Frequently asked questions
Q. What skills and experience do I need to become a PEG member?
A. Members bring a wide range of different lived experiences, skills, and talents to the PEG, and we hugely value this diversity. Some of the key skills it’s important to have as a PEG member include…
• Having an interest in mental health and psychology
• Being able to use your lived experience of using health, social care or psychological services (or caring for someone who does) to support the work of OxICPTR
• Listening respectfully to the views of others and considering issues beyond your own personal experience
• Communicating your ideas to a wide range of people and offering constructive feedback where appropriate
• Having an awareness and commitment to equality and diversity
• Being reliable and conscientious
• Having access to an internet-enabled device so you can attend online PEG meetings
Q. What can I expect from OxICPTR?
A. We hugely value the contributions that our PEG members make, which is why we commit to providing the following things for members…
• An induction meeting with one of the involvement team
• Timely access to meeting documents and resources to give you time to prepare for
meetings
• Information about new involvement opportunities within OxICPTR
• Opportunities to shadow experienced members before committing to an
involvement activity
• Regular training, development and team building opportunities
• Reimbursement of travel and other expenses in line with Oxford Health policies
• Signposting to additional resources of support if you need them
Q. What will OxICPTR expect from me?
A. We ask PEG members to commit to the following things…
• To attend the quarterly PEG meetings
• To prepare for meetings and other involvement activities in advance by reading
information such as agendas and minutes
• To actively contribute to meetings e.g. listening to and taking part in discussions,
hearing others’ views, asking questions and being ‘a critical friend’
• To work with a diverse group of people who may have opinions different to yours
• To be willing to use your lived experience. This doesn’t mean you have to share details of your diagnosis or medical history. Instead, we ask that you can reflect on your experiences and where relevant use these to help inform discussions.
• To tell us if you are unable to make a meeting or commitment.
• To tell us about any possible conflicts of interest (e.g. other commitments, staffing or trainees)
• To agree to the terms of reference of the group
• To inform us of any reasonable adjustments that will help you to participate
• To meet with a member of the involvement team yearly to review your work with the PEG and discuss your goals
• To consider the needs of different people in the group and be respectful of others
Q. How are PEG members reimbursed for their time?
A. PEG members are currently reimbursed for their time/expertise in line with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust’s policy. For most PEG activities, including attending PEG meetings, committee meetings and PAS activities, members are reimbursed at £15/per hour plus any expenses (e.g. travel).
Once you have completed an activity you will be sent a reimbursement form to complete. You will then return this to the person organising the activity to sign off before it is sent to our admin team to be processed. After submitting your reimbursement form you should normally receive a remittance advice email or letter within 3-4 weeks.
Please be aware that payments for being an expert by experience may affect any benefits that you are entitled to. We recommend anyone receiving any sort of benefits should contact the relevant agency (e.g. Job Centre Plus or their local council) before undertaking any sort of work (including attending events and other voluntary work) or accepting payments, vouchers or expenses. A breach of benefit conditions can result in benefits being stopped. It is the responsibility of the individual accepting the payment to seek advice and inform the relevant agencies.
For more information about rates of reimbursement please email madeleine.chadwick@psy.ox.ac.uk
