Role title: Member of the BSI Clinical Immunology Professional Network Steering Group
Accountable to: Chair of the BSI-CIPN
Term of office: Four years
The BSI-CIPN Steering Group directs the activities of the BSI Clinical Immunology Professional Network, an integrated and impactful group for all individuals working within clinical immunology. The Network aims to provide a strong voice for clinical immunology in policy and public affairs, foster closer links between basic scientists and clinical practitioners, share best practice through our resources, activities and training, with the ultimate aim of improving care for patients. Membership of the BSI-CIPN is open to all BSI members who work within the adult and/or paediatric clinical immunology specialty including (but not limited to) consultant and trainee clinical immunologists, healthcare scientists, nurses and pharmacists.
All members of the BSI-CIPN Steering Group must be members of the BSI-CIPN. The membership of the Steering Group is diverse and designed to represent the breadth of professions and expertise represented within the Society’s clinical immunology membership. The voice of all Steering Group members is equally valued in discussions.
The Chair of BSI-CIPN Steering Group reports to the Board of Trustees quarterly on the Steering Group’s work. BSI-CIPN Steering Group members are expected to fully participate in discussions, working with staff to ensure that the views and expertise of Steering Group members are fed into relevant BSI projects and proactively bring issues of importance to the membership to be discussed at meetings.
BSI-CIPN Steering Group members are appointed for four years. Once an elected member has served one term of office on the Steering Group, they must take a break and may not serve again as a member of the Steering Group until two years have elapsed. They are expected to attend four BSI-CIPN Steering Group meetings per year held both virtually and in person in London. These are unremunerated positions but expenses such as travel are met by the Society. Members who do not attend for three consecutive meetings will be asked to leave the committee.
BSI-CIPN Steering Group member responsibilities:
- Participate and contribute ideas and proposals and flag up areas which should be given consideration.
- Be familiar with current trends and issues of relevance to the Society.
- Be willing and able to engage with members of the immunological community to glean and disseminate information.
- Consider issues pertinent to the many diverse interests of the Society’s members.
- Actively contribute to documents as required, such as government consultations or policy documents in specific areas, working with staff to create readable and accurate information.
- Be prepared to participate in BSI-CIPN Special Interest Groups and other small working groups on topic-specific projects as appropriate.
Composition of BSI-CIPN Steering Group
The following positions are elected onto the Steering Group through BSI elections:
- Chair
- Deputy Chair
- Clinical guidelines lead
- Conference programme lead
- General member
- Healthcare scientist representative
- Industry liaison representative
- Membership lead
- Nursing representative
- Paediatric immunology representative
- Patient group liaison representative
- Pharmacy representative
- Postgraduate doctor in training representative
- Training & Education lead
The following positions sit on the BSI-CIPN Steering Group in an ex-officio capacity on account of the roles they hold at other organisations.
- British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology representative
- British Society for Immunology Chief Executive
- PID Registry representative
- Quality in Primary Immunodeficiency Services (QPIDS) representative
- Specialised Immunology and Allergy Clinical Reference Group representative
Definition of positions
- Clinical guidelines lead: a BSI-CIPN member with a specialist interest in the development of clinical guidelines. This individual will also chair our Clinical Guidelines Special Interest Group.
- Conference programme lead: a BSI-CIPN member who will chair the committee to coordinate development of the scientific content of the annual BSI-CIPN Conference, working closely with committee members to determine key themes and ensure a well-balanced programme.
- Healthcare scientist representative: a BSI-CIPN member who works as a healthcare scientist with a special interest in clinical immunology
- Industry liaison representative: a BSI-CIPN member who will work with BSI staff to engage with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies working in the clinical immunology arena.
- Membership lead: a BSI-CIPN member who will act as a liaison to ensure the Steering Group are representing the needs of the membership. Responsibilities for this role include approving BSI-CIPN membership applications.
- Nursing representative: a BSI-CIPN member who works as a specialist immunology nurse. This individual will also be involved in the running of our Nurses and Pharmacists Special Interest Group.
- Paediatric immunology representative: a BSI-CIPN member who works in paediatric immunology.
- Patient group liaison: a BSI-CIPN member who has experience of and an interest in working with patient groups to improve clinical practice.
- Pharmacy representative: a BSI-CIPN member who works in the pharmacy sector with a special interest in immunology. This individual will also be involved in the running of our Nurses and Pharmacists Special Interest Group.
- Postgraduate doctor in training representative: a BSI-CIPN member who is currently completing their clinical training in clinical immunology.
- Training and education lead: a BSI-CIPN member with a special interest in the training of clinicians in clinical immunology. This individual will also chair our Education & Training Special Interest Group.
Person specification
- A demonstrable commitment to the Society and to immunology. Must be a current member of the BSI and of the BSI-CIPN.
- Fair, independent judgement and a willingness to speak their mind.
- Adhere to and promote the BSI Code of Conduct and the principles of our Diversity & Inclusion framework.
- Aligned with the BSI values – ambitious and committed, evidence-based and responsible; collaborative and inclusive; agile and energetic.
- An ability to work collaboratively and collectively, accepting consensus.
- A willingness to deal with conflicts of interest and loyalty.
- Should give enough time, thought and energy to your role, for example by preparing for, attending, and actively participating in all BSI-CIPN Steering Group meetings.
- A willingness to engage with members, act as an ‘ambassador’ for the BSI and promote its values and purpose.