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Membership of the Specialty Advisory Committees (SAC)

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Special Advisory Committees

The Joint Committee on Surgical Training (JCST) is looking for new members of the Specialty Advisory Committees (SAC).

Are you a practising NHS consultant, committed to surgical training and would like to make a real contribution to the following surgical specialties?

  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • General Surgery
  • Neurosurgery
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Otolaryngology
  • Paediatric Surgery
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Trauma & Orthopaedic
  • Surgery
  • Urology
  • Vascular Surgery

See the current SAC Membership vacancies

What does the SAC do?

The work undertaken by SAC members includes amongst other areas:

  • Setting quality indicators for the training of surgeons, on behalf of the certifying authority, the General Medical Council (GMC)
  • Recommending trainees for the award of the CCT/CCST (Irish trainees) / CESR (CP) (Combined Programme) and supporting other ad-hoc trainee applications such as Out of Programme (OOPT/OOPRs, etc.)
  • Developing and maintaining the surgical curricula and relevant assessment tools
  • Providing advice to Postgraduate Deans and Schools of Surgery, including:
    • Acting as Liaison Members for a designated region in the UK and/or Ireland
    • Attending Specialty Training Committee (STC) meetings and ARCP meetings on a regular basis (see outcome of SAC review and its recommendations)
    • Providing advice and guidance to trainees and trainers
    • Supporting the network of Training Programme Directors (TPDs) and STC Chairs on matters to do with surgical training
    • Bringing to the attention of the SAC any relevant matters concerning individual trainees or training posts
  • Evaluating CESR applications on behalf of the GMC for those who wish to be considered for Specialist Registration

Who would this suit?

All those appointed should have the following skills and experience:

  • A strong personal commitment to the NHS
  • Active or very recent experience as a surgical trainer
  • Experience of administration/management of training at regional committee level or equivalent
  • Excellent knowledge of the StR surgical training system, including the ARCP process and the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme (ISCP)
  • Have attended a Training the Trainers course
  • Have attended an equality and diversity training course (please note that you will be required to attend a JCST in-house E&D training session)

A full role description and person specification can be found on the committee page on the JCST website.

We particularly welcome applications from women, who are under-represented within our structures. 

Consultants who would be due to retire from the NHS during their term are welcome to apply, however, we will expect them to have maintained their GMC trainer status and will not be able to cover expenses related to the tasks required of SAC members.

Why apply?

Here are some comments from current SAC members on the benefits of membership:

  • "SAC membership is an opportunity to positively contribute to my specialty and represent my region at a national forum."
  • "Being at the forefront of change in surgical education and training."
  • "Most importantly, it is a great opportunity to learn from my colleagues in other deaneries as to how they are improving their training programme and implementing surgical curriculum."
  • "The discussions at SAC meetings have been intellectually stimulating and an excellent opportunity to learn about critical issues impacting training and the specialty. It is refreshing to be able to take time out of clinical practice to visit the Royal College and get to know peers from different regions."
  • "I feel that I am playing a positive role in the development of future surgeons."
  • "Enjoy meeting trainees from another region and picking up on trainees’ feedback to help plan my own training scheme."
  • "We are able to positively influence training programme directors and Heads of Schools to develop programmes which are fit for purpose."
  • "Awareness of national issues and direction of travel for training."
  • "The externality provided by liaison members is appreciated and networking is a great benefit."

Induction day

Newly appointed SAC members will be required to attend an SAC Induction Day at the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Liaison duties cannot begin until this has taken place. 

The induction day which includes an Equality & Diversity training session. Attending this session also gains you a CPD point. 

See future dates for induction days

Membership

SAC meetings are held in London 3–4 times per year and travel expenses should be paid for by the Hospital Trust or Health Board where the member works. 

Membership of the SAC is for a period of five years.

How to apply

Download a copy of the application form from the committee page on the JCST website. 

Return the completed form to the JCST office via email or post – JCST contact details can be found here.

If you're interested and would like to find out more, please go to the JCST website or call +44 (0) 20 7869 6240. 

Follow these links for more information on the JCST: Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice.