GP Appraisal FAQs

  1. Do I have to have an appraisal?
  2. Do I have a choice of appraiser?
  3. What happens if I am a Locum? Can I have an appraisal?
  4. Do I receive the appraisee payment?
  5. Does my appraiser receive payment?
  6. Do I have to pay?
  7. What if I am going on maternity leave soon?
  8. What if I am due to retire within the near future?
  9. What if I hold a contract with someone else e.g. University?
  10. What if l am a GPwSI?
  11. What if I am a PEC member?
  12. What if I am on the FCS/return to practice scheme?
  13. What if I am on the GP retainer scheme?
  14. Who sees the appraisal summaries?
  15. Can I use the www/toolkit and if so how does this work?
  16. How do I become an appraiser/ (admittedly not frequently asked but a jolly good question and idea!)
  17. Who should undertake the appraisal of GP registrars?

1. Do I have to have an appraisal?

No, but if you do not you will have difficulty in fulfilling your contract with the PCT and you are unlikely to be revalidated'

2. Do I have a choice of appraiser?

Currently appraisees are allocated an appraiser by a random process undertaken by Jo Smekens, GP Appraisal Co-ordinator. If you prefer not to be appraised by the person allocated to you please advise Jo and she will endeavour to make alternative arrangements.

3. What happens if I am a Locum? Can I have an appraisal?

You must have an appraisal. (see above)

4. Do I receive the appraisee payment?

That depends. If you have a salaried post or are under contract with a PCT or practice for sessional work, it is the responsibility of the organisation or practice to provide time for your appraisal (not money, but time).

If you are a locum working freelance for a number of practices, the PCTs have now agreed to to reimburse towards the costs involved.

5.Does my appraiser receive payment?

Yes from the PCT.

6. Do I have to pay?

No.

7. What if I am going on maternity leave soon?

You should decide if you wish to have your appraisal before or after. It would be easier to prepare before but the educational plan may be skewed by the delivery!

8. What if I am due to retire within the near future?

An appraisal is a developmental process that is not solely for your professional development. Discussions during an appraisal about retirement and the preparation for retirement might be the most developmentally helpful discussion. But remember that revalidation starts in 2005.

9. What if I hold a contract with someone else e.g. University?

GP appraisal is for doctors in primary care and the appraisal process is directed towards that role. Other roles that are undertaken should be appraised by the organisation responsible. Educationalists employed by the Deanery will be appraised by the Deanery for the role that they undertake in addition to the GP appraisal process.

10. What if l am a GPwSI?

There is an accreditation process being introduced and all GpwSI should be accredited by April 2009. For more information see the following links:

11. What if I am a PEC member?

Same thing applies. The PCT will wish to appraise the performance of the PEC.

12. What if I am on the FCS/return to practice scheme?

You will be on the supplementary list of your PCT and therefore they will be able to provide an appraiser for you. You should be able to negotiate time from your practice work to undertake the appraisal.

13. What if I am on the GP retainer scheme?

As above.

14. Who sees the appraisal summaries?

Form 4 is the only piece of the appraisal documentation that is seen by anyone other than the appraiser and appraisee. Form 4 has three sections.

  • The first is a summary of the appraisal discussion that is completed at the end of the appraisal. It states that it should be completed by the appraiser, but that does not fit with the developmental aspects of the process. Logically it should be completed by the appraisee, but they may need the assistance of the appraiser. Therefore a joint approach would appear to be the best.
  • The second is the PDP and sets out the plan for the appraisee with specific detail and times (SMART is the term). THIS IS SENT TO THE CPD TUTOR AT THE POSTGRADUATE CENTRE AND ANONOMISED INTO A LIST OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR EDUCATION PLAN.
  • The third is a signed statement of satisfactory completion of the appraisal that needs to be held by the PCT. THIS IS SENT TO THE CPD TUTOR AT THE POSTGRADUATE CENTRE

15. Can I use the www/toolkit and if so how does this work?

Yes you can. It is only an electronic set of forms that are stored confidentially and centrally to enable individuals to complete easily. It is then available to the appraiser on line to minimise the transfer of information.

16. How do I become an appraiser/ (admittedly not frequently asked but a jolly good question and idea!)

You apply to your PCT to become an appraiser. They will select using agreed criteria. Once selected you will be invited to attend a training course run by the Deanery that will introduce you to the skills required of an appraiser and develop those skills. Following that training course it is intended to develop a system to allow new appraisers to increase those skills and then to be assessed to ensure that they are competent to continue.

17. Who should undertake the appraisal of GP registrars?

As they are doctors in training the Deanery is responsible for ensuring that they understand the GP appraisal system and are prepared for an appraisal when they enter practice. To do this we are expecting trainers to ensure that the GP appraisal system is part of their training, and that they experience an appraisal in the last few months of their GP year. It is not the PCT's responsibility, despite their inclusion in the supplementary list, and no payment is available to trainers or registrars to undertake this.