LIVING IN MIDLOTHIAN PANEL MEMBER

Job Description

Community Planning Partnership is a way of working together to best use all available resources to improve people’s lives. Our CPP's aim is:

• to involve people in the decisions on public services that affect them
• and have a commitment from organisations to work together for better public services

It is important for us to gather the views and opinions of those in our communities to ensure services cover what you need, rather than what we think you need. We would like to improve our understanding of what is currently working well and what can be improved.

We are looking for local people with lived experience in Midlothian to review policies and actions to help to identify potential issues to service implementation to ensure improved outcomes for all. Supported by the Community Planning Manager and Development Officer, you will read documents on policies, processes, and actions to determine what is working well and any improvements that could be implemented. At the end of the assessment, you will report back to Thematic Leads your findings.

Current community action groups:

• Midlothian People’s Equality Group
• Youth Platform
• Youth Hackathon
• MTrap influencing roads and paths
• Citizen Panel
• Human Right Panel
• Women’s Aid Group

Requirements

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Ability to be able to make objective and impartial assessments
• An interest in community activity in Midlothian
• Able to think innovatively and creatively
• Able to ask difficult questions

There will be 7 thematic groups to review so if you have lived experience in one of these specific areas, please let us know on your application:

• Health
• Safety
• Getting it right for every child
• Economy
• Employment
• Poverty
• Climate

RESOURCES REQUIRED:

• Must have access to a computer with an internet connection and sufficient storage to download documents.
• Must be able to access and use Zoom/Teams software (will also be covered during the training)

Responsibilities

Meetings will primarily take place online however on occasion could be held in Dalkeith either at Midlothian House or Fairfield House.

We will arrange the dates and times to suit those who apply, however, some weekday availability would be required. We estimate that the time you would spend on this might add up to approximately 10 hours across the year. Some of this would be during the day, although some of the reading could be done at home

TRAINING DETAILS:

• 1 hour’s training prior to the panels first meeting

FLEXIBILITY AND COMMITMENT:

• Able to meet 4 times per year (meetings will last approximately 2 hours and time will be compensated)
• Able to come to the Community Planning Conference 19th September 2024

The Individual

If you are good at thinking innovatively, creatively and able to ask the difficult questions this panel is for you!

You will gain a better understanding of various parts of the community and help influence how we do things in Midlothian. You will help to identify potential issues to service implementation to ensure improved outcomes for all. The panel would meet approximately 4 times per year, training will be provided, and you will be reimbursed for your time.

 

Our Community Planning Conference will be held in September 2024 which will provide you an opportunity to network with decision makers and other community members.

While having the followings skills would be helpful, they are not essential as we will provide training and support:-

• Ability to be able to make objective and impartial assessments
• An interest in community activity in Midlothian
• Able to think innovatively and creatively
• Able to ask difficult questions

People can apply by filling out the form and emailing it across to Rebekah Sullivan at the email address below. The application process will be an informal discussion on what being a panel member will entail and this will be carried out via teams.

rebekah.sullivan@midlothian.gov.uk