SAS Committee - Terms of Reference

Version control and review

Version        2018/1.0                   

Owner           Christopher Bampton-Clare

Board approval    

Council approval 

Review due April 2020     

Purpose

To advise Council, Boards and/or their Committees on all matters relating to doctors working in SAS (Staff Grade, Associate Specialist and Specialty Doctor) posts and other related roles. This definition encompasses any practicing anaesthetist no longer in a formal training post and who is not a consultant.

The SAS committee encourages and facilitates the professional and career development and academic knowledge of SAS doctors. It encourages the participation of SAS anaesthetists in training as well as the delivery of training, including examinership. It encourages SAS doctors to become involved in local and national management roles. It acts as the College’s focal point for SAS concerns and gives an SAS perspective to all areas of College business and within the College’s sphere of influence.

The SAS committee has responsibilities as follows:

• To liaise with the relevant commissioners of training in all matters relating to the training and education of SAS doctors
• To liaise with the other medical Royal Colleges, the AoA and other professional bodies on issues of mutual interest
• To liaise with other College committees, including the Training, Curriculum and Assessment Committee, Workforce and Strategy Committee and Examinations Committee, on issues relevant to SAS Doctors
• To provide information relevant to SAS Doctors, through the RCoA Website, the RCoA Bulletin, contributions to the AoA SAS Handbook and other appropriate channels.

Constitution

The Committee shall be made up of:

• Two elected SAS members of Council
• Ex-officio vice-president and/or members of Council selected by the President
• A Regional Adviser
• A Clinical Director
• The Chair (or nominated deputy) of the Association of Anaesthetists (AoA) SAS Committee
• SAS representatives of Northern Irish, Welsh and Scottish Board
• SAS Doctors working in the UK as appointed form time to time through open advertisement via RCoA channels

The quorum of the Committee shall comprise three members including one Council member. The normal term will be three years, renewable for a further three years. Further extension may be granted at the discretion of the Education, Training and Examinations Board.      

The Committee may co-opt, any person who appears to the Chairman of the Committee to be specially qualified to assist or advise the Committee.  The length of the co-option shall be at the discretion of the Chairman. The Chairman shall be one of the Council members appointed by the President.

Membership and Decision-Making

The SAS Committee consist of:

Voting

The Chairman should generally seek to reach decisions by consensus.   In any case where voting is necessary, and in the event of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have an additional, or casting, vote.

Frequency of meetings

The Committee shall meet at least twice per year and may when necessary meet more frequently. Meetings may be held electronically.

Expenses

The reasonable travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses of those invited to attend SAS committee meetings shall be met in accordance with published College guidance. Those attending meetings as representatives of external organisations will not be offered expenses except with the Chair’s and Director’s prior knowledge and approval.

Establishment of sub-committee, working party or working group

Subject to the provisions of the Financial Regulations of the College, the Committee may establish a sub-committee, sub-group or working party, however designated, with such terms of reference and so constituted as the Committee may recommend, to consider any matter falling within the Committee’s terms of reference and to report on that matter to the Committee.

Standing Orders

Subject to the Charter, Ordinances and Regulations, the Committee may make any standing orders regulating its own procedure, provided that these shall not take effect until approved by Council.

Review of terms of reference

The Committee shall review these terms of reference at least once every three years and any recommended changes shall be submitted to the Education, Training & Exams Board for approval.