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NAME
The name of the organisation shall be the Faculty of Pre-hospital Care of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (hereinafter called “The Faculty”). The Faculty will sit under the charitable umbrella of the Hill Square Educational Trust (Scottish charity number SC028302).
DEFINITION
Pre-hospital care is defined as the provision of skilled healthcare at the site of a trauma incident or medical emergency and encompasses those competencies delivered by appropriately trained clinicians. The providers may include first aiders, voluntary aid society members, first responders, members of the statutory ambulance services, members of other emergency services providing healthcare, military medics, nurses, doctors and qualified members of other relevant organisations.
In addition, its remit includes the provision of on-going care during transfer to appropriate definitive care and also inter-facility transfer. Mass gathering medicine, event medicine, major incident management, disaster medicine and specific niche elements e.g. mountain rescue, are part of the broad sweep that is considered pre-hospital care.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Faculty of Pre-hospital Care aims to set and maintain standards of clinical practice and to promote high standards of teaching and research in pre-hospital care.
OBJECTIVES
The object of the Faculty shall be to:
1. Set and maintain standards in pre-hospital care
2. Promote high quality education and teaching in pre-hospital care
3. Initiate technical development and lead the evolution of the research agenda in pre-hospital care
4. Effectively integrate the efforts of all participants in pre-hospital care
This will be achieved by:
1. The development and maintenance of the evidence based “Manual of Core Material” for pre-hospital clinical practice
2. Recommending and securing consensus opinion where there is a limited or a lack of an evidence base
3. The provision of advice and guidance on the levels of pre-hospital care activity appropriate to individuals, organisations and bodies based on their knowledge and competency profile
4. Providing guidance on the development of educational courses based on the content of the Manual of Core Material. This will include an approval process, and if required, formal accreditation. The intention is to aim to ensure standardisation of content and maintain academic standards
5. Playing a leading role in the development of the research agenda in pre-hospital care. The Faculty will also provide an approachable focus and reference centre for individuals/bodies interested in pre-hospital care research
6. Providing an integrated regional structure to facilitate multi-disciplinary meetings to promote collaboration, education and training in pre-hospital care
7. Providing expert opinion and advice when required on matters related to pre-hospital care
8. Liaising with other interested bodies at regional, national and international level
MEMBERSHIP
There are three levels of membership as follows:
Full Membership
Affiliate Membership
Honorary Life Membership
There are five professional categories for membership of the Faculty, reflecting the professional background of the member. Requirements for membership are set to reflect their diverse backgrounds but are based on a need for professional qualification and experience in the field.
Medical Membership
Full successful completion of the Diploma in Immediate Medical Care (or equivalent) plus two years of relevant experience. Examples of acceptable experience are outlined on the Faculty web site. Exceptionally other experience can be considered and agreed by the Faculty Executive
Affiliate successful completion of the Pre-hospital Emergency Care Certificate
Nursing Membership
Full successful completion of the Pre-hospital Emergency Care Certificate plus 3 years of relevant experience. Examples of acceptable experience are outlined on the Faculty web site. Exceptionally other experience can be considered and agreed by the Faculty Executive
Affiliate to hold RN or equivalent qualification
Paramedic Membership
Full paramedic with HPC registration plus three years experience
Affiliate IHCD certified ambulance technician
Emergency/Rescue
Full Faculty approved qualification relevant to the profession, plus 3 years experience
Affiliate First Aid at Work Certificate plus 2 years experience in the field
Voluntary Aid
Full holder of standard VAS First Aid Certificate plus a higher qualification in pre-hospital care and 3 years experience
Affiliate holder of standard First Aid VAS Certificate
Honorary Life Membership
This is gifted by agreement of the Faculty Executive to those who have contributed significantly to the field of pre-hospital care and whom the Faculty wish to recognise.
Membership is granted following review of an application and confirmation by the Faculty Executive.
Members must remain in good standing with the Faculty and their appropriate professional body. Only full members have voting rights.
All members, whether full or affiliated, are expected to uphold the best interest of the Faculty at all times. The Faculty executive may, by resolution, terminate the membership of any individual on the basis that the individual’s continued membership would be harmful to the Faculty. The Faculty executive can only action such a resolution having initially notified the member in writing and considered the matter further in the light of any written representations the member may submit within 14 days after receiving the notice.
In the event of a member being suspended or their name erased from the professional register by their professional body, the member will automatically be deemed to have been expelled from the Faculty.
In the event of expulsion from the Faculty, the Faculty Executive will determine whether any fees should be repaid to the member.
No member, whether full or affiliate, may assume authority to speak on behalf of the Faculty, represent or reproduce specific Faculty publications without the specific written authority from the Faculty Executive.
Fees
Members are subject to the payment of an initial joining fee and subsequently an annual subscription as laid down from time to time by the Faculty Management Board, as recommended by the AGM and approved by the Hill Square Educational Trust as the body ultimately responsible to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. The subscription year will be from 1 January each year unless altered by the AGM or College Council. The initial payment will consist of the joining fee.
GOVERNING BODY
The Governing Body of the Faculty shall be the Hill Square Educational Trust.
The Faculty shall hold an Annual General Meeting and may hold duly convened Extraordinary General Meetings. The Faculty in General Meeting has the power to appoint members of the Executive Committee as ex-officio trustees of the Faculty as set out in this Constitution. Hill Square Educational Trust will hold general funds on behalf of the Faculty in an identified restricted fund and the administration of those funds will be delegated to Faculty officers and committees in accordance with this Constitution.
The day-to-day business of the Faculty shall be conducted by the Executive Committee and the Standing Committees. They shall report to the Faculty Management Board and, through them, to the Governing Body of the Faculty.
OFFICERS
The officers of the Faculty shall be:
* Chair
* Vice-Chair
* Honorary Secretary
* Honorary Treasurer
The Chair, or in his/her absence, the Vice-Chair or Immediate Past-Chair, or in their absence, a member elected by the meeting, shall preside at General, Management Board and Executive Committee meetings and shall have a casting vote.
Chair
The Chair will be responsible for the overall strategy and direction of the Faculty. The main tasks are:
* To report and represent Faculty related business to the Hill Square Educational Trust
* To chair the Annual General Meeting
* To chair the Management Board
* To chair the Executive Committee
* To lead in the formation and execution of strategy and management of the Faculty
* To be fully informed and contribute to the educational activities, research and technical developments in association with the Faculty committees
* To liaise with other Faculty Deans, Royal Colleges, Colleges and professional bodies to promote the activities of the Faculty
* To identify new opportunities within education, training and research and other fields of relevance in pre-hospital care at both national and international level and develop a Faculty strategy for engagement
* To present a quarterly report to the Hill Square Educational Trust, prepared in conjunction with Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer
Vice-Chair
The Vice-Chair will assist the Chair with the specific roles defined in the Chair’s job description. The Vice-Chair will accept the lead on specific responsibilities as determined by agreement with the Chair.
Honorary Secretary
The Honorary Secretary will be responsible for the day to day running of the Faculty and will work closely with the Faculty Administrator. The main tasks are:
* To ensure the minutes of the Faculty Board meetings are accurate and appropriate action points implemented
* To action the necessary arrangements for the AGM
* To oversee the annual scientific meeting and other specific Faculty symposia and lectures
* To oversee activities in relation to membership including applications, recruitment and maintenance
* To provide appropriate support to the Faculty administrator in the management and maintenance of the Faculty website
Honorary Treasurer
The Honorary Treasurer will oversee the day to day finances of the Faculty including:
* Presentation of accounts to the Faculty Management Board
* Liaison with the Hill Square Educational Trust treasurer on financial matters relating to the Faculty
* The review and management of Faculty membership joining fees and annual subscriptions
* The active pursuit of income generation for the Faculty
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of the Faculty shall comprise the following, all being Full Members of the Faculty:
* Chair
* Vice-Chair
* Honorary Secretary
* Honorary Treasurer
* Chair of the Training and Standards Committee
* Chair of the Research and Development Committee
* Immediate Past-Chair
The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times per year. A quorum shall be two officers and one other member of the Committee. It shall be responsible to the Management Board and to the Governing Body for the conduct of the business of the Faculty.
The Executive Committee shall oversee the administration of the Faculty and its representation on and involvement with other academic, professional and administrative bodies.
The Executive Committee shall approve membership and receive nominations for election to the Management Board. It shall make nominations to Executive Office within the Faculty. It shall have the power to expel members in accordance with Section 5 of the Constitution.
All the Officers shall be elected by the governing body of the Faculty, subject to approval by the Hill Square Educational Trust.
MANAGEMENT BOARD
The Management Board of the Faculty shall consist of the following voting members:
* Members of the Executive Committee
* Six elected members of the Board of which at least one shall be a registered medical practitioner and one should a registered nurse and one a registered paramedic
* One director of Hill Square Educational Trust ex officio
In addition the Board will invite non-voting representation from the following organisations
* Department of Health
* Welsh Office
* Scottish Executive
* Northern Irish Office
* Directors of Clinical Care (DOCC) of Ambulance Services in the UK
* College of Paramedics
* Royal College of Anaesthetists
* Royal College of General Practitioners
* Royal College of Paediatrics
* Society of Apothecaries
* College of Emergency Medicine
* Faculty of Emergency Nursing
* Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee
* British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS)
* BASICS Scotland
* Air Ambulance Association (AAA)
* The Military
* The Voluntary Aid Societies
On a renewable basis, the Executive Committee may invite relevant organisations to send named representatives as observers to Management Board meetings. These representatives may address the Board but will have no voting right.
Other individuals, for example Committee Chairs, who may not be elected Board members, may be invited to sit on the Management Board in a non-voting capacity on an annually renewable basis.
The Management Board will meet on at least two occasions per year. It shall receive reports from members of the Executive Committee and from the Standing Committees. It shall consider the strategies and policies of the Faculty.
A quorum shall consist of five or more voting members.
Each Board member representing an organisation will, in their absence, be entitled to have a nominee of appropriate seniority to represent their organisation.
The Board shall be responsible for implementing the following objectives:
* The development and maintenance of an evidence based “Manual of Core Material” for pre-hospital clinical practice
* The provision of advice and guidance on the levels of pre-hospital care activity appropriate to individual organisations or bodies based on their knowledge and competency profile
* The provision of guidance on the development of courses based on the content of the “Manual of Core Material”, including approval and, if required, accreditation. The purpose of the measures is to ensure commonality of content and establish and maintain academic standards.
* Oversight of the administration and further development of the Diploma and Fellowship in Immediate Medical Care
* Support the establishment and maintenance of Faculty of Pre-hospital Care research departments. These will be responsible for leading the technical developments, driving the research agenda, initiating and delivering high quality pre-hospital care research. They will also provide an approachable focus/reference centre for individuals/bodies interested in pre-hospital care research
* Provide an integrated regional structure to facilitate multi disciplinary meetings to promote education and training in pre-hospital care.
* Provide expert opinion and advice when required on matters related to pre-hospital care for all providers at a regional, national and international level.
STANDING COMMITTEES
To achieve its objectives, the Faculty has three Standing Committees:
* The Training and Standards Committee
* The Examinations Committee
* The Research and Technical Development Committee
Other committees or short life working groups can be established as necessary.
The Committees shall consist of a Chair, ex-officio the Chair of the Faculty, and other members in good standing of the Faculty invited by the Committee Chair.
PERIODS OF OFFICE
Chair
The Chair will be elected by the voting members of the Management Board and will normally remain in office for a period of 3 years and, after demitting office, shall hold the post of Immediate Past Chair for a further term. In exceptional circumstances, this may be renewable for a further period as agreed by the Governing Body but, having demitted office, is then ineligible for re-election in perpetuity.
Vice-Chair
The Vice-Chair will be elected by the voting members of the Management Board and will normally remain in office for a period of 3 years. This person is eligible for re-election for a further term but is thereafter ineligible for re-election as Vice-Chair in perpetuity.
Honorary Secretary
The Honorary Secretary will be elected by the voting members of the Management Board and will normally remain in office for a period of 3 years. This person is eligible for re-election for a further term but is thereafter ineligible for re-election as Honorary Secretary in perpetuity.
Honorary Treasurer
The Honorary Treasurer will be elected by the voting members of the Management Board and will normally remain in office for a period of 3 years. This person is eligible for re-election for a further term but is thereafter ineligible for re-election as Honorary Treasurer in perpetuity.
Chair of Standing Committee
The Chair of a Standing Committee shall serve for a period of 3 years and is eligible for re-election for a further term of up to 3 years. In exceptional circumstances, this may be extended for a further period as agreed by the Governing Body after which they are ineligible for further election to the same office.
The intention of the Faculty is that change dates for the senior officers will be staggered to allow maintenance of continuity of representation.
Elected Member of the Board
Elected Members of the Management Board shall serve for a 3 year term and are eligible for re-election for a second full term. After this, they must stand down from the Board for a period of at least one calendar year before being eligible for re-election.
An Officer or Elected Member of the Board shall cease to hold office if he/she:
* becomes incapable of doing so by virtue of mental illness, injury or illness so rendering them incapable of managing their own affairs
* is absent from all Management Board meetings over a 12 month period (usually 3 meetings) unless there are exceptional circumstances accepted by the Executive Committee
* advises the Board of an intention to resign
* ceases to be a full member of the Faculty
* fails to declare a material conflict of interest as considered by the Executive Committee of the Faculty
* ceases to be actively involved in the provision of pre-hospital emergency care
* ceases to be registered as a member of their professional body
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Annual General Meeting shall be held once in each calendar year. No more than 15 months shall elapse between AGMs.
The AGM shall be held at such a time and place as determined by the Faculty Management Board.
The business of the AGM shall include:
* Receipt and approval of the minutes of the last AGM
* Receipt of the Officers’ annual reports
* Receipt of reports from the Chairs of the Standing Committees
* Receipt of proposals or making recommendations for the amendment of the Constitution of the Faculty as described in the Constitution, Section 15.
* Recommending the annual subscription rate to Hill Square Educational Trust
* Ratification of the nominations for Officers of the Faculty as recommended by the Management Board
* Announcement of the results of elections to the Faculty Board
* The transaction of any other business previously notified by a member to the Honorary Secretary six weeks before the meeting
The Honorary Secretary shall give at least 90 days’ notice of the date of the AGM and at least 21 days’ notice of the business to be transacted.
At the meeting, amendments, which must be in writing and duly seconded, may be tabled, but no new motion shall be introduced, save with the express permission of the Chair.
In the event of the AGM not ratifying any nomination for office, the Chair will call for nominations from the full members present and proceed to a postal ballot. The existing officers will remain in position until the vacancy is filled and Hill Square Educational Trust’s approval given.
The Honorary Secretary shall give 21 days’ notice of any extraordinary meeting.
PROCEDURES & MEETINGS
Each meeting of the Board will be chaired by the Chair or in his absence the Vice-Chair. In the event of neither being available the Faculty Executive will nominate a Chair.
No business shall be transacted at a General Meeting unless a quorum is present. This consists of five elected officers of the Faculty and 10 full members.
Where a quorum is not present the Chair should adjourn to allow members to arrive. In the event of the meeting remaining non-quorate the Chairman may, at the discretion of the elected members present, continue the meeting but any decisions made will be subject to ratification at a future quorate meeting.
At the beginning of a meeting, any member who may have a conflict of interest whether personal, financial or professional, must be given the opportunity to declare it.
The Faculty Management Board is responsible for the minutes of all meetings and should report the names of those present, those conveying apologies and a summary of the proceedings to include all decisions made and action points determined. Once approved, they will be made available to the membership of the Faculty through the web site.
Each full member, providing they are in good standing, is entitled to one vote at an AGM. The Chair will not normally be required to vote except in the case of equal votes where the Chair will have the casting vote.
The production of all minutes will be the responsibility of the meeting Chair, the Honorary Secretary and the Faculty Administrator. The Faculty Administrator will be responsible for the distribution of minutes and will pursue all relevant action points to ensure that the business of the Faculty is completed.
The Faculty Administrator will keep accurate records of all financial transactions in relation to the Faculty. The Faculty will have general accounts and, in addition, there will be a separate Education and Development fund. The Honorary Treasurer, in conjunction with the Hill Square Educational Trust treasurer, will be responsible for the production of annual accounts to be presented at the AGM.
CLINICAL MEETING
A Clinical Meeting shall be held once per year, ensuring that, in conjunction with the British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS), there is a forum for UK pre-hospital clinical conferencing twice per year.
CONSTITUTION
Recommendations for amendments to the Constitution of the Faculty may be made by the Faculty to the Hill Square Educational Trust. Such recommendations must be submitted to the Faculty Management Board, provided that recommendations are received at least thirteen weeks before the forthcoming Annual or other General Meeting.
Such recommendations must be properly tabled and seconded. They shall be circulated to the membership within two weeks of that Board meeting. The Honorary Secretary must receive any amendments to recommendations within a further period of four weeks and circulated to all members at least six weeks before the relevant General Meeting.
To be adopted, a recommendation must contain no alteration to the Constitution which shall cause Hill Square Educational Trust or the Faculty to cease to be (or to cease to be capable of being treated as) charitable at law and must receive the support of two thirds of the membership present at the General Meeting. If carried, the recommendation shall be submitted to Hill Square Educational Trust for final approval. In the event that Hill Square Educational Trust does not grant final approval to recommendations brought forward at General Meeting, the Hill Square Educational Trust may if it sees fit propose an alternative amendment for the Faculty to consider at a subsequent General Meeting.
The Hill Square Educational Trust may propose changes to the constitution at any time, provided that notice is given to the membership at least 21 days prior to any General Meeting convened to consider such a proposal. The members present at General Meeting shall have the right to discuss and comment on any such proposal and any concerns expressed at such a General Meeting shall be given due regard by the Hill Square Educational Trust.
The final decision on all amendments to the Constitution shall rest with the Hill Square Educational Trust, subject to the foregoing provisions of this Clause.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
In the event of a dispute or difference arising out of this Constitution, the matter shall be determined by the President for the time being of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, who shall act as an independent arbiter and whose decision shall be final. In the event that the President is unable to consider the matter for any reason, he shall be entitled in consultation with the Hill Square Educational Trust and the Chair of the Faculty to appoint a single arbiter to hear and decide the matter.
DISSOLUTION
If upon the winding up or dissolution of the Faculty there remains, after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Faculty, but shall be given or transferred to some other charitable body which exists for purposes similar to or substantially the same as the Faculty, which failing to some other charitable object.
In the event that the Faculty becomes independent from the Hill Square Educational Trust, the funds of the Faculty held by the Hill Square Educational Trust shall be transferred or made over to the newly independent Faculty, provided that the Faculty has at that time acquired charitable status and its constitution shall then contain a clause prohibiting the distribution of its income or property to its members to an extent at least as great as is imposed by this Clause.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Chairman
The Chairman is responsible for the overall strategy and direction of the Faculty. The main tasks are:
* To report and represent Faculty related business to the Hill Square Educational Trust
* To Chair the Executive Committee
* To Chair the Management Board
* To Chair the Annual General Meeting
* To lead in the formation and execution of strategy and management of the Faculty
* To contribute to educational activities and research and technical development in association with Faculty committees
* To liaise with other Faculty Deans, Colleges and professional bodies to promote the wider activities of the Faculty.
* To be proactive in identifying new opportunities within education, training and research and other fields of relevance in pre-hospital care at both national and international level.
* To present a quarterly report to the Presidents Executive Committee, prepared in conjunction with Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer
Personal specifications
* Member of the Faculty and Faculty Management Board
* Have a vision for the importance of the Faculty’s activity for the Hill Square Educational Trust and the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and its membership
* Management experience of a department, service or faculty
* Ability to communicate and negotiate with a wide range of people including students, staff, the Governing Body, College Council and senior staff in academic and health related institutions both nationally and internationally
Time commitment
The incumbent should have sufficient time to spend at least two days per month on Faculty business.
Reimbursement.
This is an honorary position. Expenses incurred on Faculty business will be reimbursed as specified by Hill Square Educational Trust.
Vice Chairman
The Vice-Chair will assist the Chair with the specific roles defined in the Chair’s job description. The Vice-Chair will accept the lead on specific responsibilities as determined by agreement with the Chair.
Personal Specification
* Member of the Faculty and Faculty Management Board
* Management experience of a department, service or faculty
* Ability to communicate and negotiate with appropriate bodies
Time commitment
The incumbent should have sufficient time to spend at least two days per month on Faculty business.
Reimbursement
This is an honorary position. Expenses incurred on Faculty business will be reimbursed as specified by Hill Square Educational Trust.
Honorary Secretary
The Honorary Secretary will be responsible for the day to day running of the Faculty and will work closely with the Faculty Administrator. The main tasks are:
* To ensure the minutes of the Faculty Board meetings are accurate and appropriate action points implemented
* To action the necessary arrangements for the AGM
* To oversee the annual scientific meeting and other specific Faculty symposia and lectures
* To oversee activities in relation to membership including applications, recruitment and maintenance
* To provide appropriate support to the Faculty administrator in the management and maintenance of the Faculty website
Time commitment
The incumbent should have sufficient time to spend at least two days per month on Faculty business.
Reimbursement
This is an honorary position. Expenses incurred on Faculty business will be reimbursed as specified by Hill Square Educational Trust.
Honorary Treasurer
The Honorary Treasurer will oversee the day to day finances of the Faculty including:
* Presentation of accounts to the Faculty Management Board
* Liaison with the Hill Square Educational Trust treasurer on financial matters relating to the Faculty
* The review and management of Faculty membership joining fees and annual subscriptions
* The active pursuit of income generation for the Faculty
Time commitment
The incumbent should have sufficient time to spend at least two days per month on Faculty business.
Reimbursement
This is an honorary position. Expenses incurred on Faculty business will be reimbursed as specified by Hill Square Educational Trust.
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