Zoe's Appraisal & Revalidation Tips
Appraisal – it’s a fact of life for both doctors and nurses. One of the aims of our Hot topics courses is to try and give you maximum CPD credits, a resource to get all the other credits you need each year and ideas for quality improvement activities and audit. Easy. In theory…. but if you are still feeling dismayed at your looming appraisal reminder there is some new guidance that can help. The first is from NHS England’s responsible officers for appraisal, and I’ve summarised the key points below. The second is the new RCGP Appraisal mythbusters which is exactly what it says on the tin and a great resource. Don’t forget the appraisal covers ALL your roles i.e. your “scope of work”. If you do sessions for an out of hours provider, lecture for the local university, are a trainer or tutor, have a CCG role, you need a scope of work letter from each of these to state that you are keeping up to date and are fit to practice in that role. If your boss in these organisations looks at you blankly when you ask for one, then direct them here for a bit of guidance. Your local appraisal team may have their own version of what a scope of work letter needs to include, but it’s one of the commonest things doctors forget. NHS England have produced a suggested template