Appraisal and Revalidation Support

You will find links and resources to support you through the appraisal and revalidation process. If you can't find the answer to your question, or would like more information, please email us.

 

Appraisal and revalidation during COVID-19

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, appraisals were suspended (for most doctors) in March 2020 until further notice to allow doctors, appraisers and the associated administrative teams to focus on clinical work and be deployed to support the emergency situation.  Responsible Officers in the four countries of the UK were informed of a flexible restart to appraisals from October 2020. This follows the final version of the Medical Appraisal Guide 2020, with key points for doctors and a template to show the minimum paperwork required, being agreed by all sectors, specialties and UK nations through the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

Although the purpose of medical appraisal remains the same (which includes to support a doctor’s professional and personal development and to help assure a revalidation decision), the process in the context of the pandemic sees a rebalancing towards more of a wellbeing focus at this time when doctors have been impacted personally as well as professionally by COVID-19.

The key documents (hosted on the Academy of Royal Colleges website) are as follows:

• Medical Appraisal Guide 2020: A guide for professional medical appraisals in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Medical Appraisal 2020: Guidance for Appraisers
• Medical Appraisal 2020: Key Points for Doctors

COVID-19 Appraisal and Revalidation support

• Top tips to make the most of your GP appraisal blog post
• RCGP factors for consideration template for fitness to practice [Word]
• Reflections on being a Covid-19 patient (409 KB PDF)
• FAQs for Appraisal and Revalidation support during COVID-19 (587 KB PDF)
• HEIW appraisal guidance for GPs in Wales

Audio guides

These audio guides were recorded by members of the Revalidation Working Group. You can listen by clicking on the links below, or right click and download to listen offline.

• QIA recorded by Dr Rob Morgan, Vice Chair, RCGP Wales
• Compliments and complaints recorded by Dr Rob Morgan, Vice Chair, RCGP Wales 
• What is CPD? recorded by Dr Clare Etherington, MAP Clinical lead 
• Break from practice (gap in practice) recorded by Amanda Orchard, Patient and Carers Partnership Group Representative
• Significant events recorded by Dr Claire Braham, GP / Appraiser
• Feedback from colleagues recorded by Mary Nichols, Appraiser / College examiner
• Reflection recorded by Dr Susi Caesar, Medical Director of Revalidation
• Scope of practice: including low volumes of clinical work or restricted scopes of work recorded by Dr Amrita Sen Mukherjee, First5 Committee Member

Useful links

You will find links to some useful documents, templates and guidance from the College and other organisations involved in appraisal and revalidation.

From the College

• The College's Guides to supporting information for appraisal and revalidation
• Our Mythbusters address common misconceptions around appraisal and revalidation
• Access our CPD resources
• The QI Ready self-approval tool assists you in better understanding quality improvement methodologies
• An Introduction to Quality Improvement in General Practice
• QI ready quick guide
• Find out how to demonstrate competence as a GP with an extended role
• The College offers a portfolio route to those undertaking the Return to Practice (RtP) Programme
• We have compiled a selection of useful leadership and management resources

Other useful links

• The GMC's supporting information for appraisal and revalidation details their requirements for all doctors
• The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges offers a GP specific framework for supporting information
• NHS England's 10 steps to revalidation provides a useful guide to the appraisal and revalidation process
• The GMC has produced guidance for doctors and medical students on the importance of being a reflective practitioner
• A list of resources, case studies and learning materials on how to be a reflective practitioner
• Simplifying appraisal preparation for doctors, from NHS England ROs [PDF]
• Responsible Officer and Appraisal Networks Information Sheet 8 - Confidentiality of reflections for appraisal [PDF] 
• Responsible Officer and Appraisal Networks Information Sheet 15 Appraisal: minimising the paperwork to maximise the benefit – advice for doctors
• NHS England Supporting doctors who undertake a low volume of NHS General Practice clinical work
• Appraisal Discussion Assessment Method (ADAM) (Word)
• CPD Module – New to MARS (PDF)
• Medical Appraisal Revalidation System (MARS)
• Medical Appraisal Scotland (SOAR)
• Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA)

Support on Reflection

• Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) reflective templates
• Medical Appraisal Scotland (SOAR) Reflective Templates
• NHS England CPD Structured Reflective Template
• GMC Reflective narratives
• GP Appraisals UK

Further guides

• Report on our 2019 Appraiser Survey [PDF]
• A guide for newly qualified GPs [PDF]
• Flowchart of appraisal [PDF]
• Low volumes of work framework [PDF]
• Report on our 2017 revalidation survey [PDF]
• Report on our 2015 revalidation survey [PDF]

For further information, email: revalidation@rcgp.org.uk