or surgical specialty.
Clinical member – nurse
- A registered nurse currently or recently employed in the NHS at consultant or more senior level, with a high calibre background in clinical and service issues relating to one or more of the following: general acute services and care of the elderly; specialist acute services; and/or women’s and children’s services.
Managerial member:
- High calibre experience in healthcare management, ideally currently or recently employed in the NHS at chief executive or director level. You are likely to have experience in managing complex service change and offer skills in service redesign, major business cases, change management and public consultation.