Guidance

Overview and information pack

Updated 4 March 2025

Applies to England

We are currently recruiting for a Regional Stakeholder Network (RSN) Chair for the North East of England.

1. Overview

The Regional Stakeholder Network (RSN) was set up in 2019 by the Disability Unit (DU). Its main purpose is to champion the rights of disabled people. It aims to make sure the voices and views of disabled people across England are at the heart of the work of the UK government.

There are 9 regional networks across England. Each regional network consists of a chair and between 10 to 40 members.

These are voluntary positions held alongside the chair’s usual job. 

Each chair should live and or work in their region.

1.1 How the government engages with the RSN

Chairs meet with their regional networks on a regular basis, at least quarterly. The meetings are a way for people to share their views and experiences of policies and services that affect disabled people.

Chairs meet with DU monthly. The DU also helps connect chairs to other government departments.

RSN chairs meet with the Minister for Social Security and Disability Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP every 3 months to discuss issues faced by disabled people in the regions. These meetings are based on a particular theme. Meeting summaries and actions are published on GOV.UK.

Read more about the DU Regional Stakeholder Network.

2. About the role

We are currently recruiting for the North East RSN Chair role, which covers Tees Valley and Durham, and Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.

Chairs should have lived experience or experience supporting disabled people, or they should have a deep awareness of the issues facing disabled people.

They represent groups of disabled people in each region. They use links with other local organisations to identify issues of interest to disabled people, and they represent disabled people at the regional network.

Chairs must be able to:

• convene and facilitate at least 4 regional network meetings a year (these can be virtual)

• attend monthly meetings with the other chairs and DU to represent the views of their regional network

• attend meetings with the Minister for Social Security and Disability every 3 months to represent the views of their regional network

• attend one-to-one meetings with DU as needed to raise policy issues specific to their region, and discuss membership concerns or questions

• attract and appoint new members when needed, to ensure membership reflects a wide range of impairments

• ensure all members have the opportunity to be fully engaged with the meeting process

• be impartial and report a broad range of views

• promote best practice from within the network

They will be expected to:

• confidently engage with different people, gain their views and opinions

• advocate for the voices of disabled people

• be a figurehead for the network in their region

• report views and opinions of others in an engaging and meaningful way

• present regular regional feedback to both DU and the Minister for Social Security and Disability, to ensure that disabled people’s voices are fed into government

• bring together people with differing opinions and points of view

• build trust to create a collaboration and dialogue between network members

• reach out to a wide range of disabled people, their carers, parents and disabled people’s organisations

• promote change for disabled people

Chairs are not appointed for fixed terms. DU may choose to refresh chairs across the regions, at which point chairs may be asked to step down and invited to reapply. If chairs wish to step down at any time, they must inform DU in advance in writing, stating their reasons for leaving.

2.1 About the network meetings

Chairs arrange meetings with their regional network on a regular basis, at least quarterly. Meetings are mainly held online. 

Chairs and members are not paid. Chairs can hire administrative support if needed and can access 12 hours of support per month, paid at a rate of £25 per hour. 

Expenses are for the sole use of supporting the chair and the administrative duties associated with the role, and for anything needed to help run their regional meetings, for example Zoom accounts. One regional face-to-face meeting can also be funded each year, if requested. Expenses must be claimed using official DU forms.

All discussions will be conducted under ‘Chatham House rules’. Participants are free to use the information received, but the identity of the speaker is not revealed. Comments will be attributed to the network as a whole, not to an individual.

Chairs also sign a code of conduct and terms of reference before they are appointed. 

3. How to apply

If you are interested in being considered, please either:

• complete the application form and email it to disabilityunit@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
• send us a document or email to disabilityunit@cabinetoffice.gov.uk containing the same information

You can download an application form from the Documents section. Complete the form and email or post it to the return address.

You can also provide the following information either in a document (for example, Word or Google) or in an email.

About you

Tell us your:

• name
• postal address
• email address
• telephone number

About your organisation

If relevant, please tell us about your organisation – for example, if you represent a disabled people’s organisation.

Tell us the organisation’s:

• name
• interests
• size – the number of members it has

Your preferences

Please tell us:

• whether you would like us to contact you by email or hard copy by post
• if you need alternative formats of any materials
• if you would need any communication or other adjustments to attend any meetings in the future

Your suitability for the role

To demonstrate your suitability for the role, please send us the following:

• a short CV – no more than one page

• the names and contact details of 2 referees – we will only contact them if you are shortlisted for the role

A statement explaining:

• what you want to achieve as a chair of the RSN

• your lived experience of disability or of supporting disabled people, or your deep awareness of the issues facing disabled people 

Examples of how you are:

• self-motivated and have set up strong, sustainable networks

• able to be impartial when complex and opposing views are being discussed, and able to achieve a reasonable compromise

• credible and respected in your region – please also confirm that you live and or work in the region

• passionate about driving change for disabled people

• able to work with members to ensure they have a voice and are fully engaged in their network

4. Return address

Send your application by email to disabilityunit@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Or send it by post to:

Disability Unit Correspondence Team
Cabinet Office
1 Horse Guards Road Home Zone 6, Floor 4
London
SW1A 2HQ

We will not consider incomplete applications or links to websites such as LinkedIn.

4.1 Alternative formats

Contact disabilityunit@cabinetoffice.gov.uk for an information pack or application form in an alternative format.

5. Recruitment process

If 2 or more candidates are seen as equally suitable for a particular role, they may be invited to an interview. Interviews are held online or in a fully accessible venue. 

The panel submits its recommendations for appointments to the Minister for Social Security and Disability. The minister may also wish to meet all candidates recommended by the selection panel.

All information will be treated in the strictest confidence. Some information will be used to prepare the press notice of successful appointees. We clear any information used first.

6. Standards of conduct and conflicts of interest

Chairs must show commitment to the Seven Principles of Public Life, also known as the Nolan Principles.

Chairs are expected to keep a record of current RSN members in their region that is compliant with the Seven Principles of GDPR.

Chairs are expected to manage the membership of their regional networks. However, DU is able to intervene to manage the membership in exceptional circumstances.

The role of chair does not involve:

• promoting individuals, individual organisations, personal opinions, or building your own business alliances

• progressing personal queries, casework, or disputes – these should continue to be taken up with the relevant department or service provider in the usual way

• undertaking any work or action in the name of the RSN that would bring the RSN into disrepute – any requests to undertake media or conference presentations should be cleared by DU ahead of time

7. Equal opportunities

We are committed to equality of opportunity, irrespective of:

• race
• nationality
• colour
• ethnic or national origin
• disability
• religion
• sex
• marital status
• sexual orientation
• age
• gender assignment
• work pattern
• membership or non-membership of a trade union

8. Data protection

We take our obligations under the Data Protection Act seriously. Any information about you will be held in secure conditions. Access is restricted to those who need it in connection with dealing with your application and the selection process.

Data may also be used to monitor the effectiveness of the recruitment process. In these circumstances, all data will be kept anonymous.

If your application is unsuccessful, your personal data will be destroyed after 12 months.