Advisory Appointments Committees (AAC) and Job Description Approval

We share information below designed for medical staffing departments when planning appointments for SRH posts. This includes processes for Advisory Appointments Committees (AAC) and Job Description Approval.

Within the UK there is considerable variation in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service provision yet, access to SRH care is a fundamental right for all. The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) vision is of high-quality sexual and reproductive health at every stage of life. SRH service leads are needed to support and provide leadership to the multidisciplinary SRH workforce and specialist SRH care throughout the life course.

The information on this page is designed to guide employers and commissioners through the process of appointing the lead of an SRH service. It will be reviewed regularly and updated when required.

Job description reviews

Before posts are advertised for consultant and SAS doctor posts, medical staffing departments should upload the job description here.
We will respond within 4 weeks of receiving your job description.

Download our Appointment Guidelines for further information about the pre-interview and appointment process as well as contract considerations.

Consultant posts

We have a statutory role in the appointment of Consultants in SRH.  It is a legal requirement for all doctors to be on the GMC’s specialist register before they can take up a consultant appointment. Trainees who have CCT dates no more than six months from the date of an Advisory Appointments Committee (ACC) may apply and be interviewed.

Here you can find the checklist we use to review and approve Consultant Job Descriptions.

SAS doctor posts

We have no statutory role in the appointment of specialist grade and specialty doctor posts, but recommend below as good practice.

Specialist grade

The specialist grade introduced in April 2021 requires employers to use the generic capabilities framework and template person specification, which they will develop based on the requirements of the service.

A doctor in this grade needs to:

  • Have a full registration and licence to practice with the General Medical Council.
  • Complete a minimum of 12 years medical work (either continuously or in aggregate) since obtaining a primary medical qualification, of which a minimum of 6 years should have been in a relevant specialty.
  • To meet the criteria set out in the generic capabilities framework that has been developed.

Here you can find the checklist we use to review and approve Specialist Doctor Job Descriptions.

Specialty grade

A doctor in this grade needs to:

  • Have a full registration and licence to practice with the General Medical Council
  • Complete at least four years’ full-time postgraduate training (or its equivalent gained on a part time or flexible basis). At least two of these will be in a specialty training programme in a relevant specialty; or as a fixed term specialty trainee in a relevant specialty; or equivalent experience and competencies.

Here you can find the checklist we use to review and approve Specialty Doctor Job Descriptions.

Setting up an Advisory Appointments Committee (AAC)


Role of the Faculty representative

The FSRH representative is a core member of an AAC panel. Their main role is to assess the training of applicants to make sure they are suitable for the post and have the necessary qualifications.

FSRH representatives are full members of an AAC and should be included in the shortlisting process except for AACs for SAS doctor where shortlisting is not required.

Once a FSRH representative is secured for an AAC, the health authority should contact them with details of the AAC.

Process for requesting a Faculty representative at an AAC

You will need to notify us as soon as an AAC date is confirmed, even if this is at job planning stage. We will need preferably six weeks’ notice to secure a FSRH representative for an AAC.

If you would like to request a FSRH representative, or have any questions, contact us at specialty@fsrh.org.