The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) is seeking to appoint the following healthcare professionals to the Diploma in Geriatric Medicine (DGM) examination board:
- An advanced clinical practitioner
- An old age psychiatrist.
The DGM is developed and delivered by the RCP Assessment Unit on behalf of the RCP and British Geriatrics Society (BGS). The DGM examination currently takes place as one knowledge-based assessment (KBA) and two clinical assessment periods annually. The KBA is a three-hour, 100 single best answer, assessment, whilst the clinical examination is a four-station objective structed clinical examination (OSCE).
Remit and responsibilities
The DGM Examination Board has the responsibility to ensure that the DGM KBA and clinical examination are conducted appropriately and in line with the approved regulations for these examinations, wider regulatory frameworks (e.g. Equality Act, GDPR) and applicable RCP procedures throughout the lifecycle of the assessment process, including for example:
- Setting and delivery of the examination (including membership on the post-examination review group, who review the performance of DGM KBA questions prior to the release of results)
- Review of candidate performance and sign-off of results
- Management of examiners.
Benefits
We offer the opportunity to network with colleagues, keep your knowledge up to date, take part in challenging discussions, be involved with the next generation of healthcare professionals working with older people, promote multidisciplinary working and continuing professional development.
By getting involved you can shape the future of the DGM KBA and clinical examination.
This is a non-salaried position, though all reasonable expenses and travel costs will be met by the Education Department in line with the RCP expenses policy.
The tenure of the appointments are three years, with the potential for extension as appropriate, particularly in cases of long-term absence (illness or maternity leave, for example), or to ensure orderly succession planning. Any extensions will be at the discretion of the RCP Assessment Unit.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply:
- Hold current statutory registration with the relevant regulator - normally the General Medical Council, Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) or Health & Care Professions’ Council (HCPC)
- Be in good standing with their regulatory body
- Be actively engaged in the training of junior practitioners to provide high quality person-centred care for older people
- Be up to date as appropriate with relevant national guidelines, CPD requirements, employer’s equality and diversity training and appraisal process
- Interested in, but not necessarily expert in, medical academic assessments
- Advanced clinical practitioners must have completed a relevant qualification (a masters degree or equivalent) and have gained at least three years’ clinical experience in working with older people in a significant proportion of their clinical workload after obtaining advanced practitioner status
- Old age psychiatrists must have at least three years’ clinical experience in working with older people in a significant proportion of their clinical workload.
How to apply
Applications, including a CV and one-page covering letter outlining your suitability for the post, should be submitted for the attention of Steven Ansty via assessment.unit@rcp.ac.uk by 09:00 UK time on Monday 9 March 2026.
For an informal discussion regarding the role please contact Steven Ansty, Head of Development & Standards, on the above email address, or via 0151 318 1888.
The RCP positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.