The PDP is split into two pages:
If you are using SOAR for the first time, then you will not have any entries in the PDP Review section. In which case, document your learning activities in the comments boxes on what was achieved and what you learnt from it. Were there anything you had planned that you didn’t complete? Make sure you reflect on that too.
If you had completed an appraisal before, then your agreed learning items from last year’s Form 4 summary will be listed on this page, as illustrated above, forming your PDP.
Against each PDP entry, you can change the status via the corresponding dropdown menu to "Completed", "Progressing" or "Not continuing" depending on the progress.**
You can click on the corresponding "Review" button against each item for details of the agreed learning and add comments on the progress made and reflect on lessons learnt.
You won’t be able to amend details of what was agreed, but you can add your comments at the bottom to document your progress and reflections.
Click "Save" to finish.
** See section on "Saving and uploading documents" for guidance around saving (there is no autosave for appraisees).
As part of your reflections, you are encouraged to consider what learning you might wish to pursue in the year ahead. This is documented in the "PDP Year Ahead" section.
Click on "Add new learning need" to start with, and give the learning a short title for easy referencing.
Consider the SMART principles when adding your learning.
Detail your learning need and be specific on what you would like to change or develop. How is it relevant to your work? What are the circumstances that lead to this change? Why is it important?
Keep the PDP smart by setting a timescale.
And consider what happens at the end of your learning. How will you measure success? How will you know it’s been achieved, and what will you do with the new learning?
Click "Save" when finished, and repeat to add more learning items as needed.
This page was last updated on: 27/01/2025
