Member | Clinical Quality Assurance Group

Member of the Clinical Quality Assurance Group

Vice-President, Clinical Quality

Senior Director of Clinical Quality

Three years, commencing May 2025

The Clinical Quality Assurance Group (CQAG) was established to provide the Clinical Quality Board with the assurance that all RCOG guidance and patient information is appropriately quality assured. It does this by scrutinising all guidance and patient information produced within Clinical Quality.  

CQAG membership includes member representatives, committee representatives, representatives from midwifery and gynaecology nursing, the Women’s Network as well as colleagues from within the College (a full list of representatives can be found in our Terms of Reference). 

Providing quality assurance of proposals for guidance and patient information and reading and providing feedback on final drafts at sign-off stage.

Commit to attending all four meetings per year, whether virtual or in person, unless in exceptional circumstances.

• Chair of the Group (Vice President for Clinical Quality)
• Members of the Group
• Senior Director of Clinical Quality
• Executive Director of Education and Quality
• Executive Director of External Affairs

The Group will meet four times per year (three of which will be remote/virtual, and one will be face-to-face at RCOG). Members will be expected to attend all meetings.

There will also be a significant commitment outside of the meetings to quality assure proposals and final drafts of guidance and patient information. 

This role reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop the role description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

The role description will be re-evaluated at the end of the term. 

Essential

• FRCOG/MRCOG
• Registered with a licence to practice with GMC, in good standing
• Substantive post in Obstetrics &/or Gynaecology in UK NHS Practice
• Evidence of annual appraisal
• At least one fully completed CPD cycle
• Evidence of equal opportunities and diversity training within previous 3 years

Desirable

• Formal training or experience in healthcare management
• Previous role as clinical manager such as departmental lead/clinical director

Essential

• Experience of writing/reviewing scientific publications

Desirable

• Previous experience as an RCOG Committee member

Essential

• Clear demonstration of a commitment to improving women’s health relevant to the Clinical Quality Assurance Group
• Conversant with the activities and reporting structure of the Clinical Quality Assurance Group
• Understanding of the role of the College and its Committees
• Knowledge of the RCOG’s Strategic and Operational Plans
• Good communicator as evidenced by past publications and presentations
• Agreement from host organisation to be released to fulfil roles
  Flexibility
• Prepared to respond rapidly to issues as they arise
• Prepared to undertake work for the Group, outside of the meetings
• Prior experience of a significant leadership role
• Detailed knowledge of current NHS and the Health and Social Care Act
• Up to date with membership subscriptions
• Of good standing with the College

Information about the RCOG CPD Framework can be found here.

Committee Chair/Member/Course Convenors and Organisers

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.

Provide quality assurance of proposals for guidance and patient information and reading and provide feedback on final drafts at sign-off stage

• Develop and maintain an overall framework for the quality assurance of all clinical quality products
• Quality assurance of all CQ products as follows: Ensure that the due process has been adhered to for all emerging CQ products, that the products meet the RCOG quality standard, and that patient safety is paramount. This includes (but not limited to) the following prescribed QA checks:
  • Accessibility
  • Appropriate stakeholder input/collaboration
  • Conflict/duplication
  • Ethics
  • Evidence based
• Where necessary, provide QA advice to other College Committees and work in other Directorates in relation to Clinical Quality
• Ensure that relevant information is shared with the appropriate partners for input where necessary, such as specialist societies etc. The Group will have the right to co-opt appropriate advisers for specific pieces of work
• Provide assurance to CQ Board that the totality of the College’s CQ resource is integrated and coherent
• Evaluate the CQAG process and systems at 6 months and one year intervals thereafter.

Four per year (three of which will be remote/virtual, and one will be face-to-face at RCOG). Members will be expected to attend all meetings.

The Clinical Quality Assurance Group reports to the Clinical Quality Board

Rachel Williams

Chair
Three Fellow representatives
Two Member representatives 
Royal College of Midwives representative
Royal College of Midwives Consultant Midwives Network representative 
Guidelines Committee representative
Scientific Advisory Committee representative
Patient Information Committee representative
Patient Safety Committee representative 
Women’s Network representative
Trainees’ Committee representative
SAS/LED Committee representative
SAC representative
Royal College of Nursing Women’s Health Forum Committee representative