Fellow/Member Representative | Guidelines Committee

Responsibilities of the Guidelines Committee Member include reviewing and supporting the development of Green-top guidelines, provide comments on consultation documents (particularly NICE guidelines) and attending quarterly Guidelines Committee meetings.

The Guidelines Committee is responsible for managing the development, updating and publication of Green-top Guidelines (as determined by the Clinical Quality Assurance Group and CQ Board) and meets four times a year, twice remotely and twice in-person at the RCOG Union Street offices in London.

This appointment is for a three-year term beginning in June 2026 and will be appointed by application and aptitude test.

Fellows and Members of the RCOG are eligible to apply for this position.

Please see the role description, person specifications and other information at the bottom of the page.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the form via the button below, where you will also have to upload a brief CV on one page of A4.

Apply here

Should you have any additional enquiries please email committee.vacancies@rcog.org.uk.

Application deadline: Wednesday 21 January 2026

Interview date: tbc

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Role description

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Role title

Member, Guidelines Committee

Reporting to

Co-Chairs, Guidelines Committee

Duration and dates of appointment

Three years, commencing June 2026

Purpose and description of the role

To manage the development, updating and publication of Green-top guidelines as determined by the Clinical Quality Assurance Group and CQ Board.
To collaborate with other organisations and co-develop or endorse guidelines, as determined by the Board.
To collaborate with other committees on other College activities (e.g. audits, Scientific Advisory Committee papers, scientific meetings, study groups) as determined by the Board.
To provide comments on consultation documents, particularly NICE guidelines, quality standards and technology evaluations.

Main responsibilities

Clinical guidance

Review Green-top guidelines – at all stages of development, to take overall responsibility for the content, accuracy and length of the guidance. In particular, ensuring the:

guidance is unbiased
recommendations are realistic and can easily be implemented within the UK
language used for the guidance is clear, unambiguous and can be understood by all O&G professionals, not just the specialist
guidance addresses the scope and does not address areas outside the scope
guidance is internally consistent
guidance is externally consistent with relevant RCOG, national or international guidance, as appropriate
references and underpinning evidence to support the recommendations/statements are accurate and of the highest quality available
grading and evidence levels are in place, consistent and accurate.

Provide an expert view when deciding if guidance should be commissioned or not.
Submit tabulated comments in a timely manner for every piece of guidance, even those outside your area of expertise.
If acting as a lead reviewer, to review all comments from the Committee before they are sent to the developers to address.
Liaise directly with developers as and when necessary, occasionally meeting with them if needed.
Suggest relevant stakeholders/interested parties to be invited to peer review guidance.
Distil the peer review comments to ensure they are not biased or outside the scope and respond to them as necessary.
Develop guidance implementation support tools, including but not limited to: guidance summaries, PowerPoint slides and video/audio abstracts.
Participate at press release stage.

External consultation documents

Review clinical guidance and pathways sent to the Committee for review.
Provide a consensus opinion on behalf of the Committee.
Act as representative for specific guidance projects or other initiatives.
Ensure the external guidance is consistent with RCOG guidance.

Key working relationships

Co-Chairs of the Guidelines Committee
Other Guidelines Committee members
Guidance developers, particularly the Lead Developer
Vice President, Clinical Quality
Director of Clinical Quality
Members of the Clinical Quality Team, specifically the Editorial Managers, Head of Guidance and Clinical Quality Administrator
Executive Director of Education

Time commitment

The Committee meets four times per year and attendance is mandatory either in person or via video-link. There will also be a significant commitment outside of the meetings to deal with Committee matters and responses to consultations as required. Although it varies throughout the year, as an average, most committee members find it takes of four hours/week (consultant time - 1 Programmed Activities-PAs/week).

Evaluation of the role and succession planning

This role reflects the present requirements of the post. As duties and responsibilities change and develop the role description will be reviewed and be subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

The role description will be re-evaluated at the end of the term. A new committee member will be appointed three to six months before the end of the current holder's term of office and they should work closely together during this time in order to facilitate a smooth take-over period.

Person specification

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Qualifications/training

Essential

FRCOG/MRCOG
Registered with a licence to practise with GMC, in good standing
Substantive consultant in obstetrics and/or gynaecology in UK NHS practice
Evidence of annual appraisal
At least one fully completed CPD cycle
Evidence of equal opportunities and diversity training within previous three years

Previous experience

Essential

Developed or implemented guidance locally

Desirable

Peer reviewed RCOG clinical guidance

Implemented RCOG clinical guidance locally

Developed RCOG clinical guidance

Key skills/attributes

Clear demonstration of a commitment to improving women’s health relevant to the Guidelines Committee
Conversant with the activities and reporting structure of the Guidelines Committee
Understanding of role of the Guidelines Committee
Knowledge of the RCOG’s Strategic and Operational Plans
Good communicator as evidenced by past publications and presentations
Agreement from host organisation to be released to fulfil roles
Flexibility
Keep items discussed confidential
Prepared to respond rapidly to issues as they arise
Prepared to undertake work for the Committee outside of the Committee meetings
Prepared to represent the views of the Guidelines Committee for formal consultations
Prior experience of a significant leadership role
Detailed knowledge of current NHS and the Health and Social Care Act
Up to date with membership subscriptions
Of good standing within the College

CPD information

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CPD information

Information about the RCOG CPD Framework can be found here.

Committee Chair/Member/Course Convenors and Organisers

If within your committee role or work as course convenor or organiser you gain knowledge which enhances patient care or leadership and technical skills (including, for example, giving presentations, teaching sessions or mock examining) credits can be claimed as an ‘Experiential Learning Event’.

CPD users can now freely select and record the number of credits for all their CPD activities. For Experiential Learning Events, a Reflection is required to claim the selected credits. In addition, 1 or 2 credits can be claimed for an action following the learning (1 credit for a simple action, 2 credits for a complex action). To claim credits for an action, the individual needs to demonstrate how they have applied their learning to their practice, the service they provide and/or the potential impact of the learning.

For those who prefer to follow RCOG recommendations, the CPD Framework still provides a suggested number of credits that can be claimed for different CPD activities.

Further information can be found in the RCOG CPD Framework document.