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Advisory Appointments Committees
Every Advisory Appointments Committee (AAC) for a substantive consultant appointment in surgery in England and Wales will include a college assessor. The college assessor is the only statutory external influence on the AAC. Along with other members of the AAC, the assessor must ensure that the best candidate for the job is appointed and that the process is fair and open within current legislation and employment practice.
Every Advisory Appointments Committee (AAC) for a substantive consultant appointment in surgery in England and Wales will include a college assessor. The college assessor is the only statutory external influence on the AAC. Along with other members of the AAC, the assessor must ensure that the best candidate for the job is appointed and that the process is fair and open within current legislation and employment practice.
The Council of the College formally appoints college assessors. The College maintains lists of assessors in each specialty. These are updated regularly following consultation with the specialist associations.
Assessors must be trained in fair and non-discriminatory interviewing and selection techniques. They must also receive appropriate training in the application of equal opportunities legislation to appointment procedures.
An assessor must be an established consultant or honorary consultant, practising a minimum of six sessions in the NHS. To be eligible as an assessor a consultant should have a minimum of five years experience in active practice. Consultants must be recognised as trainers and their units must be recognised for training in the appropriate specialty.
We are looking to recruit College Assessors. If you are interested read more here.
The appointment of assessors is coordinated by the Professional Standards and Regulation departments AAC Coordinator and any enquiries should be directed to 020 7869 6203.
Guidance and Support
- Guidance for Regional Specialty Advisers on Approving Job Plans
- AAC Guide for Medical Staffing, Appointment of Consultant Surgeons
- College/Faculty Services to Foundation Trusts: Involvement in the Appointment of Consultant and SAS Posts
- Foundation Trust Network Guidance to Foundation Trusts on the involvement of Royal Colleges in Consultant Appointments
- Foundation Trust Network reaches historic agreement with Royal Colleges
- Guidance for College Assessors on Advisory Appointment Committees
If you are a current College Assessor please be aware that we have a forum that can be used as a source of guidance and support from other Assessors and stakeholders involved in the AAC Process.
You can access the forum by going to http://regrep.rcseng.ac.uk and using the username that you should have already received. If you haven't received your username or can't remember it please email collegereps@rcseng.ac.uk.
If you act as an AAC assessor for the College, please take the time to fill in the AAC Questionnaire and Equal Opportunities forms to update us with your details if you have not already done so.
