International opportunities

Accountable to: Clinically accountable to the Medical Director for International Accreditation and Chair of RCGP International Accreditation Panel; day-to-day management by Assistant Director of International/Head of International Programmes and Administration.

Term of office: One-off appointment for one reaccreditation visit as advertised (dates are indicative and subject to confirmation and completion of contractual arrangements with the host site).

Overall purpose: To provide independent Quality Assurance on all aspects of assessment of candidates of the MRCGP[INT] accredited Family Medicine residency programme at the accredited Host Examining Body (HEB)/site. The EDA(-s) will observe and quality assure all components of the assessment. They will produce a full report to the RCGP International Accreditation Panel on the design, delivery, validity and reliability of the assessment to recommend whether the assessment meets the standard required for MRCGP[INT] accreditation or not. The International Development Advisor (IDA) to the HEB/site will be present to support the local team during the visit.

Remuneration: RCGP standard daily rate for the agreed dates.

Background

RCGP International runs a number of Education, Training and Assessment programmes globally, including the MRCGP[INT] accreditation programme. The main fucus of the EDA role is to quality assure the assessment of Family Medicine doctors at the accredited site and to advise whether those assessments meet the standards required for MRCGP[INT] accreditation.

Responsibilities

• The appointed EDA(-s) will travel to the accredited site to review all aspects of the assessment, taking into account the Academic Framework and Quality Assurance Standards.
• The International Development Advisor (IDA) to Malta will also be present to facilitate the visit and support the local team, but not to contribute to the final EDA Recommendation Report.
• The EDA will be familiar with the framework of MRCGP International and the methodologies of assessment recognised by the RCGP.
• The EDA will produce a Recommendation Report for consideration by the International Accreditation Panel.

Person specification

Essential

• A UK-based GP, a Member or Fellow of RCGP, in good standing with the RCGP and GMC or within 2 years of retirement
• Experience and expertise in the principles of assessment and generic programmatic assessment design including blueprinting and standard setting
• Experience and expertise in Modified Essay Question assessment methodology
• Experience and expertise in Applied Knowledge Test assessment methodology
• Experience and expertise in Clinical and Communication Skills Assessment methodology
• Has not acted in a supporting role to the designated site in the past 3 years

Desirable

• A current MRCGP examiner/assessor or within 2 years of retirement, or equivalent assessor in a UK academic department of General Practice and/or UK medical school
• Previous experience of working in the region or internationally
• An assessor with experience of Quality Assurance Assessment at a Higher Professional Education level

Accountable to: Clinically accountable to the Medical Director for International Accreditation and Chair of RCGP International Accreditation Panel; day-to-day management by Assistant Director of International/Head of International Programmes and Administration.

Term of office: Contracts will normally be for one year with annual renewal up to 3 years (subject to a satisfactory annual review). After 3 years, the successful applicant may apply to extend their appointment for up to, but not more than, a further 3 years. This is subject to endorsements by both the site and RCGP. The overall term in office will not exceed 6 years.

Overall purpose: To support the designated Host Examining Body in the process of development, implementation and quality assurance of their MRCGP[INT]-accredited assessment in Family Medicine.

Remuneration: RCGP Consultant fee at the current RCGP sessional rate (reviewed annually) – during overseas visits only. Visit dates and duration to be agreed separately in advance.

Background

RCGP International run a number of educational development programmes overseas, including Training the Trainers courses and the MRCGP[INT] Accreditation Programme. RCGP International Development Advisors (IDAs) support the development and implementation of the assessment in Family Medicine at their designated Host Examining Body.

Responsibilities

• Understand the philosophy, educational framework, programmatic assessment principles and quality assurance requirements of the RCGP’s MRCGP[INT] programme. 
• Be familiar with, and keep up to date on, the local demographic, health service and political contexts in the country/region of their designated MRCGP[INT]-accredited Host Examining Body.
• Assimilate and build on the documented development and quality assurance procedures undertaken with the Host Examining Body to date.
• Advise the MRCGP[INT]-accredited Host Examining Body on the ongoing development of their programme to meet RCGP recommendations and requirements.
• Visit the Host Examining Body (or provide virtual support) according to its requirements and those of the RCGP to support and quality assure the assessment processes. Visit dates will be agreed separately and will be scheduled around the dates of assessment held by the Host Examining Body.
• Provide an academically robust and evidence-based quality assurance report to the RCGP International Accreditation Panel and the Host Examining Body after each visit outlining development progress, the performance and outcomes of the assessments and any recommendations.
• Work closely with the RCGP International team, in particular the Head of International Programmes and Administration and the responsible manager, to ensure effective and relevant two-way communication.

Person specification

Essential 

• A UK-based GP, a Member or Fellow of RCGP, in good standing with the RCGP and GMC or within 2 years of retirement
• Experience of either MRCGP (UK) or MRCGP[INT] assessments, or equivalent assessment experience in a UK academic department of General Practice and/or UK medical school
• Experience and expertise in the principles of assessment and generic programmatic assessment design including blueprinting and standard setting
• Experience and expertise in written assessment methodology, including multiple choice and modified essay question format
• Experience and expertise in clinical skills assessment methodology
• Excellent communication skills
• Proven ability to write quality reports

Desirable

• Experience of working internationally
• Experience and expertise in psychometric analysis
• Experience of quality assuring assessment at a higher professional education level
• Experience in training as a GP Trainer
• A qualification in Medical Education (e.g. PGCertMedEd; M.Sc.)
• Experience of teaching to an International audience whose native language may not be English

In return we can offer

• A chance to participate in the latest developments in international assessment of General Practice / Family Medicine
• An opportunity to work alongside enthusiastic colleagues, abroad and at home, committed to developing standards of General Practice / Family Medicine internationally
• Full benefits and support including briefings, field support, travel and health insurance while on a visit, costs and the standard RCGP consultant professional fee at the RCGP standard sessional rate to cover the agreed days worked and travelling.

Thanks to Erasmus+ funding, the RCGP has successfully completed the 2018-2020 cycle of the Hippokrates Exchange Programme. (This was project number 2018-1-UK01-KA102-047158.)

17 AiTs and First5 members within one year of CCT have had an opportunity to visit another European country. They had a two-week observational placement to learn more about primary healthcare delivery in the host country.

Erasmus reports 2018 - 2020

• Adam Fazakerley (PDF file, 141 KB)
• Almas Janjua (PDF file, 148 KB)
• Athmaja Murali (PDF file, 820 KB)
• Bethan Jones (PDF file, 137 KB)
• Caroline Sinclair (PDF file, 141 KB)
• Catherine Quinn (PDF file, 703 KB)
• Charlotte Morris (PDF file, 684 KB)
• Daniel Berrio-Galan (PDF file, 684 KB)
• Ebrahim Mulla (PDF file, 419 KB)
• Eleanor Gridley (PDF file, 222 KB)
• Emilie Couchman (PDF file, 164 KB)
• Lindsey Kent (PDF file, 227 KB)
• Mohammed Noaman (PDF file, 199 KB)
• Muhammed Younas (PDF file, 136 KB)
• Natasha Glover (PDF file, 166 KB)
• Radhika Khanna (PDF file, 166 KB)
• Vinoth Gnanaganesh (PDF file, 176 KB)