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Role details

Ministry Of Defence Research Ethics Committee (MODREC) – Independent Expert Members

Application deadline 17 September 2023

Summary

• Organisation: Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Defence
• Location: London
• Sectors: Defence
• Skills: Communication
• Number of vacancies: 2
• Time commitment: 2 day(s) per month
• Remuneration: £380 per day
• Length of term: Successful applicants will be invited to join MODREC for an initial term of 5 years, which is inclusive of a 1-year probationary period.
• Application deadline: 11pm on 17 September 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   17 July 2023

2. Application deadline

   11pm on 17 September 2023

3. Sifting date

   29 September 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   20 October 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the role

Additional introductions

The Chair of the Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee (MODREC) is looking to recruit new Independent Members. MODREC plays a vital role to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) by ensuring that all research involving human participants undertaken, funded or sponsored by the MOD meets national and international ethics standards. MODREC is an Independent body operating in accordance with the UK’s Health Research Authority guidelines (implemented through MOD policy JSP536) and consists of a mix of Expert and Lay Members. If you feel that you meet the requirements of the role, we would be keen to hear from you.

Dr Simon Kolstoe

MODREC Chair

Role description

We are looking for new Ministry Of Defence Research Ethics Committee (MODREC) Expert Members with a strong commitment to protect research participants and promote good, ethical, research. MODREC is seeking to appoint members with statistical or Human Factors expertise. Candidates need to be able to undertake the commitments detailed below.

• Successful applicants must demonstrate a good understanding of research ethics through prior membership of a Research Ethics Committee or similar. We are passionate about diversity and would particularly welcome applications from people in under-represented groups.

Role requirements

Successful applicants will:

·       Have a strong personal commitment to the interests of research participants who take part (or are asked to take part) in research

·       Have a strong personal commitment to ensuring the highest standards of research

·       Be able to read, understand and analyse complex issues from research proposals and weigh up conflicting opinions

·       Be able to take an objective stance, looking at a situation from different perspectives

·       Be a good communicator with a practical approach and the confidence to voice their opinions

·       Be able to discuss issues with people who may not agree with them including being able to influence and listen to the views of others from a range of backgrounds

·       Be committed to the public service values of accountability, probity, openness and equality of opportunity

·       Be able to demonstrate an ability to contribute to the work of MODREC

·       Understand the requirement for confidentiality regarding protocols reviewed by MODREC

Organisation description

The Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee (MODREC) ensures that all research involving human participants undertaken, funded or sponsored by the Ministry of Defence meet national and international ethics standards. MODREC members are independent of MOD, and aim to protect participants and promote good research by reviewing research protocols for potential ethics issues. The Committee is an Independent body operating in accordance with the UK’s Health Research Authority guidelines (implemented through MOD policy JSP536). It consists of 18 members who are a mix of expert and lay, supported by appropriate MOD advisors. Relevant security clearances are required.

Board composition

Committee is made up of 18 independent members plus 1 Chair

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Have prior experience of sitting on a Research Ethics Committee or equivalent
• Agree to attend monthly MODREC meetings, which will be a mix of virtual and face to face meetings. You will also be expected to participate in sub-committee meetings, conducted by email, on a rota basis.
• Agree to undertake at least one day of training (5 hours) per year that is relevant to your role as a member of MODREC
• Be IT literate and have access to a computer, laptop or tablet in order to be able to review applications and amendments electronically by email, as the majority of MODREC work is carried out electronically

The expert statistical member essential criteria:

• Have a post-graduate qualification in, or related to, statistics
• Experience of using statistical methods for analysing research data e.g. RCTs, psychometrics, multivariate analysis, mixed methodologies etc
• Affiliation with the Royal Statistical Society
• A track record of academic publications

The expert Human Factors essential criteria:

• Have a post-graduate qualification in, or related to Human Factors
• Affiliation (Fellow / Chartered status) to the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors (or equivalent)
• A track record of undertaking Human Factors research translated into academic publications

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a Supporting Statement - This should include details of 2 references; full names and email addresses. By providing your referees details, you are giving us consent to approach them should you be successful at the shortlisting stage.
• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments.   We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications. The assessment process 1.       The Approving Authority are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process. 2.       An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Approving Authority to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role. 3.       At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates should be recommended for interview. The Approving Authority will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. 4.       Once the shortlist has been agreed by Approving Authority, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview. 5.       The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The names of all appointable candidates are provided to the Approving Authority. It is then for the Approving Authority to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, the Approving Authority may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition. 6.       The Panel’s recommendations will be provided to the Approving Authority in a report which details the assessment method used and the outcome of each interview. They will then be asked to agree on the candidate(s) who should be appointed. 7.       Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Panel Chair

Dr Simon Kolstoe, Chair of MODREC

Representative of the Organisation

Dr Kiren Vadher, Defence Science & Technology

 Independent Panel Member

Charlotte Allen, Health Research Authority

Other Panel Members

Surg Capt Rory Rickard, Surgeon General Representative

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by the Approving Authority to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned. AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with the Approving Authority, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to the Approving Authority which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the Approving Authority to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for consideration the candidate(s) will need to be a UK National.

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact Dr Piete Brown, DST-MODREC Chief Secretary, Phone: 0300 153 5372, Email: DST-MODRECTeam@mod.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. This will be specified in the vacancy details. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

The level of clearance required for this role is Security Check (SC)

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

The Ministry of Defence value and welcome diversity.  The appointment will be governed by the Principle of Public Appointment based on merit with independent assessment and transparency of process. Successful candidate will need to demonstrate that they meet the criteria for this appointment. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and experience across the whole of the United Kingdom.  Boards of public bodies/Advisory Committees are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda. We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. 

As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘minimum criteria,’ we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

Government departments are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of reasonable adjustments are:

•         ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats, •         making adaptations to interview locations •         allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way. •         giving detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves. •         allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters. •         making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life. These are:

1. Selflessness - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.
2. Integrity - Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.
3. Objectivity - Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.
4. Accountability - Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.
5. Openness - Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.
6. Honesty - Holders of public office should be truthful.
7. Leadership - Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: •         any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; •         any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or or public statements that you have made; •         and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; Which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for. You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to the Approving Authority. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of the Approving Authority.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. If re-appointed, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years.

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.  If you feel that you have a complaint about the way in which your application has been handled, please contact in the first instance Defence Business Service (DBS) Civilian Personnel Public Appointments Team DBSCivPers-ResPublicAppts@mod.gov.uk. If you are not completely satisfied with the response, please contact the MOD Public Appointments Team at DSOP-PublicAppointments@mod.gov.uk. We will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and aim to provide a response within 5 working days.

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

The Ministry of Defence privacy notice can be found here

Contact details

For additional information on this role please contact Dr Piete Brown, DST-MODREC Chief Secretary, Phone: 0300 153 5372, Email: DST-MODRECTeam@mod.gov.uk

Attachments

• Candidate Information Pack