Patient Leader

Overview

Volunteer - Patient Leader. Volunteer position based at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, RG1 5AN
. This is an unpaid volunteer role.

• Site:
  Royal Berkshire Hospital
• Main area:
  Patient Leader
• Contract:
  
  2 years (Voluntary)
• Hours:
  
  1 hour per week (various hours); flexible working
• Salary:
  Volunteer - no salary
• Job reference: 193-Vol-Patient Leader 26
• Closing date: 29/03/2026 23:59

Patient Leaders are specially trained volunteers who work alongside colleagues across the Trust, influencing and shaping decisions at all levels. They help ensure the voice and needs of patients, carers and families are represented across the organisation and with partner organisations in the region.

• Participate in quality improvement projects
• Join steering/working groups
• Support ward accreditation and peer reviews
• Join task and finish groups
• Interviews (including interviewing consultants and senior nurses)
• Policy and document reviews
• Patient surveys
• Clinical leadership development programmes
• Strategy reviews

Regular meetings, including governance and care group meetings, patient safety partners, transformation projects, and digital improvements. Projects may arise when departments identify potential improvements to discuss with a Patient Leader.

Applicants should have a willingness to develop an understanding of NHS services, think about health and wellbeing broadly, and be committed to improving NHS services. You may have recently accessed NHS services or cared for someone with a health condition. You should be able to reflect the diversity of patients/service users and be open to constructive challenge. Training requires attendance at 5 days of the Patient Leadership Programme (one day per week over 5 weeks).

A minimum commitment of 2 years after completing the programme is required. There is no fixed weekly hour requirement, but regular attendance for groups, meetings or projects is expected.

Please note: We are currently only able to recruit Patient Leaders who live within a 15 mile radius of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, RG1 5AN
.

To apply, describe why you are interested in becoming a Patient Leader and how you meet the listed person specification, values and behaviours. You may also wish to:

• express any additional qualities you would bring to the role
• share your experiences of accessing services at the RBFT
• share your experiences of caring for someone with health conditions

Important: Previous applicants need not apply. For RBFT staff, there are additional volunteering considerations. Telephone interviews are not conducted; applicants should be prepared to travel for an interview. All new appointments are subject to a probationary period. Some notes on recruitment and eligibility are included in the job description.

For more information or informal visits, contact:
Naomi Roberts, Patient Experience Lead, RBFT. Email and telephone details are provided in the job posting.