RCP college tutors (CTs) provide an educational leadership role. Their responsibilities include:
- promoting education within their directorate
- overseeing the training of all postgraduate physician resident doctors
- ensuring high-quality training for internal medical trainees (IMT) and higher specialty trainees
- supporting the educational supervision process for IMTs and, in many trusts, acting as the IMT tutor
- working with their associate college tutors (ACTs) and supporting core and higher specialty trainees.
RCP CTs are professionally responsible to the RCP and the local education and training board (LETB) but are managerially responsible to their trust.
Many trusts and LETBs also produce a CT role description. Therefore, the RCP CT role description should be read in conjunction with local documents.
CT role description
I’ve discovered that I can make real differences to my trainees by simply standing up for them publicly, and being a non-judgemental support privately. I get enormous satisfaction from my role, and it’s the part of my job I enjoy the most.
The Royal College CT/ACT group offers learning and meetings, and these are so helpful, both for great ideas on how to improve training, and to discuss challenges and successes with like minded colleagues.
I’d recommend anyone who cares about their trainees’ experience to consider the role. If you are the person finding yourself advocating for their rights, if you feel that you could have been looked after better in training yourself, if you want your trainees to work at the top of their game because they feel valued and cared about, then think about being a College Tutor.
Dr Cai Neville
College tutor
How to apply
If you would like to become a college tutor or an associate college tutor in your hospital, please download the RCP role description and express your interest to your postgraduate medical education department manager.
Once appointed, please make sure you contact your local regional office to notify them of your appointment.
I applied to be a college tutor just after COVID-19. I have established regular PACES teaching in my hospital, established a clinically focused, case based grand round which is something the residents get a great deal from. I also run GIM training days (which are a huge learning time for me as well) and Simulation sessions.
The offer from the college in terms of its learning content is something I benefit from greatly myself and actively steer my young colleagues towards.
I really enjoy my role, get a great deal out of it and would encourage others to take up the opportunity. There is enough flexibility to make the role your own, and I have tried to model myself on the excellent mentors I had myself when I was a resident doctor.
Dr Mark Wright
College tutor
Explore our CPD courses and workshops to help you in your career
The RCP offers leadership development courses for every career stage. From one-day workshops for early career grades, through to longer leadership development programmes and accreditations for senior leaders, we have CPD opportunities for everyone.