Two roles to help shape the future of health and social care in region
A CHANCE to shape the future of health and social care services in the region is being promoted to service users and unpaid carers through two key roles on the Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board (IJB).
The board, which holds responsibility for planning and overseeing adult health and social care across the region, is inviting applications for a Service User representative and an Unpaid Carers representative
These voluntary positions offer individuals with lived experience the opportunity to influence decisions at the highest level and ensure the voices of those receiving and providing care are heard where it matters most.
Interim Chief Officer Nicole Hamlet said: “These roles bring a strong and vital perspective to the table.
“Our Service User and Carer Representatives don’t just observe – they contribute, they influence, and they challenge. They help ensure that the care we design is rooted in the lived reality of those it serves.”
The IJB brings together senior leaders from NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway Council, and the third and independent sectors. Its role is to plan services that help people live well and independently, whether in their own homes, communities, or care settings.
Successful applicants will become full members of the board and will play a strategic role in decision-making. They will also be expected to gather views from wider networks and speak on behalf of others who may not have the opportunity to participate directly.
The Service User representative will be someone who has personal experience of using adult health or social care services. The Unpaid Carers representative will reflect the perspective of those who support loved ones, friends, or neighbours without formal pay or recognition.
Nicole Hamlet said: “These are roles for people who care deeply about the services they or others rely on.
“It’s a chance to take personal experience and turn it into something that benefits the wider community. The insights they bring challenge assumptions and make services more person-centred, more responsive, and more compassionate.”
Board meetings are held approximately every two months, and support is provided to help representatives contribute fully to the work of the IJB.
The time commitment is flexible and can be balanced with existing caring responsibilities or other roles.
Full more information, to arrange to speak with Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership Chair Kim Dams about these roles, and to apply, please email dg.hslog@nhs.scot
Service User Application Pack – IJB