The Women’s Network is responsible for ensuring that women and obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) service users – patients and the public – are at the heart of everything the College does. As a committee, the Network informs the College about issues affecting people around fertility, during pregnancy, labour and birth, gynaecological conditions, through to the menopause and beyond. The Network’s role is crucial within RCOG activities, bringing insight to inform its work around education and training, developing clinical standards, auditing and reviewing services and influencing policy.
The clinical representatives on the Women’s Network work alongside the lay members to ensure the College is putting the people who use O&G services at the heart of all it does. The clinical representative can bring their experience and understanding from frontline practice, including knowledge of some of the challenges and issues affecting women and people, to help inform the Women’s Network’s views and work plan.
The Women's Network is currently looking to recruit a new clinical member for a three year term to begin tenure in November 2024 and will be appointed by interview. Please see the role description, person specification and other information at the bottom of the page.
UK Fellows and Members, SAS and LED doctors are eligible to apply for this position.
How to apply
To apply, please complete the form via the button below.
Once your application is submitted, you will be emailed an equality and diversity monitoring form. Please complete this and return it to womensvoices@rcog.org.uk
Your application form and equality and diversity monitoring form will be treated confidentially and stored securely. Once recruitment has been completed, all documents submitted by unsuccessful applicants will be destroyed.
The RCOG recognises the value of equality and diversity within our activities. Within the membership of the Women’s Network, it is important that the broad demographic and characteristic differences of the UK population are represented as much as possible. It is also important to have members from different geographical locations.
In order to facilitate involvement of a broad cross-section of individuals reasonable adjustments will be made where necessary.
Should you have any additional enquiries, please email the Women’s Voices inbox referenced above. Applicants will be shortlisted by the interview panel, made up of the Women’s Network Chair or co-Vice chairs and a member of RCOG staff. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview via video call.
Application deadline: Tuesday 8 October 2024, 11.59pm
Interview date: 29 or 31 October 2024
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Role description
Clinical Member, Women's Network
Women's Network
Three years, commencing November 2024
The RCOG Women’s Network plays a key role in guiding the direction of patient and public involvement activity across the College and delivering its own project work.
The clinical representatives on the Women’s Network work alongside the lay members to ensure the College is putting the perspective of the women and people who use O&G services at the heart of all it does. The clinical representative can bring their experience and understanding from frontline practice, including knowledge of some of the challenges and issues affecting women and people, to help inform the Women’s Network’s views and work plan.
The Women’s network consists of one chair, two co-Vice Chairs, 14 lay members, 4 clinical members (including one trainee, one SAS/LED doctor, one whose particular area of expertise is obstetrics, and one gynaecology) and the RCOG Vice President for Membership and Workforce.
- Support the Women’s Network to achieve its annual work plan and the College’s wider patient and public involvement strategy through involvement in working groups and public engagement activities
- Read all Women’s Network agenda papers in preparation of the meetings
- Attend Women’s Network meetings, bringing frontline Obstetrics and Gynaecology experience to inform discussion
- Advise the Women’s Network within meetings and in between via email on:
- clinical issues and medical terminology
- medical science and developments in clinical practice
- medical technology and interventions
- NHS policies and processes
- Chair & co-Vice Chairs, Women’s Network
- RCOG Vice President with responsibility for the Women’s Network
- Trainee Representative, Women’s Network
- Clinical Representative, Women’s Network
- Lay members, Women’s Network
- RCOG Patient & Public Involvement team
The Women’s Network has four meetings a year, usually in March, June, September and December. Attendance is mandatory at meetings. Meetings are via Microsoft Teams, with the exception of one per year which is hybrid in the London office and Teams. Additionally; ad-hoc communication via email and teleconference and project work outside of the meetings is also required. The option of extending membership by either one year or a further three years may be requested during the final year of the first term.
Person specification
- Member or Fellow of the RCOG
- Registered with a licence to practice with GMC, in good standing
- In active clinical practice, out of programme for experience/research
- Up to date with continuing professional development
- Not currently sat on RCOG Council
- Normally resident in the UK
Essential
- Excellent communication skills and enthusiasm for understanding patients’ needs
- Experience of working alongside service users to gain insight to improve experience of O&G services
- Good knowledge of patient and public involvement methods
- Commitment to ensuring the perspective of women and people who use O&G services meaningfully influences the College’s agenda and work
- Fully aware and supportive of the importance of informed consent and patient choice Agreement to maintain confidentiality of items discussed
- Prepared to respond rapidly to issues as they arise
- Prepared to undertake work for the College, outside of the committee meetings
- Of good standing with the College
- Ability to work collaboratively
- Up to date with issues affecting those who use O&G services
Desirable
- Experience of working / engaging with O&G health organisations in the voluntary sector
- Understanding of the needs of women and people with multiple disadvantages who may face barriers to accessing services and effective solutions how to overcome these barriers
If you do not feel that you have all of the specific experience and skills outlined, but you have a passion for, and dedication to, improve the health of those using O&G services; a balanced and open minded approach; and willingness to learn and develop your skills further, your application is very much welcomed.
CPD information
Information about the RCOG CPD Framework can be found here.
If within your committee role or work as course convenor or organiser you gain knowledge which enhances patient care or leadership and technical skills (including, for example, giving presentations, teaching sessions or mock examining) credits can be claimed as an ‘Experiential Learning Event’.
CPD users can now freely select and record the number of credits for all their CPD activities. For Experiential Learning Events, a Reflection is required to claim the selected credits. In addition, 1 or 2 credits can be claimed for an action following the learning (1 credit for a simple action, 2 credits for a complex action). To claim credits for an action, the individual needs to demonstrate how they have applied their learning to their practice, the service they provide and/or the potential impact of the learning.
For those who prefer to follow RCOG recommendations, the CPD Framework still provides a suggested number of credits that can be claimed for different CPD activities.
Further information can be found in the RCOG CPD Framework document.
Volunteering with the RCOG is a rich and rewarding experience which offers a range of professional and personal benefits:
- Professional recognition
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- Career development
- Make meaningful change
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