Management Structure
Qualification Education Committee (QEC)
The Federal QEC is responsible to the College Board for education and training policy and program management. It appoints Directors of Training, Supervisors, Clinical Tutors, Mentors, and Examiners.
The structure of the QEC includes:
- The Board of Examiners
- Trainee Progression Committee
- The Curriculum Committee
- Networks and Post Inspection
- Continuing Professional Development Committee
- Overseas Trained Specialists Assessment Committee
- Regional QECs
Regional QEC comprises members of the education network of College Fellows in the region. Each regional QEC is chaired by the Regional QEC Chairman, who is also a member of Federal QEC. Regional QEC monitors the progress of local trainees, deals with any issues or problems relating to trainees and supervision, participates in the accreditation of hospital posts for training, and is represented on the selection committees of hospital employing authorities.
Directors of Training
The Director of Training is a College-appointed Fellow. The Director of Training manages the training in each training network, working in cooperation with the regional QEC chairman, the College and network hospital administrators.
Roles and responsibilities of the Director of Training include assisting the training supervisor to identify and document the clinical and surgical training available for trainees. Together with the supervisor, the Director of Training establishes processes to support the trainee in their development, documents the progress and performance of each trainee, and provides the trainee with feedback. This information is also provided by the Director of Training to the Censor-in-Chief and regional QEC chairman.
Supervisors and Clinical Tutors
Each training post has one supervisor and a number of clinical tutors.
Supervisors work in co-operative partnership with their team of clinical tutors and more broadly with the Regional QEC Chair, Director of Training and College Managers to identify and document trainee progression through the training program in relation to the College curriculum performance standards. If a trainee is having problems in any area they raise this with the supervisor so that action may be taken to support them in overcoming these difficulties.
A number of key reporting forms help guide the interactions between trainees and supervisors.
The Clinical Tutor provides training and experience according to the College's performance standards. The tutor works as part of a team with the supervisor in training and assessing trainees.
College Managers
The College Education and Training Unit is responsible for the design, development, implementation and evaluation of the Vocational Training Program.
College Managers provide advice and support to the QEC network, to the Censor-in-Chief, to supervisors and clinical tutors and to the Board of Examiners, in the management and operation of all components of the Vocational Training Program.
Members of the unit provide information and support to Trainees throughout their participation in the Vocational Training Program.
Trainee Representation
The Senior Trainee Network ensures that the trainees’ views are taken into account in decisions relevant to the training program.
Membership is made up of senior trainees from each network. A senior trainee (in their third or fourth year) is appointed by the regional QEC in each network to join the senior trainee network.
This network meets on a regular basis to discuss issues raised by trainees or by the College. Trainee issues are discussed at the Federal QEC meetings, with a member of this network in attendance. A representative of the Senior Trainee Network attends College Council meetings.
