THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND

							                   THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND

                                  JOB DESCRIPTION

Post:                 Professor of Surgical Education at the Royal College of
                      Surgeons of England (4 years subject to annual appraisal)
                      (4 to 6 PA commitment delivered over 2 to 3 days)
Directorate:          Education
Responsible to:       Chair of the Education Board
Key relationships:    Chief Executive
                      Director of Education
                      Barbers Company Professor of Anatomy

Responsible for:      Surgical leadership, direction and professional operation of
                      RCS Education


RCS EDUCATION

We are seeking a dynamic, committed surgeon to fulfil a challenging role as
Professor of Surgical Education at the Royal College of Surgeons. The postholder
will provide professional surgical leadership to the Education Directorate. They will
also be required to provide educational advice to Council (as an invited member),
and to the College more widely as required.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) has become the largest global
provider of surgical education, in support of the College’s mission to ‘advance
surgical standards’. RCS has gained a pre-eminent international reputation for
educational excellence. Our courses and programmes are developed by 35 dedicated
staff working with over 20 sessional tutors at our leading edge facilities located at
the College in central London. Our newly built Education and Simulation Centre on
the 4th floor of the College represents a £15m investment, and is maintained in a
state of the art condition equipped to the highest technological standards available.
The College operates its own mortuary to receive cadavers philanthropically donated
for educational purposes. A recent £1.4m redevelopment of our Human Tissue
Authority approved anatomical facilities now enables us to freeze donated cadavers,
and subsequently provide ‘fresh’ tissue to deliver the highest fidelity of operative
and procedural simulation.

More than 80 different types of courses and programmes are currently offered
across the surgical specialties, covering all grades from medical students to
Consultant as well as other members of the surgical team. All are led by RCS trained
course directors and delivered by over 600 expert faculty members. An increasing
number of established courses are now being delivered at our regional and
international teaching centres. All RCS courses, wherever they are delivered, are
rigorously quality assured in association with the College’s QA team. Provision
extends from face to face courses using the full range of simulation, as well as
distance and e-learning programmes. Each year more than 9,500 trainees and
established surgeons participate in an RCS course or educational programme.

The Wolfson Surgical Skills workshop provides a unique, air-conditioned theatre like
environment for procedural simulation using cadaveric tissue, with nine operating
tables. Operative demonstrations and/or inbound video transmission from hospital
operating theatres are displayed on a large single screen 2.7m video wall. The
adjacent Surgical Skills unit provides similar facilities using other types of tissue and
polymer simulation for conventional ‘open’ surgery skills training. A 10 station
integrated ‘stack’ minimally invasive training suite is located alongside. A fully
equipped integrated Operating Theatre, complete with 3rd generation wireless
manikins, provides a life-like context for theatre team safety and critical incident
training. Up to 8 cameras can be used to record theatre activities simultaneously,
with computer based recording controlled from an adjoining control room and
highlight replay into a specially equipped brief/debrief room.

The skills training facilities are complemented by a suite of well equipped seminar
rooms used for breakout teaching for skills courses and for non-technical skills
training. A 40 seat lecture theatre supplements the College’s existing ground floor
120 and 350 seat lecture theatres and the large Edward Lumley Hall. All of the 4th
floor teaching areas are comfortably equipped and fully air conditioned. Fibre links
enable audio, video and data links to be established between each area, all of which
can also be connected to suitably equipped operating theatres or teaching
environments anywhere around the world using IP or ISDN technology. A
refreshment area provides good quality hot meals for faculty and participants, as
well as regular drinks and snack breaks during courses.

The Directorate was recently restructured to operate more efficiently, and employs
some 35 expert professional staff who provide educational, technical, managerial,
administrative, marketing and business services to support surgeons the delivery and
development of courses. Staff and sessional tutors work in modern open plan office
areas located on the 4th floor of the Nuffield building, linked to the main 4th floor
Education and Simulation centre. Staff are managed by Francine Alexander (Director
of Education), whilst the postholder will manage clinicians seconded to RCS
Education, with both individuals working in close collaboration. Activity has been
regrouped into four main business areas:
     Courses & Programmes (established courses held at RCS and at regional and
        international centres);
     Innovation & Development (development of new courses and updating of
        established courses);
     Business Service (administration and finance); and
     Information and marketing (stakeholder engagement).

RCS Education benefits from close working with the following College departments:
     the Hunterian Museum and Wellcome Museum of Anatomy of Pathology;
       Library and Information services;
        Examinations;
       ‘Opportunities in Surgery’;
       Medical Student Liaison Committee;
       the Joint Committee for Surgical Training and Intercollegiate Surgical
         Curriculum Programme managed within the Professional Standards and
         Regulations directorate.

The College’s Development Office provides a large income stream from donors and
sponsors, some of which is used to defray the costs of course development and to
reduce course fees, as well as funding bursaries for trainee participants.

There are strong external links with the Department of Health’s national e-Learning
for Healthcare programme, the main trainee organisations ASiT and BOTA, the
regional Schools of Surgery, specialist surgical associations, regional and
international course centres as well as commercial course providers.

RCS Education has a close working relationship with elected Council Trustees
through the Education Board which reports to Council and is chaired by Professor
Michael Horrocks. This meets three times a year and membership includes key
external stakeholders such as trainee representatives from ASiT and BOTA, Heads of
Schools of Surgery and a lay representative. Council recently approved the carrying
out of a strategic review to examine the future role of RCS Education, particularly
with respect to the new arrangements proposed for post-graduate medical and
healthcare professional training. All relevant stakeholders are currently being
consulted, and the review is due to report to Council in Summer 2012. The main
challenge for the postholder will therefore be to implement the findings of the
strategic review, and to grow further the currently thriving business of the
directorate.


ROLE OF THE PROFESSOR OF SURGICAL EDUCATION AT RCS

The role of the Professor of Surgical Education at the RCS is primarily to provide
professional expertise to ensure that the Education directorate remains at the
forefront of surgical education and simulation. This requires engagement with other
relevant College departments, as well as liaison regionally, nationally and
internationally with key stakeholders in surgical education; these include Schools of
Surgery, the newly formed Local Education and Training Boards (which will operate
with a multi-professional approach), education commissioners, existing regional and
international course centres, the surgical specialty associations, a variety of
academic institutions, and other professional and national bodies concerned with
education. This key surgical leadership role will be to expand and drive RCS
Education forward in delivering a new Educational strategy approved by the
Education Board and College Council. The Professor of Surgical Education is an
invited member of College Council and ex-officio member of the Education Board,
and will also be required to act as a source of advice to other College departments as
required.

The Professor of Surgical Education will work closely with surgeons and other
professionals seconded to the Education directorate in order to develop new
programmes and delivering existing programmes to the highest quality, supported
by our professional and administrative staff. This will require close liaison with the
Director of Education, who is responsible for the day to day management of staff
members and representation of the Directorate at internal College meetings, and
also to the Chair of the Education Board.

You are expected to be up to date with advances in higher and professional
education, especially with respect to technology enhanced learning (simulation and
e-learning), and current policy themes for health service delivery which will influence
education. You are expected to possess a track record for motivating and enthusing
colleagues to deliver educational activities to the highest standards, of inspiring
teams and of providing surgical leadership for project management and
development. Experience of working at a national level and contributing to national
initiatives or policy development is essential. Above all, you will be passionate about
the need for high quality education for surgeons at all grades.

The available 4 to 6 PAs are not additional PAs, but intended to allow the appointee
to be released from existing activities within their current Job Plan to deliver the
role. A flexible approach will be taken as to the PA commitment possible with a
minimum commitment of 4 PAs. The College will seek a guarantee of the return of
seconded PAs on completion of the post from the employing Trust or University. The
post is offered for 4 years subject to successful annual appraisal. The support of
clinical colleagues and managers will be essential, and should be considered carefully
prior to pursuing an application.


SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Specialist Knowledge and Experience

      To demonstrate and maintain an up to date, sound working knowledge of
       the theory and practices required for modern post-graduate educational
       practice, specifically in surgical education.

Strategy and Business Planning

      To ensure that RCS Education strategy and policy is implemented expertly
       from a surgical perspective, in keeping with the direction of the Education
       Board and Council.
         To deliver the College’s strategic vision for RCS Education as a leading
          national and international centre for the development and provision of
          surgical education

         To advise the Education Board, Council and the College on policy
          development and best practice in medical education generally, and in
          surgical education specifically


Leadership

      To enhance the reputation and position of RCS Education in the fields of
       development and delivery of educational activities, educational research and
       expertise in surgical education

      To promote the highest standards of education within the College, reflecting
       advances from the external environment of higher and professional
       education, particularly with respect to technology enhanced learning
       (simulation and e-learning).

      To encourage educational research and identify potential collaborators

      To represent the College on educational matters and to promote RCS
       Education activities nationally and internationally

      To collaborate closely with the Development Office, and to lead and support
       fundraising initiatives

      To provide surgical leadership for all educational projects and developments,
       and for surgeons and other professionals seconded to the Directorate

Quality

      To ensure the quality of all College branded courses to the required (highest)
       quality, with consistent practice maintained nationally and internationally

      Provide educational advice to the RCS Quality Assurance Team on the
       approval and accreditation of external courses and centres

Relationships

      To oversee the appointment and appraisal of surgeons and other
       professionals seconded to RCS Education, in association with the relevant
       specialty associations where applicable
      To develop effective relationships with key stakeholders in postgraduate
       medical education (including Schools of Surgery, the newly formed Local
       Education and Training Boards, education commissioners, existing regional
       and international course centres, the surgical specialty associations and a
       variety of academic institutions) to promote RCS Education and its national
       and international reputation.

      To motivate and engage surgeons to participate in RCS Education activities,
       and ensure they perform to the highest standards in doing so

      To engage with specialty associations and societies to jointly promote the
       highest standards of surgical education

      To work closely and collaboratively with the Director of Education to ensure
       effective working relationships between staff and surgeons and other
       professionals who develop and deliver educational activities

      To engage with RCS Education staff and participate in staff and senior
       leadership team meetings whenever requested

      To fully utilise the expert advice of the Professor of Anatomy with regard to
       regulation as outlined by the Human Tissue Authority (or successor) and
       ensure the College complies with such regulation and meets the HTA
       requirements.

      To participate in and offer surgical leadership in regular meetings with the
       Professor of Anatomy and Director of Education



This job description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances
and may include other duties and responsibilities as may be determined. It is not
intended to be rigid or inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines
within which the individual works.

All College employees are responsible for records held, created or used as part of
their work for the College including patient/client, corporate and administrative
records whether paper-based or electronic, which also includes emails. Records
should be managed and stored appropriately and should in all cases comply with
the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. Employees should have read
and understood the College’s Records Management Policy and should follow all
agreed records management procedures, seeking advice where necessary.
Person Specification

It is essential that in your written application for this role you provide evidence or
examples of your experience in all of the criteria listed in “Part One” of this Person
Specification. These responses will all be explored further and discussed with those
candidates shortlisted for interview, together with the other criteria listed in “Part
Two and Three”.

Part One

Applicants must be in current NHS employment, or academic employment with an
honorary clinical contract, and supervising ISCP registered trainees.

Experience:

1.     A track record demonstrating excellent leadership in an education or clinical
       environment.

2.     Evidence of researching, evaluating, designing and/or delivering initiatives
       that support medical education.

2.     Experience of working with clinical leaders of health services and of
       understanding of the key issues facing them

3.     Experience of policy evaluation and analysis contributing to the management
       of change within an organisation or of successful change management in
       response to external policy direction

4.     A track record of building and maintaining effective relations with other
       bodies to further organisational objectives, with experience of managing joint
       projects to a successful outcome.

5.     Evidence of success in managing and inspiring teams to obtain the best
       results, empowering and motivating individuals to achieve their full potential

6.     Experience of working at a national level and contributing to national
       initiatives or policy development

7.     Experience of active engagement with education and training as an ISCP
       trainer, educational supervisor or equivalent.




Part Two
Ability, Skills and Knowledge:

1.     Knowledge of current policy themes in health services delivery, management,
       recruitment and training with respect to medical education and training. A
       formal educational qualification is desirable, but equivalent experience will
       be accepted.

2.     An ability to analyse complex issues swiftly and critically appraise available
       evidence; and to focus on key priorities in the face of competing demands for
       resources.

3.     A record of being able to build and maintain successful relationships with
       colleagues, particularly involving the crossing of professional and craft
       boundaries.

4.     An excellent team worker, able to build the support of a multi-disciplinary
       project team to achieve effective outcomes.

5.     Highly developed oral and written presentational skills, with the ability to
       become an effective advocate and ambassador for the College and RCS
       Education.

6.     An excellent networker with an extensive range of contacts within the health
       and education sector, nationally and internationally.

7.     An understanding and experience of e-learning practice and techniques, and
       conversant with modern techniques of simulation.

Part Three

Personal Style and Behaviour:

1.     Passionate about the value of high quality education and motivated by the
       necessity of constantly advancing surgical standards,

2.     Fully committed to the values of the College.

3.     A creative thinker, able to bring new ideas in response to complex problems
       with a positive approach to problem solving.

4.     Highly motivated and not easily discouraged, leading by example.

5.     Confident and resilient, able to engage confidently in robust debate about
       policy and priorities internally and externally, nationally and internationally.
6.     Commitment to equal opportunities in all aspects of the College’s activities
       and to surgery in general.


The appointment is subject to proof of the attainment of any qualifications
deemed essential to the post and used as a basis for short-listing and selection.
Failure to provide evidence of the required qualifications will result in the offer of
employment being withdrawn.

The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an Equal Opportunities Employer.



10 April 2012