Specialty Training Board (Clinical Oncology)

Overall purpose

The Specialty Training Board sets the standards and processes for entry to, content of and assessment in training for the specialty up to and including recommendations for the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training together with related activities such as the development of credentials and is responsible to the Faculty Board for those functions and programmes of work to fulfil and realise the Faculty plan in support of the College Strategy. This extends to all four UK nations.

Terms of reference

1. Prepare, agree and review regularly training curricula for submission to the relevant regulatory body for formal approval.
2. Oversee, approve and review arrangements for -
   1. the quality assurance of training.
   2. recruitment into training delivered by the College with others.
   3. Faculty work in regard to undergraduates, pre-specialty training and careers promotion.
   4. an integrated training assessment system including workplace-based assessment.
   5. recommendations for the award of Certificates of Completion of Training to the relevant regulatory body.
   6. recommendations for the award of to the relevant regulatory body
   7. the Fellowship Examinations for the specialty delivered through the Fellowship Examination Board.
   8. training related awards, fellowships, bursaries and prizes (except those in 4 below)
3. Develop and deliver RCR policy on and support for research ensuring such work is co-ordinated with work post the award of a Certificate of Completion of Training undertaken by the Professional Support and Standards Board.
4. Undertake any other developments, projects or initiatives at the request of the Faculty Board.
5. Establish and review liaison and communication arrangements with trainees, training programme personnel and others.
6. Make recommendations to the Faculty Board as regards the award of Fellowship without Examination for onward recommendation to Council.
7. Approve for issue any publications associated with its work.
8. Develop for consideration by the Faculty Board initiatives which may require review and scrutiny by the advisers to Council or as directed by Council.
9. Ensure there is full and appropriate engagement of the Faculty more widely and other RCR bodies and external groups in respect of the above functions that views expressed are fully taken into account in making decisions.
10. Where a matter has implications for the other Faculty, ensure that that Faculty is appropriately consulted or involved and the resultant outcome is co-ordinated and consistent across the Faculties taking account of any directions in this regard issued by Council.
11. Where proposals or initiatives discussed by the Board would incur expenditure or future financial commitment by the College which is not within the approved budget, refer the proposal or initiative for financial appraisal and consideration under the out-of-budget expenditure procedure as agreed from time to time by Council.     
12. Report to the Faculty Board at each meeting on its work.

Subsidiary bodies

1. Establish such subsidiary bodies as are required and that can be resourced to enable the work of the Board and its plan to be effectively discharged, ensuring that each such body has a clear purpose and terms of reference, that programmes of work are appropriate and agreed and reported on.
2. Periodically review the purpose and remit of each subsidiary body.

Membership

1. There will be four members elected by means of nomination and election processes that as far as possible parallel those that apply to the election of members to the Faculty Board.
2. Elected members serve for terms of three years and no more.
3. An elected Member of the Board shall cease to hold office if he or she fails to attend two consecutive meetings of the Board without leave of absence from the Chair.
4. There will be eight appointed members who will all be Fellows of the Faculty of Clinical Oncology resident in the UK who shall be in active clinical practice at the time of their appointment.  All appointees must have experience of providing postgraduate training and an interest in curriculum development, quality assurance or assessment.
5. Appointed members serve for terms of three years and can be appointed for one further term.
6. Ex-officio members are: the President and all Clinical Oncology Officers. 
7. The Treasurer has the right to attend meetings of the Board on giving notice to the Chair but it is not a requirement of office.
8. The Board may co-opt up to six members.  These six places shall be taken by the chairs of the Fellowship Examining Board, the Oncology Registrars' Forum, and the Academic Clinical Oncology, the Recruitment Lead, the Less than Full-Time Training and Working Advisor and a lay representative.
9. The Lead-Dean for Clinical Oncology, the Chair of the Medical Oncology SAC and a representative of the Faculty of Radiologists of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland are Observer members.
10. All elected and appointed members will be expected to be actively involved in the work of the Board and, when required, to sit on the Curriculum Committee or other sub-committees that are formed to carry out specific workstreams. 

Chair

1. The Board will be chaired by the Medical Director, Education and Training [CO].
2. The duties of the Chair include –

• Chairing all meetings
• Ensuring that the purpose and terms of reference are observed
• Engaging all members of the Board in the work being done
• Ensuring regular reports are made to the Faculty Board
• Ensuring that relevant matters are drawn to the attention of the Vice President, , the Faculty Board or Officers as appropriate
• Acting as media spokesperson for the College in respect of matters within the remit of the Board at the request of the President.

Operation

27. The Board will meet not more than three times per year on dates to be agreed unless exceptionally required to transact urgent business.
28. Meetings may be held by virtual means/remote attendance.
29. Board members may be called upon to consider or determine matters electronically between meetings and are expected to contribute to such considerations or decisions as part of their duties as Board members.
30. Board members will not speak on or behalf of the College unless authorised to do so.
31. Board members will abide by any stated or implied confidentiality that attaches to the work of the Board during or after any period of membership.
32. Board members will comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 as regards processing (as defined in the Act) of any personal data where it is made available to them as part of their work.
33. At meetings of the Board, three members including one Officer eligible to attend and one elected member shall form a quorum.

November 2017