SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND ETHICS
Terms of Reference
Aims of the Committee
The Special Committee for Professional Practice and Ethics is responsible for providing guidance on psychiatric professional practice, including issues of policy into practice, confidentiality, probity and conflict of interest.
The Special Committee for Professional Practice and Ethics will include individuals who have knowledge, interest and expertise in ethics, confidentiality and the relationship between policy and practice.
The Special Committee will work with other College committees\faculties\special interest groups and will engage in relevant activities of the College, in particular the work of the Central Policy Committee.
Committee Membership
The membership of the Special Committee will be:
Chair of the Committee (appointed)
Registrar of the College
8 appointed members to include at least 3 with expertise\interest in ethics and policy into practice and 3 with expertise in confidentiality, these members being able to access the support and expertise of a network of College members\experts.
Two Vice-Chairs will be nominated from the appointed members above, one with expertise in ethics and policy into practice, and one with expertise in confidentiality.
Representative of the Psychiatric Trainees Committee
Representative of the Affiliates and SAS Members Committee
User representative
Carer representative
Member of the College policy unit to administer the committee
The term of office for the appointed chair and members if 4 years
The committee will access networks of expertise to support appointed members in the work of the committee
The committee has the power to co-opt other members as appropriate.
Functions of the Committee
- To ensure that the College provides appropriate guidance for psychiatrists on matters of professional practice, ethics, policy into practice and confidentiality.
- To provide timely advice to the College, the Central Policy Committee in particular, on policies or matters referred to it that relate to professional practice, ethics and confidentiality.
- To provide expertise in matters of ethics, confidentiality, use of patient identifiable information and information governance as they relate to the practice of psychiatry.
- To participate in relevant activities of the College, committees\faculties\special interest groups, and in particular to participate in the work of the Central Policy Committee.
Schedule of Meetings
The Special Committee will meet 3 times a year. The majority of work will be undertaken between meetings via email and other means of communication, and co-ordinated by a member of the Policy Unit staff.
Reporting
The Special Committee will report to the Central Executive Committee. A report and forward work plan will be provided to the Central Executive Committee annually. The minutes will be recorded by a member of the Policy Unit staff and published on the College website.
Dr Elizabeth Fellow-Smith
Chair of the Special Committee
April 2010