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Appraisal

The purpose of Appraisal is to enable all GPs to continuously improve the quality of their practice and to assist in the early identification of doctors in difficulty, so that they can be offered appropriate support.

A strategy paper ‘Principles of GP Appraisal’, which sets out a policy and principles to underpin the appraisal process for General Practitioners working in the national health systems of the four countries of the UK, was endorsed by the RCGP Council on 29th February 2008. 

Appraisal will support and inform Revalidation. Accordingly, the GP appraisal process is being developed, delivered and resourced to meet UK regulatory requirements for Revalidation.

"The appraisal process, which will be a central component of Revalidation, should be both formative and summative to ensure that the required standards are met".

Trust Assurance and Safety, February 2007

Appraisal should enable all GPs to demonstrate through the collection of a single portfolio of evidence (including evidence of Continuing Professional Development), that they meet the required standards for Revalidation.

In September 2008, a Joint RCGP/ CoGPED Position Statement was released which included the following key recommendations on appraisal in England:

• Provision and accountability of GP appraisal should remain a PCT responsibility.
• Employment and management of local appraisers should be developed locally to a common national model and remuneration
• Strategy and local standards should be developed by Postgraduate Deaneries with engagement of the PCTs, public and local stakeholders.
• Deaneries should be charged with ensuring a cost-effective process sufficient for the needs of the patients, service, professionals and of a combined revalidation process.

Making Judgements at Appraisal describes how the role of appraisers within the Revalidation process can remain developmental.

Personal Development Plan (PDP)

Development of your PDP is a central part of the appraisal process. The content will set your learning agenda for the coming year and should facilitate reflective practice.  A paper 'Personal Development Plan Guidance for Appraisers' which provides guidance to appraisers  on how to advise their appraisees on PDP construction was endorsed by the RCGP Council on 14th June 2008. 

Quality Assurance of Appraisal

The RCGP, in partnership with GMC, will set the standards for external quality assurance of appraisal to ensure that appraisal is fit for the purposes of Revalidation.

A paper entitled 'Core Information for Quality Assurance of GP Appraisal' was endorsed by Council in November 2008. The paper sets out the consensus view from across the UK on the development of common quality assurance standards of appraisal. The next stage is the development of standards and quality assurance of RCGP Accredited Appraiser Training and support systems for the appraisal process.