I'd like to offer you my time, skills, experience and goodwill free of charge.

Was what I was saying when I responded to the Care Quality Commission’s ad for Experts by Experience (service users and carers) to accompany their inspectors on visits. The first problem is that this is an indirect process: you have to do it through one of their selected charitable agencies. so I mounted the first hurdle and found my way through seven pages of their website, and downloading a list of their selections.

The second hurdle was contacting the National Centre for Independent Living explaining what I was contacting them for. They eventually replied saying they didn’t know what I was talking about.

The third hurdle was repeating this with an alternative body, Age Concern/Help the Aged. They replied by sending me the fourth hurdle which was:

Role applied for:	Expert by Experience
Department:	Speaking Up for Our Age/Community Services
Closing Date:	Please return as soon as possible

Help the Aged is committed to treating job applicants and employees fairly and consistently. We aim to ensure equal opportunities during recruitment and selection for jobs. We welcome diversity in all that we do and we value of each individual’s experience, expertise and opinion. At Help the Aged we feel it is important to respect one another.

Personal

Please complete in black ink and in block capitals.

Title: Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms

First Name:

Last Name:

Address: (including postcode)

Contact telephone number/s:

e-mail address

How did you hear of this post?



Experience

Please tell us what experience you have had as someone who has used care services or as a family carer or as a friend acting as a carer of an older person in an unpaid capacity, or about your day to day life as an older person receiving care. (Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary and attach it to the application form.)

Your Skills

Please tell us about any involvement you have or have had with social care services and/or the people who use them. (This could include your experiences of social care services or how you support someone who uses them) Have you ever been involved in any kind of inspection or assessment work? Please tell us what this involved. What personal qualities do you think you have that makes you an Expert by Experience? Experts by Experience will be required to take brief notes and produce a short report at the end of an Inspection. This can be done with support if necessary. Do you have any experience of translating your views and comments onto paper? Please give details. What experience do you have of working with Black, Asian or Minority Communities? 4. Disclosure of Convictions Statement Many of our posts are exempt from Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975, and require that you declare any convictions or cautions you may have, with details and dates, even if they would otherwise be regarded as ‘spent’ under the Act. Please note: the information you will give will be treated in confidence and only taken into account in relation to this particular application. Please delete as appropriate and sign below. I have/have no convictions to declare (please give details of any convictions below) Date Details 5. Health Some applicants may use a support worker in this role. Would you use a support worker? Yes/No If yes, do you know someone who would undertake this role? Yes/No 7. Reasonable Adjustments Please advise if you need us to make any reasonable adjustments for the interview. If applicable, please state that these may be. 8. References

Please provide the name of two people we could contact for references. For example, these could be people you have done some work with, contacts made in voluntary work or people who could tell us a little about you and your qualities. (References will only be taken up when an offer of employment has been made and accepted)

First Referee:

First Name:

Last Name:

Address: (including postcode)

Contact telephone number/s:

e-mail address

How do you know them?

Second Referee:

First Name:

Last Name:

Address: (including postcode)

Contact telephone number/s:

e-mail address

How do you know them?

9. Data Protection Act

In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, I give my consent for the information contained in this form to be processed for the purposes of my recruitment and employment with Help the Aged. I understand this application form will become part of my personal file and that if I am not appointed it will be stored for six months and then be destroyed.

10. Statement to be signed by the Applicant

I declare that the information provided on this form is correct and includes all relevant information that may affect my suitability for employment with the Charity. I understand that my engagement and employment are dependent upon this declaration.

Signature: _____________________________ Date: ___________________________________________

I fell at the fourth hurdle screaming to myself as I tumbled: “You want this sort of bureaucracy for my voluntary services -

Stuff it!”