European Network of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ENTOG) UK Representative

European Network of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ENTOG) UK Representative

RCOG National Trainees’ Committee

The appointment will be effective from January 2025 for a three-year term, and as part of the College’s governance, will be ratified by Council

The European Network of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ENTOG) facilitates the exchange of trainees between training centres throughout Europe in order to share ideas and improve the quality of training. The RCOG UK ENTOG representative will be the key representative and liaison between ENTOG and RCOG National Trainees’ Committee (NTC). 

The UK ENTOG representative will need to be kept informed and updated on all aspects of the ENTOG exchange programme, ENTOG annual Council and scientific meeting(s), as well as any other relevant communications. 

RCOG UK ENTOG representative will be expected to liaise with the Administrator of the National Trainees’ Committee to ensure that the relevant information on the application process for the ENTOG exchange is promoted and advertised on the RCOG website.

The UK ENTOG representative will be expected to attend the annual ENTOG Council meeting and submit a report for the RCOG website. The UK ENTOG trainee representative will also contribute to national training issues as an honorary member of the RCOG NTC, by attending meetings throughout the year to update the NTC regarding ENTOG activities (please see time commitment above).

It is important that candidates have an interest in international or European training and experience, as much of the role involves building related networks and reporting back to the RCOG’s NTC.

Responsibilities of the UK ENTOG Representative include:

• Act as the main liaison between ENTOG and the RCOG National Trainees’ Committee (NTC)
• Attendance at the annual ENTOG Council meeting(s) and reporting back to the NTC with progress and updates
• Prepare a comprehensive report for NTC and the RCOG website
• Promote and advertise the ENTOG exchange application process through collaboration with the NTC Trainees’ Administrator
• Attendance at the NTC meeting(s)

The National Trainees’ Committee (NTC) is responsible for:

• Overseeing the training experiences of UK trainees in obstetrics and gynaecology
• Facilitating communication and updates regarding national training issues and opportunities
• Ensuring the representation of trainees’ interests at the national level and in relevant committees
• The ENTOG representative may be required to attend the annual ENTOG conference and Council meeting and provide a report to the RCOG. The successful candidate will need to have flexibility to arrange time off for potential overseas travel
• Candidates should be diplomatic and interested in networking, as they will be representing the UK at a European level
• To be the main liaison point for trainees regarding the ENTOG exchange programme
• To participate in the selection process for the ENTOG exchange applicants
• The UK ENTOG representative will be appointed as an honorary member on the RCOG National Trainees' Committee. The successful applicant will be expected to attend the four NTC meetings per year (as above) and provide an ENTOG update to the Committee

The successful appointee will develop key relationships with:

• RCOG National Trainees’ Committee
• European wide ENTOG representatives
• RCOG education administration team

The NTC meets four times a year, three meetings are held remotely and one in person

Essential

• Registered with a licence to practice with the General Medical Council
• Be of good standing
• Specialty Trainee in obstetrics and/or gynaecology in UK NHS Practice
• Evidence of engagement in planning or delivering O&G training

Essential

• Experience with trainee representation at a local, regional or national level
• Experience in delivering collaborative projects at a local, regional or national level

Desirable

Involvement in a RCOG work stream or extensive involvement in regional trainee representation (e.g. clinical quality, global health, audit and research etc.)

• Enthusiasm
• Commitment
• Reliability
• Excellent attention to detail
• Good communication and networking skills
• Organisational skills

The 2019 RCOG CPD Guide 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’.

Reflection is required to claim credits for an Experiential Learning Event. 2 CPD credits are claimable following reflection. In addition 1 or 2 credits are claimable 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.

This Committee is established by Council and reports to the RCOG Education Board. 

The National Training Committee (NTC) is a forum to discuss issues pertinent to O&G training across the UK. The NTC acts as a channel for ensuring trainee representation at Council and other relevant committees, both internal and external. 

The Vice Chair for Quality will represent the RCOG on the Academy Trainee Doctors Committee. Committee members are responsible for advocating for the needs of trainees at a local and national level. The Committee organises an annual meeting for trainees known as the National Trainees Conference and contributes to College newsletters.

The NTC acts as an advisory body to RCOG committees, Boards and departments on behalf of UK trainees. The committee will review, advise and recommend on RCOG work and policies relevant to UK trainees.

In particular, the NTC will:

• Lead trainee representation at a regional level and represent the views of trainees at a national level
• Represent the NTC on RCOG committees and submit reports to the NTC following on from committee meetings
• Disseminate relevant information to trainees at a regional level and encourage trainees to actively engage with the work of the RCOG
• Ensure representation of the NTC within the RCOG and liaise with its executive team over matters of importance to trainees
• Encourage trainees to complete the TEF survey in a timely manner and use the monthly TEF results to influence change where required at a regional level
• Coordinate nominations for the annual RCOG Trainer of the Year and Trainee and Trainer of the Year Awards

The NTC will act in line with regulations and other governing documents, and legal and regulatory requirements.

The Chair of the Trainees Committee is elected by the Trainees Committee from among the Trainees.
The Vice Chairs will be appointed by a centralised recruitment process coordinated by the RCOG Governance team and the RCOG Trainees’ Administrator.

• Chair
• Vice Chair, Education
• Vice Chair, Quality
• Vice Chair, Strategy and Membership
• Regional member (East Midland)
• Regional member (East of England)
• Regional member (Northern Ireland)
• Regional member (Republic of Ireland)
• Regional member (Kent, Surrey and Sussex)
• Regional member (South London)
• Regional member (NE Thames)
• Regional member (NW Thames)
• Regional member (Mersey)
• Regional member (Northern)
• Regional member (North Western)
• Regional member (Oxford)
• Regional member (North, East & South Scotland)
• Regional member (West Scotland)
• Regional member (Severn)
• Regional member (South West Peninsula)
• Regional member (Wessex)
• Regional member (West Midlands)
• Regional member (Yorkshire and the Humber)
• Regional member (Wales)
• Subspecialty trainees’ representative
• Academic trainees’ representative
• Academic trainees’ representative (UKARCOG Chair)

• Chair of Trainee Global Health Group
• BMA representative
• BUSOG representative

Observers may be invited to attend meetings at the discretion of the Committee.
Members of the NTC are elected by their local peers. These trainees will act as Chair of their regional trainee groups. The term for all roles is two years. The eligibility criteria for all committee positions is as follows:

• A UK based trainee (from the relevant region for regional members) who holds a national training number (NTN) and MRCOG Part 1
• Has a minimum of two years training remaining from their projected CCT date at the time of election

In addition to the NTC executive team, regional representatives, co-opted and honorary members, the below RCOG staff members will be in attendance at committee meetings in an observation role and advise the committee where required:

• RCOG Head of Specialty Education and Training
• RCOG Director of Education
• RCOG Trainees’ Administrator

The RCOG Trainees Administrator or their nominee shall act as the secretary of the NTC and will ensure that information and papers are received in a timely manner to enable full and proper consideration to be given to issues.
The Trainees’ Administrator will minute the proceedings and resolutions of all meetings, and circulate to committee members in a timely manner.

A quorum will be 12 members.
The NTC Chair has the authority to remove a member from the committee before the end of their tenure should the member not contribute to their area of responsibility or on the grounds of repeated non-attendance at meetings.

The committee will meet four times each year. One meeting will be held at the RCOG Union Street office in hybrid format, all remaining three meetings will be held via remote session.

The notice of the each meeting is set up in the meeting schedule with location/time/date already agreed in advance.
Meeting dates will be determined by the committee Chair and Trainees Administrator at the beginning of each calendar year, ensuring the dates are in accordance with interdependent RCOG committee/board meetings.

The committee will report to the RCOG Education Board from each meeting on the nature and content of its discussion, recommendations and action to be taken.
The NTC provide updates as a standing agenda item at the Education Board and Specialty Education Advisory Committee meetings. The NTC also submit reports for each Council meeting five times per year.

The NTC will at least annually, review its terms of reference to ensure it is operating at maximum effectiveness and recommend any changes it considers necessary to Council.