National Specialty Director - Faculty of Pathology
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) Dublin 2, Ireland Education
Company Description
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is a postgraduate medical training college dedicated to ensuring that doctors have the skills to provide patients with the best possible care. Founded in 1654, the college supports doctors to enhance their skills, competencies, and professionalism throughout their working lives.
Through its Faculties and Institutes, The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland offers medical training programmes, examinations, diplomas, and educational courses to equip doctors with the skills and knowledge they need to care for patients and run safe and efficient healthcare systems.
Position
Role: National Specialty Directors
Affiliation: Faculty of Pathology
Term of Office: 3 years (renewable once, stipend related to number of trainees)
Closing date: 27 March 2025 at 17:00
The mission of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) is to develop and maintain high professional standards in specialist medical practice in order to achieve optimum patient care and to promote health nationally and internationally.
The Faculty of Pathology
The Faculty of Pathology RCPI is the national professional and training body for pathology, and works to ensure the highest standards. The Faculty is accredited by the Medical Council of Ireland and meets the strict standards required to deliver postgraduate specialist training in all the Pathology specialties.
Role Overview
The role of the National Specialty Director (NSD) is to actively lead the development and delivery of postgraduate specialist training in the defined Pathology specialties (BST or HST), under the governance of the Faculty.
Reporting Relationships
The NSD will report through the Specialty Training Committee of the Faculty to the Director of Education and Training Chair of the Faculty. The NSD will work with Trainers and Trainees to oversee all matters pertaining to education and training in their given specialty.
Responsibilities
Governance
The NSD is the Chair of the Specialty Training Committee and is responsible for setting and leading the agenda of each meeting. A minimum of three meetings should take place each year.
Attendance at committees/events – NSDs are expected to attend:
1. Specialty Training Committee Meetings
2. Education and Training Committee meetings
3. Annual General Meeting of the Faculty
4. Other RCPI meetings as required.
Content of Training Programme
1. Liaise with the Postgraduate Training and Education function to understand, implement, and feedback on the rules and guidelines for the training programme.
2. Update the specialty curriculum and logbook/ePortfolio, in consultation with the Specialty Training Committee and Postgraduate Training and Education function.
3. Work with the Professional Affairs function to oversee/lead on the development of courses for specialist training.
4. Develop and organise Study Days across the duration of the training programme.
5. Implement formative knowledge-based assessments in line with RCPI policies.
Support and Guidelines
1. Provide advice, career guidance and support to trainees on issues relating to training, examination and general queries relating to the specialty.
2. Be familiar with and follow delineated process for dealing with trainee/training issues as per the RCPI Grievance, Disciplinary and other related policies. Submit a written report for each issue to the Director of Training and Education and the Faculty Dean.
3. Review requests for advice on career intentions e.g., this may include taking time out from the training programme, requesting transfer to another training centre or spending time abroad.
4. Act as liaison between trainers and trainees.
Recruitment
1. Play an active role in the recruitment and selection of candidates to the specialist training programme including reviewing training intentions and identifying available posts prior to recruitment advertising.
2. Liaise with HSE NDTP regarding workforce planning and number of available posts in the specialty.
3. Define criteria for short listing that is agreed by the Specialty Training Committee.
4. Conduct short-listing of candidates against agreed criteria with panel members.
5. Participate in all interviews for entry onto the specialist training programmes.
6. Participate, where requested, in interviews for entry onto specialist training programmes of another discipline as an independent assessor.
7. After consulting with the Specialty Training Committee, allocate current trainees to various centres for the training year.
Hospital Inspections/Accreditation
1. Participate in training site inspections and accreditation visits in the specialty (throughout the year).
2. Oversee approval of posts for training and complete associated reports for review and approval by the Faculty Board.
Assessments
1. Participate in annual assessments of the specialty and in the assessments of other disciplines as requested.
International Programmes
1. Participate in the recruitment of international trainees.
2. Implement an integrated programme for international trainees according to the structure and curriculum as agreed between the NSD/STC, the Dean and the International Programme Manager.
3. After consulting with the Specialty Training Committee, allocate international trainees to various training centres.
4. Participate in the assessment of international trainees.
Professional Affairs
As required, link and engage with Professional Bodies/Societies (where applicable), on issues relating to the specialty.
Where there are two or more NSDs, the division of responsibilities will require clarification and discussion with the Director of Education and Training.
Requirements
Mandatory
1. Fellow of the Faculty in good standing.
2. Must be a registered and active trainer on the specialty training programme in Ireland.
3. Must be existing member of Specialty Training Committee prior to application.
4. Must be entered on the Medical Council’s Specialist Division of the Register in the relevant specialty.
5. Must be registered on an RCPI Professional Competence Scheme.
6. It is expected that the successful candidate will have significant prior experience of specialist training.
7. NSD performance and engagement will be reviewed annually by the Chair of the Education and Training Committee.
Nomination and Recruitment of a National Specialty Director
The Faculty is the appointing authority for NSDs. Applications will be invited through the Education and Training Committee.
Where there is competition, applicants will be interviewed by a panel consisting of the Dean (or their nominee), representation from the given specialty, and RCPI management.
If there is no competition, appointment will be confirmed following a structured meeting including representation from the executive committee.
NSDs wishing to complete a second term must make an application to the Specialty Training Committee for approval.
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