Vacancy: Meeting Committee Representative Community Based Role

The British Geriatrics Society is the professional membership organisation for doctors, nurses and other healthcare specialists engaged in the treatment and care of older people across the UK. Our multidisciplinary membership is growing and we currently have over 4,500 members. We are a registered charity and limited company with a mission to improve the healthcare of older people across the UK. We are based in Farringdon in Central London, with national councils in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

The role

We are seeking to strengthen our Meetings Committee by recruiting a representative with a Community healthcare background - this is open to all healthcare professionals who are members of the BGS and who spend a substantive portion of their working week in Community based roles. 
 
Each year, the BGS holds two national scientific conferences, one in April/May (the Spring meeting) and one in October/November, (the Autumn meeting).

There has been a considerable change to the planning of the conferences since bringing the conference function inhouse. Responsibility for generation of the programme and social programme lies with the Meetings Committee, chaired by the Honorary Meetings Secretary and supported by the Deputy Honorary Meetings Secretary, the 3 VPs Education, Workforce and Clinical Quality as well as dedicated BGS officers from the Academic and Research Development Committee and Clinical Quality committee, Trainees Council, Nurses and AHP council and the Special Interest Groups (SIGs).

The Meetings Committee representatives work together to produce the Meetings and plan the Society’s strategy for conference provision for the future. The successful applicant will join the committee for 2 years followed by the option to extend for a further 2 years.

The successful applicant will be required to attend 4 committee meetings per year (videoconferencing/ teleconferencing facilities available in addition to physical attendance at Marjory Warren House in London)  

The role

  • Contribute to construct the clinical and scientific content for the Spring and Autumn meetings, in conjunction with the wider Committee. The programmes are focused on producing a highly relevant and engaging meeting for healthcare professionals treating older people.
  • Ensure content aligns with the Society’s rolling Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme and the wider community needs for education. 
  • Liaise with the Committee to suggest topics and speakers for sessions
  • Professional experience from one or more of the following areas: health or social care commissioning; charity senior management or trusteeship; policy influencing; digital strategy; commercial sponsorship; human resources.

Whilst this is a external role to clinicians and healthcare professionals existing demands and pressures, it is also tremendously rewarding, as it entails working with enthusiastic clinicians and representatives from related organisations.

The task is recommended to anyone who feels strongly about the meetings from the viewpoints of education and finance in particular, as well as the social side.  

This role is strongly supported and assisted by the Director of Learning and Professional Development, the Conferences and Events Manager plus other BGS staff and past office holders.

The BGS supports equality, diversity and inclusion.
 
Our committee members are unpaid but we pay travel and other out of pocket expenses, and provide an induction to the BGS’s work. For further details about the BGS, see our website: www.bgs.org.uk To arrange an informal discussion about the role with an existing committee member or the secretariat, please contact Geraint Collingridge g [dot] collingridge [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk 
 
To apply, please send a short statement explaining what you would bring to the role, of no more than 400 words,  Geraint Collingridge g [dot] collingridge [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk
 
 

Registered charity number: 268762 Limited company registration number: 1189776 (England & Wales)