Recognise and Reward


A conference for all staff and associate specialists
Friday 25 November 2005
Thistle Cardiff, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3UD
Dear Colleague

I am very pleased to invite you to attend a conference organised by the BMA which will be taking place on Friday 25 November in Cardiff.

This is the latest in an annual series of successful ‘recognise and reward’ conferences organised especially for staff and associate specialist group doctors throughout the UK, including non-standard ‘trust’ grades, non-GP clinical assistants and SCMOs and CMOs.

The conference will be taking place at a significant time for SAS group doctors. Two of the key issues for us all for some time have been the negotiation of a new contract, and the establishment of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board.

Negotiations on a new contract, which should herald the long-overdue reform of our group, will have been under way for some months by the time of the conference. Our key priorities are that the new contract should:
  • enhance the status of SAS doctors
  • allow better opportunities for career progression
  • improve pay and terms & conditions of service
  • be a UK-wide agreement with a national contract
  • tackle discrimination
  • be implemented from April 2006
PMETB will assume its full powers in September this year. This is vitally important for SAS doctors as one of the aims of the reforms was to broaden access to the specialist register by allowing training and qualifications to be assessed wherever obtained and medical experience to be taken into account.

The conference will give us an opportunity to update you on both of these issues. The contract negotiations session will allow you to put your questions directly to the team of negotiators, working on your behalf. The PMETB parallel session will be an interactive session looking at the application process.

We also have sessions covering appraisal and revalidation and terms and conditions of service.

I am pleased to say that in addition to members of the SAS core team, key speakers from PMETB and from the Department of Health will be joining us.

I believe that the conference programme will provide you with information and help that will keep you on the inside-track on SAS group issues. I hope that you will find something in the programme of interest and benefit.

Numbers are limited. I would urge you not to miss out and apply online as soon as possible.

I look forward to seeing you at the conference.

Mr Mohib Khan
Chair, BMA Staff and Associate Specialists Committee

Conference format
The themes of the conference are:
  • developments in the contract negotiations for SAS doctors
  • the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB)
  • appraisal and revalidation
  • terms and conditions of service
  • the role of the Colleges for SAS doctors in the age of MMC
The conference will also provide you with the opportunity to talk directly to the negotiating team.

The conference programme comprises of both plenary and parallel sessions, and delegates will have the opportunity to attend two out of the three parallel sessions taking place during the day. Please indicate which sessions you would like to attend in order of priority on your registration form.

Venue
The conference will take place at the Thistle Cardiff, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3UD, a four-star hotel in Cardiff’s city centre.

Registration fees
The conference fee includes admission to the plenary and parallel sessions, a delegate pack, lunch and refreshments.

BMA Members £95.00 + VAT (£111.63)
Non Members £115.00 + VAT (£135.13)

CPD Accreditation has been applied for.

How do I book?
Book using the online registration form here.

Please complete your registration form as soon as possible and no later than Friday 18 November 2005.

Alternatively post your registration form to BMA Conferences, British Medical Association, PO Box 295, London WC1H 9TE, or fax it on +44 (0) 20 7383 6663. If you would like any further information please telephone BMA Conferences on +44 (0) 20 7383 6605/6137 or email here to confunit@bma.org.uk

Programme
09.30 – 10.00 hrs
Registration, refreshments and exhibition viewing

Chair: Dr Greg Dilliway, Deputy Chair, Staff and Associate Specialists Committee

10.00 – 10.05 hrs
Welcome and introduction
Mr James Johnson, Chairman of Council, British Medical Association

10.05 – 10.20 hrs
Opening remarks/SASC update
Mr Mohib Khan, Chair, Staff and Associate Specialists Committee, British Medical Association

10.20 – 10.40 hrs
Keynote address
Speaker tbc

10.40 – 10.55 hrs
Questions and answers

Chair: Mr Mohib Khan

10.55 – 11.25 hrs
Contract negotiations update
Mr Awani Choudhary, Deputy Chair, Staff and Associate Specialists Committee, British Medical Association

Including questions to the core team

11.25 – 11.55 hrs
Refreshments and exhibition viewing

11.55 – 12.20 hrs
Contract negotiations and questions to the core team continued

12.20 – 12.45 hrs
The role of the Colleges for SAS grade doctors in the age of MMC
Professor Sir Alan Craft, Chair, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

12.45 – 13.45 hrs
Lunch

13.45 – 14.45 hrs
Parallel sessions
1) Appraisal - Dr Elizabeth Bailey, Staff and Associate Specialists Committee, British Medical Association
Chair: Mr Rajnesh Nirula, Deputy Chair, Welsh Staff and Associate Specialists Committee, British Medical Association

2) Terms and conditions of service - Mr Alan Roberts, Manager, Northern Centre, British Medical Association
Chair: Chair, Welsh Staff and Associate Specialists Committee, British Medical Association

3) PMETB - Speaker tbc, Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board
Chair: Dr Lucy Dawson, Welsh Staff and Associate Specialists Committee, British Medical Association

14.45 – 15.15 hrs
Refreshments and exhibition viewing

15.15 – 16.15 hrs
Repeat parallel sessions

16.15 – 16.30 hrs
Closing remarks
Mr Rajnesh Nirula

16.30 hrs
Close of conference

Parallel sessions
Delegates will have the opportunity to attend two out of the three parallel sessions taking place during the day; firstly at 13.45 hrs and secondly at 15.15 hrs. Please indicate on the registration form which sessions you wish to attend.

Parallel session 1
Appraisal
Appraisal is a process of constructive dialogue, so that you can have a formal, structured opportunity to reflect on your work over the year, consider your progress and look at how you might improve and develop. It is not about whether you are performing poorly but rather to help improve on good performance. The appraisal process forms the basis of your annual job plan review and your personal development plan and should be seen as a powerful tool that can be used to make improvements in working arrangements and conditions.

This session will be an exercise in how to complete the appraisal documentation and what to do if you have a problem.

Parallel session 2
Terms and conditions of service
The terms and conditions of service are vital in underpinning the work of SAS doctors. This session will look at the current terms and conditions of service and will allow you to raise questions about particular issues of concern to you and where you might get help.

The terms and conditions will be changing with the advent of the new contract. This session will also give an update on this.

Parallel session 3
PMETB
The main focus of this session will be to provide you with guidance and pointers to help you complete an application under Article 14 for access to the specialist register so that you can be considered for substantive consultant posts in the NHS. PMETB began accepting completed applications from doctors seeking inclusion on the Specialist Register from 4 July 2005. Decisions on applications submitted will be made by PMETB after 30 September 2005 when PMETB assumes its statutory powers.

It will also provide an opportunity to be updated on PMETB issues.

Conference booking terms and conditions
All bookings are subject to the terms and conditions set out below, and should be made on the registration form (one form per delegate - please photocopy as necessary).

1. Submission of your booking is an offer which will be acknowledged in writing by BMA Conferences. Acceptance of the booking will only take place if so agreed BMA Conferences and not until receipt of cleared funds (if applicable) for the conference, and when specified in writing by BMA Conferences.

2. It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of BMA Conferences to alter the content and timing of the conference, the identity of the speaker, the date or the venue. In the unlikely event of the conference being cancelled, we will refund you the registration fee (except in circumstances as set out in clause 9 below), but we will not be liable to you for any other costs or losses, whether direct or indirect.

3. Information from the registration form will be used to provide a list of delegates for circulation at the conference. We will also process the personal data on the registration form, in order to ensure that necessary arrangements are made for you for the conference. This may include passing such information to the operators of the venue, for the purposes required for the conference. You will also have the option not to receive any future mailings from BMA Conferences, and if so you can tick the box on the registration form.

4. The prices quoted are exclusive of VAT (unless otherwise specified), which shall be payable on all bookings at the standard rate of 17.5% (or as amended) (VAT No 674 7384 91).

5. Please note that we may make a search with a credit reference agency, which will keep a record of that search and may share that information with other businesses. In the case of company bookings we may also make enquiries about the principal directors with a credit reference agency.

6. If you wish to cancel your booking, please inform BMA Conferences in writing immediately. Cancellation charges, for accepted bookings, are as a percentage of the registration fee, and written notice is required as follows: received up to 8 weeks before date of conference = 0%, received up to 3 weeks before date of conference = 20%, received up to 1 week before date of conference = 50%, received less than 1 week before date of conference = 100%

7. Notwithstanding the provisions regarding the timing of the receipt of the cancellation (and ensuing refund) in clause 6, cancellations of bookings shall only be effective on the acknowledgement by BMA Conferences of receipt of such cancellations. In the absence of such acknowledgements, the bookings in question shall be deemed not to be cancelled and refunds shall not be payable.

8. You will need to comply at all times with the rules and regulations imposed by the venue. You will also need to ensure that you have your own insurances against any loss to your property you may suffer, or any loss or damage you may cause at the conference.

9. It is regretted that no refund will be made to those registrants who have booked and paid for the conference but who are unable to attend on the day, for whatever reason. However, substitutes may be made, provided that a name is sent in writing to BMA Conferences prior to the conference.

10. Should we be unable to perform any obligations under this Agreement due to causes or circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including any Act of God, war or threatened war, terrorism or threatened terrorism, fire, flood, drought, strike, lock out or actions of the venue, we will not be liable to you for this.

11. This agreement is subject to the laws of England and it is agreed that the courts of competent jurisdiction shall be the English Courts.

BMA Conferences
BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JP
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7383 6605
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7383 6663
E-mail:confunit@bma.org.uk
www.bma.org.uk/conferences

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