Appraisal  

Appraisal for Doctors in Training in Health and Social Care, Northern Ireland

In line with similar initiatives throughout the UK, the consultation document Confidence in the Future – for patients, and for doctors, (DHSSPS 2000), sets a wide-range of proposals to assist doctors and help prevent them developing problems.  Key among these proposals was that a system of appraisal should be introduced for all doctors.  The aims of appraisal are: -

• To set out personal and professional development needs, career paths and goals
• To agree plans for them to be met 
• To review the doctors’ performance
• To consider the doctors’ contribution to the quality and improvement of local healthcare services.

Appraisal is being introduced within the health and social care services (HSC) in Northern Ireland. 

Appraisal has been an important part of Medical Education for many years – “education appraisal” is a vital part of a doctor’s development. The drive for a formal appraisal process came from the introduction of the concept of Clinical and Social Care Governance outlined in the 2001 consultation document Best Practice – Best Care.

Appraisal is based around the GMC’s document “Good Medical Practice – (GMC 2001”), which describes the principles of Good Medical Practice, and the standards of competence, care and conduct expected of doctors in all aspects of their professional work.  These are: -

• Good Clinical Care 
• Maintaining Good Medical Practice 
• Teaching and Training 
• Relationships with patients 
• Working with colleagues 
• Probity 
• Health

The Agency has now produced a document which outlines the Appraisal process for Doctors in training within Northern Ireland.  This document also incorporates a portfolio which can be used to collate the documentation required for the certificate of completion of training (CCT).

The various parts of the document are now available to download below.  The complete document may be accessed HERE. 

• Introduction
• Glossary
• Summary of the Assessment and Appraisal Process
• Appraisal Flowchart - Foundation Training
• Appraisal Flowchart - Specialty Training
• Structure of the Appraisal Portfolio
• Section 1 - Personal Details
• Section 2 - Details of your Current Medical Activities
• Section 3 - Record of Reference Documentation Supporting the Appraisal Framework
• Section 4 - Multi-Source Feedback
• Section 5 - Summary of Appraisal Discussion & Personal Declarations
• Section 6 - Personal Development Plan (PDP)
• Section 7 - Professional Development, Additional Evidence, Certificates & Publications
• Section 8 - Reflective Notes
• Section 9 - Archive for old documents

During November/December 2009 Dr Terry McMurray, Postgraduate Dean, presented at several information roadshows to inform Doctors in Training regarding the new appraisal system.  The presentation may be accessed HERE. 

Assessment

A report by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges on the subject of "Improving Assessment", exploring a UK wide approach to assessment with common standards and common processes and instruments, has now been published and can be viewed below:

Academy of Medical Royal Colleges - "Improving Assessment"