Self-nominations sought for the position of BGS Vice President Workforce

The Vice President (VP) Workforce is a crucial role within the British Geriatrics Society, leading the BGS’s work on how those working in older people’s healthcare can best be recruited, retained, trained and supported.

As VP Workforce, you will ensure the BGS has access to relevant workforce data; you will analyse this, and share regular updates with BGS members on issues such as training numbers, fill rates and opportunities/gaps across the UK. Focussing primarily on geriatric medicine data, you will also keep a broad overview of workforce developments across other professions within the BGS’s multidisciplinary membership. You will provide insights to guide BGS’s policy initiatives and advise the Trustee Board on workforce issues. You will share workforce information that helps those considering a career in the healthcare of older people to make informed choices. Overall you will be helping to ensure there is an appropriately skilled workforce in place to meet the healthcare needs of the UK’s older population.
 
This work feeds into the Education and Training Committee (ETC), with whom you will work closely. You will be supported by a new sub-committee of the ETC, to whom you will be able to delegate tasks and share intelligence about workforce developments. You will work with the BGS Chief Executive, the Policy Manager, and the Director of Learning and Professional Development. You will attend BGS Board meetings, but you will not be a charity trustee. Since workforce is a cross-cutting issue of interest to many parts of the BGS, you will provide regular written updates to be shared as needed with other committees and BGS groups.
 
This is a great opportunity to take on a strategic role in the BGS, developing your skills in analysis, communication and advocacy. You will be only the third post-holder, so there is plenty of scope to develop the role.

You will:

  • Be passionate about the aims of the BGS and committed to improving the healthcare of older people.
  • Be interested in the big picture of how healthcare professionals are attracted to, recruited and retained within the workforce caring for older people.
  • Be a BGS member and healthcare professional working with older people, probably a doctor, as you will have knowledge of doctors’ training and CPD.
  • Have an interest in how data and information about workforce developments can be understood, communicated and used for influence.
  • Possibly have had prior experience of working in a BGS committee such as the Education and Training Committee, though this is not essential.

You will have the opportunity to gain:

  • Insights into national-level workforce planning
  • Experience in influencing, analysis, and communications
  • A network of other specialties, national organisations and workforce leads
  • The chance to work with interesting and committed people, to make a difference and to have fun!

Term

The Vice President Workforce will serve for three years, taking office once the appointment process concludes, in August/September 2021. This is a voluntary, unpaid role, although travel costs and other expenses will be covered (in accordance with the BGS expenses policy).

Duties

Role Purpose
  • To lead on the capture and analysis of workforce data relevant to BGS members and produce regular updates to be communicated to the membership
  • To advise the BGS Board, committees and staff on strategic workforce issues across professions in the four nations, and to communicate emerging developments to BGS members
  • To coordinate with Training Programme Directors and workforce leads to keep abreast of developments in geriatric medicine training for doctors
  • To promote the importance of expanding the workforce specialising in older people’s healthcare by helping the BGS to develop strategic alliances and relationships, and to capitalise on policy and communications opportunities
Responsibilities (with scope for possible adjustment by discussion after appointment)
  • In collaboration with the Chief Executive, establish, chair and develop a BGS Workforce Sub-Committee, under the remit of the Education and Training Committee (to include devolved nation representation and the perspectives of nurses and other AHPs). This will enable you to share the load and connect in to other parts of the BGS
  • Oversee the capture and analysis of the best available workforce data relevant to the healthcare of older people across the UK (eg RCP census data), and produce regular reports, providing a picture on geriatric medicine training numbers, fill rates, hot/cold areas of the UK etc.
  • Report and advise the BGS Board on matters relating to workforce, attending at least one Board meeting a year
  • Identify policy influencing and communications opportunities, alerting BGS officers and staff as needed
  • Keep members up to date on workforce issues through BGS’s communication channels, including via the BGS website
  • Maintain an overview of professional workforce developments relevant to the BGS’s multidisciplinary membership
  • Attend relevant workforce meetings, including the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians’ Geriatrics Specialist Advisory Committee (JRCPTB SAC), Training Programme Director meetings, and meetings of the BGS Education and Training Committee
  • Engage with emerging workforce requirements underpinning the Ageing Well programme in England, and developments in Health Education England, and its equivalents in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales
Time commitment
The VP Workforce attends:
  • Education and Training Committee (4 meetings a year)
  • SAC meetings (as relevant)
  • BGS Trustee Board (one of the four meetings a year)
The time commitment will not normally exceed 2 days per month, but this can be spread unevenly.

How to apply

Self-nominations are invited, in the form of a letter and short career summary. The letter should give a brief indication of how you would approach the requirements of the role. Please email this to Mark Stewart at M [dot] Stewart [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk. Candidates will be invited to an interview to discuss their application.
 
If you would like to discuss the role, please contact M [dot] Stewart [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk (Mark Stewart) (020 7608 8575), who will put you in touch with the BGS CEO, Sarah Mistry, or the current VP Workforce, Claire Copeland.
 
The closing date for expressions of interest is midnight on 30 July 2021.