The purpose of the Professional Competence Scheme (PCS) Committee is to provide strategic direction and leadership to ensure that the ICGP PCS for General Practitioners operates in compliance with the arrangements with the Medical Council of Ireland. Using clear management, effective decision making and governance frameworks, the committee ensures that PCS measures support GPs in complying with the Scheme appropriately within their scope of practice.
With reference to the ICGP arrangement with the Medical Council of Ireland, the Committee's role is to oversee the Professional Competence Scheme for General Practitioners on behalf of the Quality, Safety and Standards Committee and ultimately the Board of ICGP.
Committee Chair responsibilities include, but are not restricted to, the following:
Committee members' responsibilities include, but are not restricted to, the following:
The Committee will carry out its responsibilities by oversight as well as through work on relevant external groups, for example The Forum of Postgraduate Training Bodies Sub Committee on the Professional Competence Schemes.
The committee aspires to ensure a diversity of representation with particular reference to geographic spread, gender and experience.
o GPIT
o Network of Establishing GPs (NEGS)
o European Academy of Teachers in General Practice / Family Medicine (EURACT)
o Three members from Council / Faculty
A quorum of seven members is required for a meeting to proceed.
With discretion, the Committee can invite external expertise, including patient representation, to attend or address specific topics on an as-needed basis.
Committee members serve one three-year term and can be reappointed to serve a second consecutive term after which time, the member rotates off the committee. To retain appropriate levels of committee-specific expertise, care is taken to avoid all members rotating off the committee at the same time. Changes in membership occur at the beginning of the academic year in July.
The PCS Committee reports to the Quality, Safety and Standards Committee which, in turn, reports to the ICGP Board.
At least five meetings per year – in September, November, January, March and June. Meetings can be in person or by teleconference or video conference.
The standing items on the agenda include the following:
Committee members and administrators use the designated secure area of the website to access and comment on committee documentation.
Minutes from each meeting are prepared, approved and disseminated as soon as possible after each meeting and no later than fifteen business days after the meeting. Committee reports are submitted in advance of each meeting, preferably within five working days. Specific reports may be disseminated to appropriate audiences as required.
The committee performance and that of individual members is gauged using metrics such as percentage of attendance; achievement of roles and responsibilities; review of committee effectiveness; how well the committee and individual members feel they are performing their role.
A member of ICGP staff provides administrative support to the PCS Committee. This staff member is responsible for arranging meeting logistics; circulating agenda, schedule, pre-meeting papers; documenting minutes and disseminating approved minutes within the agreed timeframe of the meeting being held.
These terms of reference are subject to an annual review.