Medical Appraisers Training and Recruitment
Appraiser training courses in 2021/2022
There was a full schedule of New Appraiser training courses in 2021/22 following the disruption of the previous year. Following on from the success of our new remote delivery format for New Appraiser Training courses, Refresher training courses have been revised in a similar format and will be running in the coming year.
New Medical Appraiser Training Courses
The new format consisted of two half-days’ attendance of remote training with smaller groups of learners (max 8), with completion of seven online modules a mandatory requirement prior to attending. The modules and other pre-course materials is available on the Medical Appraisal Scotland website.
We successfully ran 15 New Appraiser events from April to December 2021. 3 scheduled courses were cancelled due to insufficient applications. A further 5 New Appraiser courses were delivered in January to March 2022. During this period 1 course was cancelled due to lack of interest.
| Course | Course Capacity | Attendance | Unfilled Slots | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Care | Secondary Care | Total | DNAs | |||
| N77A - 20 & 24 April 2021 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N77P - 20 & 24 April 2021 [CANCELLED] | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| N78A - 5 & 12 May 2021 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N78P - 5 & 12 May 2021 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| N79A - 19 & 25 May 2021 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| N79P - 19 & 25 May 2021 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N80A - 9 & 17 June 2021 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| N80P - 9 & 17 June 2021 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| N81A - 19 & 26 Aug 2021 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N81P - 19 & 26 Aug 2021 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N82A - 28 Sept & 5 Oct 2021 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N82P - 28 Sept & 5 Oct 2021 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N83A - 28 Oct & 4 Nov 2021 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N83P - 28 Oct & 4 Nov 2021 [CANCELLED] | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| N84A - 16 & 23 Nov 2021 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| N84P - 16 & 23 Nov 2021 [CANCELLED] | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| N85A - 1 & 8 Dec 2021 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| N85P - 1 & 8 Dec 2021 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| N86A - 18 & 26 Jan 2022 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N86P - 18 & 26 Jan 2022 [CANCELLED] | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| N87A - 3 & 10 Feb 2022 | 8 | 0 | 68 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N87P - 3 & 10 Feb 2022 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| N88A - 3 & 10 March 2022 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N88P - 3 & 10 March 2022 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 160 | 30 | 120 | 150 | 4 | 6 |
150 participants attended the 20 New Appraiser training courses held, with 147 recommended by the tutor panels as ready to take up the role of medical appraiser. There were 4 participants who either did not attend on the day or opted out after partially attending their course. Overall, only 6 out of 160 spaces were not taken up, which is a significant decrease compared to pre-pandemic courses.
We continued to ask all our course participants for feedback following the courses. Out of the 150 participants, 121 provided their feedback (80.7%). When asked to rate their level of overall satisfaction with the training, 53 replied “Extremely satisfied” (43.8%) and 67 replied “Very Satisfied” (55.4%).
Participants, Tutors and Admin support on N79P (May 2021)
Overall it was good to go through and consolidate knowledge gained from pre course prep. Enjoyed the opportunity to practice the mini appraisals.
I was really impressed - training was more "involved" that I was expecting but this was no bad thing!
Excellent format and very well organised.
The 2 day course was excellent. Well structured and flowing well. I particularly enjoyed taking different roles in the mini appraisals. It allowed you to see what works well and what doesn’t work and how your appraisal could be improved. Coaching was challenging without being in this situation in the context of a real ‘appraisal’, and enough background reading was referenced to allow you to develop your skills.
Loved the format. Strongly recommend to my colleagues.
Refresher Medical Appraiser Training
The course content and delivery for Refresher Medical Appraiser Training was comprehensively reviewed during 2021/22 and as such no courses were offered. The redevelopment of the course is now complete, and a schedule of courses will begin in June 2022.
As with our New Appraiser Training courses, participants will be asked to complete an online module and watch 2 preparatory videos ahead of attending the course. The course will be run over three and a half hours in either a morning or afternoon session. There will be a maximum of 8 participants in each course.
In addition to the Refresher training days, self-directed modules have also been made available to appraisers for working through at their own pace. We intend also to organise further webinars and short-term sessions to complement the training programme. All information on the Refresher Appraiser programme of activities can be found on our website.
Distribution of trained Appraisers across Health Boards
Across the 20 New Appraiser training, 147 new appraisers were recommended to their respective health boards as ready to take up the role of medical appraisers.
Breakdown as per below table:
| Health Board | New Appraisers | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Care | Secondary Care | Total | |
| Ayrshire & Arran | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Fife | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| Forth Valley | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Greater Glasgow & Clyde | 6 | 22 | 28 |
| National Waiting Times Centre (Golden Jubilee Hospital) | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Grampian | 3 | 11 | 14 |
| Highland | 2 | 10 | 12 |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Lothian | 8 | 28 | 36 |
| Orkney | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Public Health Scotland | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Shetland | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Tayside | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Total | 33 | 114 | 147 |
Becoming an Appraiser
The need for medical appraisal – a safe and protected environment for colleagues to discuss and reflect on their work and wellbeing – will play a vital role to support the workforce recovery post pandemic.
If you are interested in becoming an appraiser, you can find further details via the Medical Appraisal Scotland website:
http://www.appraisal.nes.scot.nhs.uk
Training course details available under the “Appraiser Training” link in the menu.
Please discuss further with your local Appraisal Lead as the first port of call. Appraisal management processes (and vacancies) vary across the health boards in Scotland and it is important that you understand the requirements of your health board, and that they can guide and support you in the appraiser role.
Stacey Lucas & Hannah Asrih
Administrative Officer (Medical Appraisal)
