We have been working behind the scenes to update SOAR and the Medical Appraisal Scotland website so that the respective forms and guidance matches up to the updated Good Medical Practice 2024.
We have scheduled these changes to be deployed on Thursday 11th April from 1:30pm to 2pm, as such SOAR will be OFFLINE during this time. Please ensure you are not logged in during this time.
[Update 05/04/2024: Due to unexpected technical issue, the scheduled deployment has been postponed. We will notify all users again once the issue is resolved and a new deployment date scheduled. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.]
The changes being deployed will NOT result in the loss of any of your draft forms for ongoing appraisals; however it might mean that some sections/information may end up in a different domain. We are asking all appraisers to show a little forbearance during this period, so long as all the necessary information is in the submitted forms and the Form 4 is documented accordingly, please excuse the incorrect order of form content.
The previously announced WASP server switchover was completed towards the end of January. A number of MSF reports from the old server had still to be downloaded and our team has been working for the past 4 months, liaising with those impacted by the change to retrieve these MSF reports for them. Despite this, a small number of MSF's remain on the old server.
We have negotiated an extension to the switching off of the old server to 12th April. If you have been liaising with the team and your MSF has been downloaded for you please disregard. However, if you did an MSF last year (or before) on WASP, please check your SOAR account - if the expectant report is not there please contact SOAR@nes.scot.nhs.uk before Friday 12th April and we will assist further from there. Thereafter, the old server will be switched off and you will need to start a new MSF as needed.
The Medical Appraisal and Revalidation Quality Assurance review will recommence following a period of absence since the pandemic. To help your designated body, please ensure any outstanding 2023/24 appraisals are completed soon.
We recently ran a webinar, presented by GMC Scotland's Liaison Officers on the changes and a recording of the session can be found on our website, along with slides used on the day, Q&A and other info).
We also ran a webinar on Recognition of Trainer, covering the role of the appraiser in the process and what is and isn't within the scope of responsibilities. A recording of this session can also be found on our website.
As previously mentioned, we are also working on redesigning the SOAR interface for appraisees. This is a significant undertaking and work has been progressing in the background. We are aiming to deploy these changes later in the year (targeting end of September) but will send out a newsletter update in the coming months to keep everyone informed.
The 2024/2025 appraiser training programme is now open for registration. For more information please visit the Events page. If you are interested in becoming an appraiser, please liaise with your employing health board's Appraisal Lead in the first instance to discuss vacancy and suitability.
We are currently revamping our Improving Appraisal Conversations workshops and hope to finalise these in the coming weeks. We will message all appraisers separately in due course.
This page was last updated on: 05/04/2024
Posted: 03/04/2024
