Welcome from PRSB and our members
Thank you for your interest in becoming Chair of the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB). Our dynamic and successful organisation has achieved so much in our first 10 years, becoming the voice on information record standards – and we plan to continue this work into the next decade to improve outcomes and the health and care of the nation through high quality, standardised data.
The role
It is an exciting time to join our Board. Our outgoing Chair, Professor Maureen Baker CBE, has successfully led the organisation through its formative early years: increasing our membership; establishing our place in the fields of standards and digital infrastructure; growing our reputation for high quality work; launching our ground-breaking conformance accreditation scheme with software suppliers; and playing an active role not only in developing standards but in getting them into widespread use.
We are now seeking an exceptional new Chair to help steer the organisation to the next level of achievement and impact as we seek to increase our influence whilst also growing and diversifying our business. We aim to play a crucial role in catalysing system-wide change, accelerating improvements in the recording and use of health and care data.
The successful candidate will come from a clinical/professional or patient/public-advocacy background and be equally comfortable communicating with care professionals, the tech industry and the general public. They will be a big picture thinker who can help a strong Board and Executive team to move forward into the next stage of our journey with confidence and ambition. We are committed to widening the diversity of the Board and welcome applications from under-represented groups.
If you have the passion, drive and belief to revolutionise how health and care is delivered through digital advances and standardised data, we want to hear from you.
About the PRSB
The PRSB was established in 2013 as an independent, not-for-profit Community Interest Company with the remit of developing and supporting the implementation of high-quality information standards for health and social care across the UK. Standards are an essential foundation for effective digital transformation from basic safety, multi-disciplinary sharing of information through to research, artificial intelligence, machine learning and population health management. Without standards, we will not achieve the better outcomes and system efficiencies we need, or be able to deliver integrated, person-centred care. The revolution is already underway but there is still much to do. It is inconceivable that the NHS and social care will not be transformed through standardised data, the challenge is how quickly we can make it happen.
PRSB’s membership has grown exponentially, and we now boast 84 members consisting of professional bodies across health and social care, patient/service user advocacy bodies and other stakeholders with a valid interest. Our members represent a unique collaboration with equal voice accorded to health, social care, patients and the public and area strong influence to governments and policy makers. We have developed around 30 standards in critical areas of care including a shared care record, diabetes, maternity, transfers of care, social care and standards to support personalised care.
We are strongly focused on improving care and outcomes and we can only do this if standards are in widespread use. We are actively working with software suppliers and organisations providing care to support and encourage adoption of the standards. Three years ago, we launched a ground-breaking scheme for working collaboratively with software suppliers to assure and accredit their conformance with standards. Standards Partnership Scheme continues to be a great success, and our plans include strengthening these relationships further and working more closely with suppliers to drive our agenda forward.
We are in year 4 of a 5-year plan. Delivering on our core mission and vision remains a constant – developing high quality standards to address our members’ priorities, promoting, and supporting their widescale use. But more emergent areas of our strategy and plans include driving better data quality for research, a greater focus on implementation including building on our excellent relationships with software suppliers and integrated care systems, diversification into related areas such as sponsorship, training, and grant income, and building our parliamentary and media profile.
Role description
Role title: Chair, Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB)
Reporting to: Board and members
Principal responsibilities
Strategic leadership
The Chair will lead the Board, working with Executive and Non-Executive members to:
Provide inspiring and inclusive leadership that engages and activates our diverse membership and stakeholders across the UK.
Agree a clear and ambitious strategic direction to increase our impact in line with our mission, vision and values and hold the Board and Executive to account for its delivery.
Scan and respond to the external environment, context and risks to ensure PRSB’s future is secure, opportunities are grasped, and the organisation remains sound and sustainable.
Support the organisation to grow and diversify, increasing our impact and independence.
Governance
The Chair will:
Ensure that governance arrangements and policies are robust, fit-for-purpose and working effectively within the objects of the Articles of Association.
Chair the Board and Advisory Board and ensure that Board sub-committees operate effectively.
Ensure that the Board is regularly refreshed and developed with the right balance of skills, knowledge, experience and diversity to govern and lead the PRSB effectively.
Appraise the performance of Board members and CEO on an annual basis.
External Relations and influence
The Chair will:
Act as a spokesperson and ambassador for the PRSB, able to inspire stakeholders and communicate the impact and potential of standards in ways that engage different audiences.
Build and maintain close and effective relationships with key stakeholders and influencers across all UK nations including Government, the NHS and social care, member organisations and software supplier Partners.
Represent the PRSB at external functions and events and in national media as required.
Use personal influence and networks to build the reputation and profile of the PRSB, helping to cement our position in the digitisation agenda and extend our access to new areas and new levels.
Efficiency and effectiveness
The Chair will:
Ensure that Board, members and Advisory Board are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests of the PRSB with collective ownership of decisions.
Ensure that the Board is provided with clear information to make decisions and monitor that decisions taken at meetings are implemented.
Champion a quality improvement ethos and outcomes focus in our work.
Relationship with the Chief Executive and the wider management team
Establish and build a strong, effective and constructive working relationship with the Chief Executive, ensuring they are held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives.
The above responsibilities are indicative only and not exhaustive. The Chair will be expected to perform all such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role and abide by all applicable governance policies and procedures.
Time Commitment
The Chair role is expected to involve:
6 Board meetings per year, one or two of which may be in-person.
4 Advisory Board meetings with our members.
An Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Regular attendance and presenting at conferences, events and stakeholder meetings.
The total time commitment is estimated at 1-2 days per week on average but may vary throughout the year.
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
Strength of character to maintain our independence whilst cultivating a spirit of shared purpose and building allies.
A passionate belief and commitment to the mission of the PRSB including promoting person- centred care and improving services through high quality, standardised data.
Personal gravitas to lead a significant national organisation and be credible and influential with high-level stakeholders, able to play a successful ‘translational’ role supporting productive communication between patient, public and professional stakeholders from a range of backgrounds.
Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours when needed.
Excellent emotional intelligence, ability to support and challenge the Board and Executives alike, encouraging a collaborative climate and high performance.
Experience
Outstanding record of achievement at Board level in the public, private or voluntary sector.
A respected and authoritative clinician or other health or care professional or patient advocate.
Broad experience in managing stakeholders and cultivating strong relationships at senior level.
Understand the challenges of delivering systemic change at scale.
Knowledge and skills
Broad knowledge and understanding of the health and care sector across the UK.
Appreciation of digital and the foundational role of information standards within it.
Excellent communicator, confident with media and public speaking and able to ‘translate’ our role and importance to different stakeholder groups and perspectives.
Appreciation of the essentials of good governance and financial management within a small organisation with a non-profit motive
Terms and conditions
- Location
PRSB has a small office presence in London but is a flexible/home-based working organisation. Most meetings are held virtually but occasional travel will be required. - Term of office
The Chair will initially be appointed for a three-year term, to be eligible for reappointment for one additional term. - Remuneration
The role will be fairly remunerated in line with our not-for-profit credentials and public sector ethos. Pay will be at an agreed day rate paid for actual days worked.