Parents and Carers Advisory Group (PCG)

The RCPCH Parents and Carers Group (PCG) exists to serve the needs of the parents and carers of children and young people who need the help of paediatricians.

Our role

The College has responsibility for the following:

• setting good standards of medical practice when working with children and young people
• educating and examining doctors in paediatrics
• providing information to the public about the healthcare of children

The PCG has been established to advise the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health on the needs of babies, children, young people, and their carers. Central to the PCG role is to bring together lay people, organisations that have links with patients, the wider public perspective and experts involved in lay/public/patient engagement to advise and support the RCPCH improve, influence and lead the way in children’s health.

The PCG will be instrumental in coordinating efforts across the Royal Colleges in relation to child health and the patient/public/parent perspective to ensure a strong and united voice. The PCG will also explore how to focus its efforts to strategically influence the work of the RCPCH and its accountability to children, young people and the wider public.   

Recruitment

The RCPCH Parents and Carers Group (PCG) is recruiting new members: 

• PCG committee members must be available to attend the three PCG meetings each year (or provide reports if unable to attend in person.) Reasonable travel and other expenses will be reimbursed by the College.
• All lay representatives must have an interest in patient and carer issues and provide comment and input on such matters.
• You must be prepared to attend an RCPCH Committee or Working Group.
• You should be able to listen, read and work as a team with other persons in the group.
• The role will involve supporting the Chair and the Participation Manager in their roles by providing comment, evidence and knowledge to reports, proposals and presentations for the College.
• You will be open-minded, and value the opinion of others.
• You will be available to attend induction meetings and training sessions which will take place annually.  

Nominations should be submitted electronically by no later than 30 June 2012 at: http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/pcg-application-form. The form will also include a statement of up to 250 words outlining the relevant experience and reasons for applying to the post. You should also provide the names of two references on the form. Interviews will take place in July 2012 at the College’s offices. Unfortunately, due to the high rate of applicants we will not be able to notify you if your application is unsuccessful.

The information provided within your application form will be used for the purpose of applications to PCG only. It will be shared with members of the RCPCH and it will not be shared with any other third parties. Personal information about unsuccessful candidates will be held for six months after the position has been filled, it will then be securely destroyed. The information contained in this will be kept secure and will only be used for purposes directly relevant to that person’s responsibilities as a PCG member.  

Useful links

Members of the Patients and Carers Advisory Group have found the following organisations and web sites useful: 

• Advice from the NHS website
• Information from the NICCY Website (Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People)
• CLIC Sargent Cancer Charity advice for parents
• Wellchild the support charity for sick children and their carers
• Contact a Family a charity providing access to support for parents and children suffering from rarer conditions
• Action for Children supports young people and parents as well as providing advice from young people for those providing healthcare on the best ways in which to do it
• Information for parents and carers on paediatric surgeryfrom the Royal College of Surgeons
• Patient's Guide to Doctors in Training