Appraisal : a guide for medical practitioners
October 2003
Recommendations
- In order for the process to be effective, there must be consultation between management and doctors in the development of appraisal systems and it must have the commitment and support of both groups.
- It must remain a profession-led process to ensure that it maintains the support of doctors, so that the profession can monitor and adapt appraisal. This will ensure that it is useful and relevant to their needs.
- Appraisal schemes must be regularly reviewed to ensure that they are effective and relevant. They must be updated to reflect changes in the organisation.
- There should be a review at a suitable midway point between appraisals to monitor whether an individual’s objectives are being met and to identify any barriers that might be in the way of reaching them, with a view to removing these.
- The appraisal process must be fully integrated into the training and development procedures of the organisation, with links between the outcome of appraisal and the provision of training and development resources. A lack of resources available for meeting objectives will lead to disillusionment.
- The appraisal process must be adequately resourced in terms of money, time and space. Sufficient protected time must be provided for preparation, the appraisal discussion and any follow up actions. Appraisal must be instead of, not as well as, normal work activities.