RCR Fellowship role description
| Role | iRefer Content Fellowship |
| Duration | Until Consultant role achieved |
| Approximate time commitment | Flexible, TBD with successful applicants. Maximum 1-3hrs per week. |
| Number of Fellowships on offer | 1 x Neuro
1 x Paediatric 1 x Urology & Adrenal |
The role
Overall purpose
- iRefer is a set of guidelines produced by the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) that provide guidance for clinical referrals to radiology. Guidelines are drafted by consultant radiologists known as Editors and are validated by panels of consultant radiologists recruited from relevant Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
- The iRefer Fellowship is a proposed enhancement of the current iRefer Guideline Review process that aims to make the process more efficient and evidence-based by recruiting trainee radiologists to assist with reviews of relevant literature.
The outcome
Fellows will be assigned to an Editor and will work within their own chosen sub-speciality of interest (either ENT, interventional or cardiovascular). The role of the fellow will be split into two main tasks:
- The fellow will regularly run top-level searches of literature, looking at the quantity and significance of any new published evidence that is relevant to their assigned guidelines. They will then discuss their findings with the Editor. This is to ensure that the decision-making process about which guidelines to prioritise for review next is rigorous, evidence-based, and efficient. The searches will be run using the existing search protocols that have been drafted by the Editors and utilised in the formal literature reviews by information specialists.
- Once a guideline has been selected for review and a formal literature review has been conducted by an external agency, the fellow will compose an executive summary of the results of the search. This executive summary will then be added to the beginning of the evidence document which is provided to SIG panellists during the guideline review process.
The time commitment for this role is flexible and will be decided on a case-by-case basis following discussions between successful candidates and their assigned Editors. It is expected that the time required for the role would never exceed 1-3 hours per week.
See Appendix A for details of how the fellow’s tasks fit into the wider iRefer review process.
Curriculum relevance
- Generic CiP
- Demonstrate the professional values and behaviours expected of all doctors as outlined in Good medical practice
- Successfully function within the health service and healthcare systems in the UK
- Engage in reflection, clinical governance and quality improvement processes to ensure good practice
- Engage in evidence-based practice and safeguard data, including imaging data
- Speciality specific CiP
- Appropriately select and tailor imaging to patient context and the clinical question(s)
- Appropriately manage imaging examination lists/procedures according to clinical need and professional expertise
Key working relationships
| Reporting to | § Editor for the relevant specialty
§ Amanda Wells, iRefer Senior Operations Manager |
| Working with | § Jack Hansen-Maughan, iRefer Content Officer |
| Mentor | § Dr Ketan Jethwa, iRefer Academic Advisor |
What’s in it for you
- Fellows will gain valuable experience in their sub-speciality of interest on a project that has national and international implications.
- Fellows will gain exposure to and the opportunity to become familiar with the most up-to-date literature in their sub-speciality of interest.
- Fellows will have opportunities for networking with senior consultant radiologists.
- Fellows will receive membership of their chosen SIG’s iRefer panel (though not in a guideline review capacity) and the opportunity to take part in iRefer Guideline Reviews as a full Panel Member as soon as they qualify as a consultant radiologist.
- An audit task/assessment will be signed off on the fellow’s Kaizen portfolio.
Person specification
| Description of any key attributes/experience needed for candidates to be successful in the role. |
| An interest in imaging guidelines and understanding of their key role in patient management |
| Enjoys research and working with an organised and methodical approach to tasks |
| Proficiency at carrying out systematic searches of published literature and an ability to summarise the findings from the evidence base |
| Excellent communication and team working skills |
| ST3 or above |
| Preferably post FRCR |
Additional information
This role is a voluntary position. All individuals that take up a voluntary position with the RCR are required to comply with our Code of Conduct.
How to apply
Application
If you are interested in putting yourself forward for the iRefer Fellowship then please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter stating how you meet the requirements of the position and the speciality you wish to apply for to [email protected].
The RCR is seeking to expand diversity of its Fellowships, and actively encourages those from all backgrounds, including under-represented groups to apply for this role.
Due to the number of applications received we will not be able to contact those who are not successfully shortlisted for the position. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the application closing date then please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please do continue to look for other similar opportunities on our website.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
The RCR is committed to providing equal opportunities to all individuals who engage with the College’s work. To enable us to monitor this we ask that you please complete a diversity monitoring form when submitting your application.