Job Title:                          GP OFFICER FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

Reporting to:                  Assistant Medical Director, Irish College of GPs

Base:                                4/5 Lincoln Place, Dublin 2, D02 XR68, Ireland / Hybrid Working

Contract type:                1 day per week

Closing date: 20th November 2024

About the College

The Irish College of GPs is the postgraduate training body (PGTB) responsible for postgraduate education, training and research in the specialty of General Practice. The College has a national advisory role in relation to medical standards and engages with the Medical Council, Department of Health and the HSE, among others. As a membership organisation, the College is responsible for providing and supporting the continuous professional development for general practitioners, numbering over 4,000. The College is the PGTB accredited by the Medical Council to provide professional training for doctors wishing to enter the specialty of General Practice and to administer the Professional Competence Scheme for General Practitioners.

About the Professional Competence Scheme

The College operates the Professional Competence Scheme for GPs through arrangement with the Medical Council. All doctors registered with the Irish Medical Council in order to practice medicine in their specialty are legally obliged to maintain their professional competence each year they are on the register. The College provides operational, continuing professional development (CPD) and audit supports to GPs enrolled on the scheme. The College's mission is to support General Practitioners in their personal and professional growth within their scope of practice by providing CPD that includes knowledge, skills, personal learning, reflective practice and quality improvement.

PCS is at an exciting phase in its evolution as the Medical Council implement changes to the statutory requirements which will in turn provide opportunities to develop creative supports for GPs enrolled on the scheme. The changes include the introduction of a new PCS framework, together with new criteria & standards for the accreditation of CE activities.

Job Purpose

The objective of the GP Officer for Lifelong Learning role is to provide GP leadership, clinical guidance, subject matter expertise and evidence-based materials to implement and champion the new framework.

The person in this role will work closely with colleagues in the GP Clinical Lead and MD Directorate team, together with the College's PCS Department. S/he will also establish strong collaborative relationships with stakeholder colleagues, including in CME, the PCS Sub Committee of the Forum of PGTBs and the College PCS Committee. The GP Officer will provide best practice supports and guidance to GP members and PCS enrollees through a diversity of formats, working closely with the PCS Department.

Key result areasIn collaboration with key stakeholders

1.     Provide clinical input for the implementation of the new PCS framework, guiding peers to embrace the change and, through demonstrated commitment to Continuing Professional Development, improve patient care.

2.     Develop appropriate supports and guidance for the new PCS requirements, including audit, quality improvement and practice evaluation, clinical examples and templates.

 

3.     Provide the GP voice and perspective for the implementation of the new framework, contributing to communications and training in a variety of formats, including webinars, newsletters and videos.

4.     Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders across both the College and the diversity of GP profiles enrolled on PCS, including out of hours, locums; those in rural and urban practices; doctors in different working circumstances. 

5.     Design and develop tailored PCS supports for GP cohorts and at-risk groups.

6.     Work closely with the College's Education Department for enhanced integration with College education opportunities. Work with Course Directors and relevant stakeholders to embed opportunities for audit and reflection in CPD.

7.     Provide GP input and support for the development and redesign of new processes, including review of the PCS enrolment process and governance procedures, ePortfolio requirements.

8.     Support the implementation of new criteria and standards for accreditation of CPD activity, including the application process, related quality assurance and governance.

9.     Identify key improvements and research ideas for immediate and medium term PCS projects and address same through appropriate governance.  

10.  Guide and support local implementation of best practice and provide a sustained focus on quality improvement and quality assurance.

11.  Engage with ICGP Research for General Practice on strategic projects relevant to Professional Competence.

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills, expertise and competencies.

Qualifications & experience

       Be a medically qualified health professional, holding the MICGP qualification, and be a current member of the College in good standing.

       Be registered with the Irish Medical Council of Ireland on the Specialist Division for General Practice.

       Be enrolled on and in compliance with the ICGP Professional Competence Scheme.

       Have 3 years full time or 5 years part time postgraduate medical experience in general practice in Ireland.

       Concurrently hold a part time clinical appointment equivalent to a minimum of four sessions of clinical general practice per week.

Behavioral competencies

       Have demonstrated leadership skills and promoted change in practice either locally or in the wider health network.

       Ability to build and maintain strong relationships and advocate both for the patient and fellow GPs.

       Excellent communication skills

       Ability to design and deliver GP supports and education through a range of formats and media.

       Proven ability to evaluate and audit projects.

       Demonstrable understanding of common issues and challenges in medical continuing professional development. 

Key benefits of working at the Irish College of GPs include:

      An inclusive working environment where wellbeing, diversity and equality are actively promoted. We were recently awarded a Bronze accreditation from Investors in Diversity and are working towards our Silver Award.

      Generous annual leave.

      Learning and development opportunities

      Access to Employee Assistance Programme including for close family members.

Interviews will take place via Zoom and are provisionally scheduled for Wednesday 27th November.