All appraisers are formally trained and continue to engage in ongoing professional development. It is not their responsibility to make revalidation recommendations; these decisions rest with your Responsible Officer (RO). Instead, they will produce an appraisal summary in agreement with you. This summary, and up to four other summaries, will inform the RO when considering a revalidation recommendation.
During an average revalidation cycle, you will have a minimum of three different appraisers. Although each appraiser’s approach may differ slightly, every appraisal should consistently include the following key elements:
- Good preparation and a clear understanding of the doctor’s folder.
- Prompt and reliable correspondence with the doctor prior to and after the meeting, as required.
- Supportive atmosphere, helping the doctor feel at ease and acknowledging key achievements.
- Clear structure for the meeting, while allowing important elements from the doctor’s point of view to come to the fore. Sometimes wellbeing issues are more important than other elements, there may be a structural change in the working environment and of course discussing and validating any supporting information present.
- Identify constraints to the doctor’s progression (even if not obviously stated by the doctor).
- Facilitating and challenging the doctor to think more deeply about what they’ve entered as their supporting information.
- Support recognition of development needs and use these to shape meaningful PDP objectives..
- Reminding doctors that they should cover all areas of their practice.
- Being aware of the doctor’s revalidation date and help keep track of various supporting information categories and remind the doctor to complete them, possibly including this in the PDP.
- Having sufficient knowledge to be able to sign post the doctor to various sources of help or guidance if needed.
- Writing a professional and accurate summary of the appraisal meeting within a reasonable time frame.
- Being knowledgeable about all aspects of appraisal and revalidation and be able to answer any questions from the doctor or be able to find out the answer and get back to them.