This area is relevant to staff who supervise or manage staff or services in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde including service managers in integrated roles working in our Health and Social Care Partnerships who are not employed by NHSGGC, but they manage NHSGGC staff in their teams.
You will find links to advice and guidance, information about development opportunities and access to the booking process for programmes offered by NHSGGC.
Current Programmes
The New People Managers and Supervisors Induction Pathway
This newly developed pathway which is a key element of a new manager’s induction, offers an important development opportunity for new managers and supervisors based on the People Management Guide and designed to provide a clear guidance for new managers joining NHSGGC and signposting next steps in development for their career journey.
This Pathway is currently sitting under Step 6 of the Induction Process which is called Professional and Role Specific Induction. All hiring managers, recruiting someone new who has people management responsibility, have to direct them to this resource during their induction time and must certify that the new manager has been signposted and accessed this pathway when signing off their induction.
This Pathway is also beneficial for current managers and those who aspire to a managerial role.
This Pathway replaces the Foundation Programme for New Managers and Supervisors.
Essential Skills for Managers (An Introduction)
This 1½ or 3 half day programme will support you in developing key day-to-day skills and confidence required to manage people and resources. We will focus on four interrelated themes:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Organising and Delegating including Performance and Time Management
- Managing Change
- Problem Solving and Decision Making
This programme complements, the New People Managers and Supervisors Induction Pathway and the People Management Programme (policies and managing people) with essential, but sometimes taken for granted, management skills.
This programme also replaces the ILM programme which covered similar topics.
The programme is open to new, current and future operational managers.
Looking for support with your people management responsibilities? (People Management Programme)
The People Management Programme is intended to reflect and support the development of wider people management skills in those individuals who are experienced and established managers.
Business Management Graduate Apprenticeship Programme
Useful Resources for Managers or Supervisors
There are numerous management resources available, but it can be difficult find what is right for you. Here are a few that that we have found useful.
The Knowledge Network
This is a national knowledge management platform for health and social care in Scotland. It is developed and maintained by the Knowledge Services group at NHS Education for Scotland. The Leadership and Management section will be of particular interest.
The Good Practice pages (also accessible from The Knowledge Network) offer a wide range of ‘bite-size’ learning opportunities (often less than 10 mins). Typically they provide hints and tips, templates and models you can use. To access you will need to follow the Good Practice link (may require an Athens account).
Examples include:
- Learning and Development – Top tips for coaching (4 mins)
- HR – 5 things managers can do right now (3 mins)
- Leadership and Strategy – How to answer questions about change (5 mins)
- Managing People – Delivering feedback (10 mins), How to delegate (6 mins)
- Personal skills – Building self confidence (3 mins)
- Projects and Operations – Introduction to continuous improvement (5 mins)
Leadership and Management Zone
A recently developed (and growing) Leadership and Management Zone can be found on Turas Learn. The site plans to offer a range of helpful resources whether you are an experienced manager or thinking about pursuing a management/supervisory role.
Open University
Free Open University courses can be downloaded for use on tablets, kindle etc. Each course has a guide to the number of hours study. For example, ‘Managing and Leading People, takes 8 hrs and is at level 3 Advanced.
ACAS
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) is nationally recognised service which also provides valuable guidance and supporting resources. Here are some further top tips from the website, e.g., Performance Management.
Other online resources:
Last updated; 06/05/2025
You can now book a place on the course using the eESS Login (scot.nhs.uk) Learner self-service facility. Guidance on how to search for Learning and Development on eESS OLM can be found here:
Full access to all Standard Operating Procedures and e-learning videos is available on eESS Login (scot.nhs.uk)
A – Z Learning, Education and Training Catalogue
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Adult Learners
As an organisation supporting a diverse range of learning and education opportunities we have designed this page to support the needs of adult learners. Our content has been developed with the help of NHSGGC staff who have taken a step back into learning, looking to adapt to workplace changes and to apply new knowledge, skills and approaches in their job.
By highlighting routes for guidance and support and celebrating the achievements of learners we hope to encourage people of all backgrounds or ages, to be inspired to give learning a go.
“In NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde we believe learning is for everyone regardless of age or stage of career. Learning can help us prepare for new roles in our constantly changing organisation. Effective learning is a partnership between the learner and NHSGGC. The aim of these pages is to help you access the kind of learning that suits you. We want every member of our staff to have equal access to learning, education and development which is relevant to their needs.”
Lyndsay Lauder, Head of Workforce Planning & Development
Quick Guide to Internal Training and Meeting Facilities
The following information provides guidance to two internal routes for accessing training and meeting room facilities in NHSGGC:
NHSGGC Work Space Manager
This is an online self booking system which offers access to a wide range of rooms across NHSGGC with seating capacity from under 20 to a maximum of 120.
Work Space Manager (WSM) is the general booking system for the range of meeting and training rooms in NHSGGC. WSM provides the facility to search for venues using date, location and required resources.
When a user accesses Work Space Manager (WSM) for the first time, they will be required to login; the login will be their email address with a blank password. Once logged in, they are presented with the application set to the highest level of location hierarchy. The nature of the application allows for multiple levels of locations before ending in a floor plan where the resources may be found.
For any issues or additional information, email: Eleanor.Naismith@ggc.scot.nhs.uk or Brian.Gracie@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Teaching and Learning Centre, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Campus
This is a purpose built teaching and learning centre with a 500 seat capacity lecture theatre plus a range of small (6-15 seats), medium (40 seats) and large (70 seats) teaching rooms.
An appendix is available at the end of this page to provide a quick guide to some of the sites across NHSGGC indicating small, medium or large venues.
The centre was developed jointly by NHSGGC and The University of Glasgow. It represents an investment of £27 million providing a state of the art learning and teaching environment for University of Glasgow undergraduate medical and nursing students as well as students studying on a variety of clinical science postgraduate programmes. It also provides postgraduate training facilities for medical staff and a large variety of NHS professionals thus ensuring we train the next generation of doctors, nurses, scientists, clinical academics and support staff to the highest standards.
Three floors of this purpose built centre are dedicated to teaching and learning. The fourth floor is a purpose built, £5M Clinical Innovation Zone which accommodates the Stratified Medicine Scotland-Innovation Centre, a University of Glasgow-led, Scotland wide collaboration with industry that is a leading initiative in the field of ‘precision medicine’, a National Centre of Excellence for the UK Precision Medicine Catapult, and incubator units for industry.
For any issues or additional information, please email: John.Harris@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Quick Reference Guide
The following list is a summary guide to sites in NHSGGC that offer venues currently available via Work Space Manager (WSM) and the Teaching and Learning Centre, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Campus. The search function on WSM offers the opportunity to narrow done the search to meet the specific requirements of the event.
This list is not exhaustive and there may be other venues located in NHSGGC that are not included in this sample of small, medium and large venues.
6 – 15 Seats
40 Seats
70 Seats
100 Seats
500 Seats
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is a great organisation with a huge pool of terrific talent. We are committed to fairness and equality and take a zero tolerance approach to all forms of discrimination.
It is key that we are all committed to the core NHS values of: Care and Compassion, Dignity and Respect, Openness, Honesty, Responsibility, Quality and Teamwork and we use these values to guide us in all that we do.
We have access to some of the finest facilities and resources in the country, but it is the values and attitudes we demonstrate as individuals that make the biggest difference to our patients and their families.
These key messages are important for new colleagues joining our organisation, but I also believe it is important that we all remind ourselves of the opportunities we have to impact very positively on the lives of thousands of patients and their families no matter what job we do as part of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
‘Digital learning has progressed rapidly to cover a wide range of formal course-based e-Learning packages and products together with a huge variety of complementary or alternative techniques, such as sharing knowledge or links to resources via social/interactive media sites and viewing / participating in online lectures, webinars, podcasts or blogs’ (CIPD, 2020)
The following provides a guide to identifying and developing digital educational methods that complement or replace classroom-based training:
How do I get started?
Digital Learning can be a combination of methods including informal and self-directed activities (e.g. making use of web-based resources) and structured interventions using virtual environments (e.g. Cisco Webex, MS Teams) or eLearning. Whether it is newly commissioned training (perhaps resulting from a Training Needs Analysis) or a revision of current provision then following these basic principles will help to identify the most appropriate learning method(s) and preparation for a virtual session if that is required.
Purpose/Outcomes: A clear statement of why the training is necessary and what participants are expected to achieve e.g. specific knowledge, particular skills, transferable skills, better understanding, behaviour change.
Audience:
- Who they are and why they have been identified e.g. single discipline, multi-disciplinary team, self-selection, mandatory. An understanding of these factors will encourage buy-in from participants.
- Essential to identify potential barriers to access and mitigate as far as possible.
- Digital literacy, vital to recognise that not all staff may have the skills or confidence to engage effectively with some aspects of Digital Learning.
- Disabilities e.g. supporting a deaf colleague in a virtual environment such as MS Teams.
- Important that delegates have line manager support as this will aid follow-up and application of learning.
- IT access. Do staff have access to equipment and appropriate software? Some staff may use their own devices e.g. home PC, so you will need to ensure that they are provided with guidance to check for potential access issues.
- Will there be an expectation that staff will use their own devices e.g. smart phones to access an app?
- Also important to acknowledge the participant’s physical environment e.g. will they have distractions when accessing MS Teams.
- Ensure that when planning the session you include opportunity for engagement and interaction where possible.
Evaluation, assessment and reporting requirements:
- Evaluation can aid measurement of value/effectiveness. An assessment may be required to confirm achievement to an agreed standard.
- The reporting on evidence of attainment may also be required and consideration given to the most appropriate mechanism e.g. eESS.
Planning for virtual environments (if required) e.g. MS Teams:
- Promotion (or participant identification) and booking process.
- Joining instructions – date, start time, duration, session link and any supplementary material.
- Session planning (further guidance below).
You may also find this Digital Learning Planner useful to help you consider and plan a digital learning experience.
Digital Learning Options
This table sets out a range of common approaches to Digital Learning. These approaches are not mutually exclusive and can (and should) be used in combination.
Resources
Here are two great resources that you should check out:
- NES provides guides and resources which include an introduction to MS Teams, a guide to transferring face to face training online as well as dates of facilitation training sessions.
- The College Development Network has produced this really well structured, up to date site that you should not miss.
The following pages offer more specific guidance on the respective approaches. They can be used in combination and a ‘blended’ approach can produce better outcomes.
The Learning and Education service offers a range of development opportunities for all staff from entry into post and throughout the span of your career. From formal qualifications to learning pathways, we will provide you with practical solutions tailored to your needs. This may be by completing a work based qualification, attending a tutor led session or using online learning resources.
Our Learning, Education and Training Catalogue outlines information on the wide range of tutor led and online courses that are available. Access to online learning is flexible and resources can be accessed from mobile devices, work or home PCs at any time.
Your learning and development should be discussed and reviewed with your line manager or supervisor throughout the year and at your annual Personal Development Planning and Review conversation. Your agreed learning will then be recorded electronically in your Personal Development Plan.
Support for learning is outlined in the section on our staff NHSGGC Bursary Fund.
Contact LE Support Unit
Please use the HR Self-Service Portal for your request and ensure that you add the link to your Favourites for easy access.
How to Raise a ServiceNow Ticket for L&E.mp4
If your enquiry is urgent or you would prefer to talk to one of the Learning and Education Assistants please contact us by telephone 0141 278 2700 option 3. The team are available at the following times:
- Monday – 10.00am until 3.00pm
- Tuesday – 10.00am until 3.00pm
- Wednesday – 10.00am until 3.00pm
- Thursday – 10.00am until 3.00pm
- Friday – 10.00am until 3.00pm
User videos have also been created in order to provide a clear demonstration of how to log an enquiry or request for LE support . The video can made full screen by clicking on the ‘Fullscreen’ arrows at the bottom right of the video.
Forgotten Passwords and Log in details reset (LearnPro and TURAS)
Learnpro
- Click on the Forgotten password link
2- A box will appear below the forgotten password link for an email address to be added and send button clicked
- A rest link will be emailed to email added above for the password to be reset
TURAS Appraisal
1 – Click on the ‘Forgot your password?’ link.
2 – Add email address and click ‘Send verification code’
3 – A code will then be emailed to the address you gave. Please leave the TURAS page opened until the code arrives, then copy and past it into the ‘Verification code’ section and click ‘Verify code’ and then ‘Continue’.
4 – This then allows the password to be reset
In House Training and Meeting Room Facilities
If you are planning an event in NHSGGC you should consider delivering this online using MS Teams. If it is essential to use a physical space for your event and require a room(s), there are two internal contacts that you may find helpful in locating the room that best suits your requirements.
Please note that currently all venues are subject to physical distancing guidelines and you should check facilities at time of booking.
Contacts
When your lead employer is NHSGGC and you are on placement within the West Region the following payroll and expense forms will apply.
ePayslips
Your payslips are electronic through the NHSGGC ePayroll system. Once your details are uploaded on the payroll system you will receive a secured envelope detailing your user name and password.
Below you will find User Guide and Frequently Asked Questions.
When your Lead Employer is NHSGGC and you are on placement within the West Region the following policies, procedures and guidelines below will apply.
For copies of placement board policies please contact your placement board. If you are on placement in Greater Glasgow and Clyde please refer to HR Connect.
If you are on placement within the West Region and are a GPST, Occupational Health, Public Health, or National Programme Trainee you should refer to the NES HR Policies & Procedures.
Policy, Proceedures and Guidelines
- Attendance Policy: NHS Scotland Workforce Policy
- Grievance Policy: NHS Scotland Workforce Policy
- Relocation and Removal Policy: NHSGGC
- Management of Doctors in Difficulty (Capability): NHS Education for Scotland*
- Recruitment and Selection: Scottish Medical Training
- Locum Appointments for Training (LAT) Policy: National Policy – Scotland Deanery
- Bullying and Harassment Policy: NHS Scotland Workforce Policy
- Conduct Policy: NHS Scotland Workforce Policy
- Alcohol & Substance Policy: NHSGGC
- Fixed Term Contracts Policy: NHSGGC
- Junior Doctors Banding Appeals Process: National Guidance
- Work Life Balance Policies and Guidance: NHSGGC*
- Maternity Leave Policy: NHSGGC*
- Adoption & Fostering Leave Policy
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Lead Employer
NHS Scotland has 4 lead employers for doctors and dentists in training:
- NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde: West Region
- NHS Lothian: East Region
- NHS Grampian: North Region
- NHS Education for Scotland: GP Training and National Programmes.
NES is the Lead Employer for all GP and National Programme trainees with the 3 other Lead Employers covering the other specialties and foundation trainees on a regional basis.
The other Boards continue to host trainees on placement as part of the training programme, they are known as ‘Placement Boards’. Whilst the Employing Boards have employment responsibilities, the Placement Boards continue to have clinical governance responsibility and operational management for those engaged in providing clinical care to Placement Board patients. The Lead Employer model has been developed in partnership with the British Medical Association.
To support this work the Turas platform has been extended to include Turas People, an application that now assists medical staffing/ HR colleagues in employment related workflows, facilitating the provision of information between trainees, Placement Boards and Employing Boards, reducing duplication across systems and assisting in ensuring that the trainees get paid accurately.
We hope these changes have improved the Doctors and Dentists in Training employment journey as follows:
- Less employment related administration and duplication of information provided
- A single contract of employment for the duration of a programme
- Reduced tax issues
- Continuous service with one employer making it easier for you to access employee benefits
- Clearer employment arrangements for money lenders (e.g. mortgages, cars and credit rating).
Dental Trainees
In December 2021 all Dentists in Specialty Training transferred to NHS Education for Scotland (NES) employment. This move seeks to align the contract of employment to a National Board, provide consistency in business processes, and as a result improve the dental trainee employment journey.
This transfer has been agreed in partnership and consultation taken place with current Employing Boards and the British Dental Association.
Terms and Conditions
For terms and conditions for resident doctors and dentists please visit the MSG Website.
Standing Operating Procedures
Placement Boards deliver employment related activity on behalf of the Employing Boards, these can be found in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Contact Us
Your placement will determine which Board you should contact if you have a query. Please see list of Placement Boards below.
Placement Board: Placement Board NHSGGC
General HR Enquiries
Doctors and Dentists Recruitment
Payroll and Expenses
- Your payroll contact will be on your payslip.
Medical Education
Occupational Health
Greater Glasgow and Clyde Policies
Monitoring
Contact Lynne Sutherland, Senior Monitoring Officer: lynne.sutherland3@nhs.scot
For the following areas:
- Emergency Care North, South and Clyde
- Medical Services North and South
- Geriatric Medicine North and South
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Sandyford
- South Stroke
- North and South Adult Cardiology.
Contact Andy Trench, Monitoring Officer: Andy.Trench@NHS.Scot
For the following areas:
- General Surgery North and South inc Surgical Specialities
- Anaesthetics North, South and Clyde
- Neonatology
- RHC and RAH Paediatric Medicine.
- LTFT Applications Administrator
- WordPress Editor – HR Connect Web Content
Contact Albert Chilambwe, Monitoring Officer: albert.chilambwe@nhs.scot
For the following areas:
- Clyde palliative medicine
- Diagnostics
- Regional inc INS
- Oral Health
- Paediatric Services for Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Orthopaedics, Cardiology, PICU, Haematology, Oncology and Anaesthetics.
Contact Claire Mortimer, Monitoring Officer: claire.mortimer4@nhs.scot
For the following areas:
- Clyde General Surgery
- Clyde General/Geriatric Medicine
- Clyde Orthopaedics and Urology
- Mental Health North and South
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
- General Practice FY2s.
Placement Board: NHS Ayrshire and Arran
General HR Enquiries
MedicalStaffing@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
01563 825738 or 01563 825719
Doctors and Dentists Recruitment
Amie Sloan, Recruitment Co-ordinator for Medical Workforce:
NHSAAmedicalrecruitment@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Expenses
Medical Education
Audrey Gallacher, Postgraduate/Foundation Administrator:
Email audrey.gallacher@aapct.scot.nhs.uk or Call 01292 614610
Vicky McCourt, Postgraduate Medical Education and Foundation Administrator:
Email: Vicky.McCourt@aapct.scot.nhs.uk or Call 01563 826105.
Occupational Health
- Call: 0800 085 0929/Ext 27306
Monitoring
Ross McGuiness, DRS Project Lead/ Monitoring and Systems Officer:
Placement Board: NHS Dumfries and Galloway
General HR Enquiries
Alice Walker, Medical Staffing Manager – Alice.Walker@nhs.scot
Doctors and Dentists Recruitment
Nicola Martin – Nicola.martin6@nhs.scot
Sarah Crosbie – Sarah.crosbie3@nhs.scot
Payroll and Expenses
Joanne Inglis, Payroll Manager:
Medical Education
Peter Armstrong, Consultant Accident and Emergency:
Occupational Health
Heather Aitchison, Specialist Practitioner in Occupational Health:
Placement Board Policies
Alice Walker, Medical Staffing Manager – Alice.Walker@nhs.scot
Monitoring
Nicola Martin – Nicola.martin6@nhs.scot
Sarah Crosbie – Sarah.crosbie3@nhs.scot
Placement Board: NHS Forth Valley
General HR Enquiries
Doctors and Dentists Recruitment
Payroll and Expenses
- Your payroll contact will be on your payslip.
Medical Education
Jacqueline McMenemy:
Occupational Health
Monitoring
Russell Morrison, Medical Workforce Analyst:
Placement Board NHS Golden Jubilee
General HR Enquiries
Pamela Young, Senior HR Advisor:
YOUNGPA926@gjnh.scot.nhs.uk
Doctors and Dentists Recruitment
Pamela Young, Senior HR Advisor:
YOUNGPA926@gjnh.scot.nhs.uk
Payroll and Expenses
Medical Education
Alan Kirk, Director of Medical Education
Email: alan.kirk@gjnh.scot.nhs.uk or Call 0141 951 5251
Occupational Health
Sharon Docherty, Occupational Health Specialist Advisor or Bernadene Thomson, Administrative Coordinator:
Email: occ.health@gjnh.scot.nhs.uk or Call 0141 951 5435
Placement Board Policies
Pamela Young, Senior HR Advisor:
YOUNGPA926@gjnh.scot.nhs.uk
Monitoring
Pamela Young, Senior HR Advisor:
YOUNGPA926@gjnh.scot.nhs.uk
Placement Board NHS Lanarkshire
Doctors and Dentists Recruitment
Monklands Trainees
Gill Swinburne, HR Advisor
Email Gillian.swinburne@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk or Call 01698 754352.
Wishaw Trainees
Iain Crosby, HR Assistant
Hairmyres and Psychiatry Trainees
Isabel Rankin, HR Assistant
Payroll & Expenses
Assistant Team Managers
Kiran Noor – Kiran.Noor@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Margaret McGeechan – Margaret.McGeechan@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Payroll Officers
Lorna Cameron – Lorna.Cameron@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Shirley Terras – Shirley.Terras@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Aileen Kelly – Aileen.Kelly3@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Elaine Cuthew – Elaine.Cuthew@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Payroll Team Manager
Graham Hall – Graham.Hall@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
Medical Education
Lanarkshire
Bernadette Kennedy, Training Co-Ordinator:
University Hospital Monklands
Alison Ross, Postgraduate Administrator:
University Hospital Wishaw
Sheona Everett, Postgraduate Administrator:
University Hospital Hairmyres
Siobhan McKenzie, Postgraduate Administrator:
Occupational Health
- University Hospital Monklands: 01236 752292, 752296 or 752297
- University Hospital Wishaw: 01698 366770
- University Hospital Hairmyres: 01355 585360.
Placement Board Policies
Monklands Trainees
Gill Swinburne, HR Advisor:
Wishaw Trainees
Iain Crosby, HR Assistant:
Hairmyres and Psychiatry Trainees
Isabel Rankin, HR Assistant:
Monitoring
Danielle Kerr, HR Assistant, New Deal/EWTD for Resident Doctors:
Lead Employer Boards
NHS Education for Scotland
NHS Grampian
NHSGGC
- Email: Recruitment-st@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
- Faye Henry, DDiT Lead: 0141 278 2590 or 07989310680 – Faye.Henry@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
- Jane McMahon, Senior DDiT Advisor – Jane.mcmahon@ggc.scot.nhs.uk 0141 2782634
- Niall Ward, DDiT Advisor Niall.ward@ggc.scot.nhs.uk – 0141 2782657
NHS Lothian
General Information
- Responsible Officer: Dr Scott Davidson, Medical Director
- Deputy Responsible Officer (Secondary Care): Professor Colin McKay
- Appraisal Lead (Secondary Care): Dr Veronica Leach
- Deputy Appraisal Lead: (Secondary Care): TBC
- Deputy Responsible Officer (Primary Care): Dr Kerri Neylon, Clinical Director, Glasgow City HSCP (North West Locality)
These Medical Revalidation and Appraisal pages provide information for non-training career grade doctors in secondary care who have a substantive, locum or honorary contract with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This includes non-training Clinical Fellows who do not hold a National Training Number (NTN). It does not include doctors in training (including Foundation Year trainees, Specialty Registrars, Core Trainees and those who hold Locum Appointment for Training posts), for whom NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the body responsible for revalidation.
Please note: General Practitioners (GPs) who carry out the majority of their clinical work within Secondary Care should undertake a single appraisal within Secondary Care, which also covers their Primary Care practice. All GPs are required to work an average of fifty sessions per year to demonstrate that they are maintaining their clinical skills.
Please use the titles below to navigate to the required information and guidance.
If you have a specific query or question regarding Medical Revalidation or Appraisal please email ggc.medical.revalidation@nhs.scot and a member of the Medical Staffing Team will get back to you.
Doctors in training with queries regarding revalidation should contact NES for clarification: trainingcontacts@nes.scot.nhs.uk.
Introduction to Medical Revalidation and Appraisal
Appraisal
All Consultants, SAS doctors and Career Grade doctors employed by NHSGGC must undertake an appraisal once during the period 1st April to 31st March in any given year. Annual appraisal is a contractual obligation for all Consultants and SAS doctors employed by NHS Boards in Scotland. It is also a statutory responsibility for all Consultants, SAS doctors and Career Grade doctors, who wish to retain a Licence to Practise, to regularly undertake appraisals in accordance with The General Medical Council (Licence to Practise and Revalidation) Regulations Order of Council 2012.
The appraisal should focus in the main on information gathered during the preceding year using the GMC’s Good Medical Practice Framework as its focus. If this is a doctor’s first appraisal as a newly qualified Consultant/SAS Grade/Career Grade they should bring along a copy of their Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), their Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP) and any evidence of patient/colleague feedback gathered in the previous 5 years. If a doctor has been previously employed as a Consultant/SAS Grade/Career Grade and has undertaken a valid appraisal for the preceding year they should bring along a copy of their signed Form 4 to their first Appraisal meeting.
Appraisals should be completed online using the Scottish Online Appraisal Resource (SOAR). This will assist greatly in record keeping and ensure that through audit the process can be quality assured. To register with SOAR please access the website http://www.appraisal.nes.scot.nhs.uk/.
Your Chief of Medicine / Appraisal Lead is formally responsible for appointing your appraiser. It is not permissible for an appraisee to self-select an appraiser. Where possible, doctors should be appraised by 2 separate appraisers during the 5 year revalidation cycle
Revalidation
Revalidation is the process by which doctors are required to demonstrate on a regular basis that they are up to date and fit to practice. Doctors will revalidate, usually every five years, based on a recommendation made to the GMC by the Board Medical Director, as Responsible Officer (RO). The RO will base their recommendation on a doctor’s appraisals over a five year period (i.e. the revalidation cycle), together with information drawn from the local clinical governance systems. The RO will be required to make a revalidation recommendation in accordance with the doctor’s due date which has been prescribed by the GMC. Each doctor will be notified directly of their revalidation due date by the GMC.
The RO can make one of three recommendations:
- Recommendation to revalidate
- Recommendation to defer
- Recommendation of non-engagement.
On the basis of the RO’s recommendation, the GMC will decide whether the doctor’s licence to practise should continue to be revalidated for a further 5 years. For further information on revalidation please access the the following GMC website: http://www.gmc-uk.org/doctors/revalidation.asp.
Should you have any queries in relation to the above please email: ggc.medical.revalidation@nhs.scot
Appraisal Year and Phasing
The appraisal year & appraisal process for Secondary Care
The appraisal year
The appraisal year is aligned to the financial year, running from 1st April to 31st March. The appraisal year aligned to an appraisal is predicated by when the appraisal meeting takes place. For example, if the appraisal meeting takes place in June 2022, the appraisal will fall under the appraisal year 2022/2023 (1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023). An Appraisal meeting taking place in April 2023 will fall within the appraisal year 2023/2024 (1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024).
The information to be reviewed at the appraisal meeting should cover all supporting information gathered since the previous appraisal to being the doctor up to date.
Supporting information for annual appraisal must include evidence of Continuing Professional Development, Quality Improvement Activity, Significant Events Analysis, a review of complaints and compliments and also evidence of Colleague MSF and Patient Feedback, which are GMC requirements for revalidation (in conjunction with at least one appraisal in every 5 year revalidation cycle).
The phased appraisal process for Secondary Care
Within Secondary Care appraisees (other than non training Clinical Fellows) should be appraised in accordance with a rolling structured timetable. Each appraisee will be required to complete an appraisal during a four month period as determined by their GMC revalidation due date (in particular the month). The appraisal phasing system operates as follows:
- Phase 2: Doctors who have revalidation months falling during August, September, October or November, have an appraisal completion window of April – July
- Phase 3: Doctors who have revalidation months falling during December, January, February or March, have an appraisal completion window of August – November
- Phase 1: Doctors who have revalidation months falling during April, May, June or July, have an appraisal completion window of December – March
- Phase 0: If a doctor commences employment within the Board on or after the 1st November in any given appraisal year, and they are not due to revalidate during that appraisal year, they will not be expected to complete an appraisal for that appraisal year, and will fall into their phasing window for the following appraisal year.
Appraisal timings for Non Training Clinical Fellows
The appraisal completion deadline for Clinical Fellows is dependent on their contract end date. Clinical Fellows with contracts ending in February should complete their appraisal by the end of January, and those with contracts ending in August, should complete their appraisal between April – July.
Specialty Doctors and Associate Specialists Appraisal Process
Appraisal process guidance for Specialty Doctors and Associate Specialists and their appraisers can be accessed by clicking on the following links:
Non Training Clinical Fellows Appraisal Process
The appraisal process for Clinical Fellows who do not have a training number within NHSGGC is similar to that of numbered trainees, and requires the doctor’s appraisal to be taken forward by their allocated Educational Supervisor, which should make reference to the ePortfolio that the Clinical Fellow is completing, and should be recorded on the SOAR system.
Appraisal process guidance for Clinical Fellows working at Foundation Level, ST1+ Level and their Educational Supervisors can be accessed by clicking on the following links.
Please click on following link below to access FAQ’s for non Training Clinical Fellows
Scottish Online Appraisal Resource (SOAR)
All doctors employed by NHSGGC must register with the Scottish Online Appraisal Resource (SOAR). This will assist greatly in record keeping and ensure that through audit, the Appraisal process can be quality assured. To register with SOAR please access the following website: http://www.appraisal.nes.scot.nhs.uk/.
SOAR is mandatory for the recording all appraisal information for medical staff employed by NHSGGC. If you require guidance on how to get started on SOAR, you can access this via the following link: http://www.appraisal.nes.scot.nhs.uk/help-me-with/appraisal/appraisal-this-year/getting-started.aspx.
Patient Feedback Exercise
To support revalidation, doctors are required to gather patient feedback. Accordingly, it is asked that all doctors with patient contact attempt the patient feedback exercise at least once in every 5 year cycle. Any exemptions must be discussed and agreed at the Board Wide Revalidation Group (BWRG) which is chaired by the RO.
The Board recommends the use of the NHSGGC Patient Feedback Questionnaire (a version of CARE) or one of two variations of this questionnaire for use by Radiologists and Child Health Specialists. NHS GGC patient questionnaires are also available in the following languages:- Arabic, Polish, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese and Urdu. Doctors are welcome to use an alternative questionnaire as long as it meets GMC requirements and has the approval of the RO.
To manage the high volume of patient questionnaires, the Board has purchased an electronic scanner which has been specifically set up to read the NHSGGC Patient Feedback Questionnaire plus the two variations above. At this stage the Board is unable to process any other types of questionnaires. If, therefore, a doctor chooses to use an alternative questionnaire they will be required to make their own administration arrangements.
We would recommend that, where possible, doctors aim to undertake the patient feedback exercise during the first 3 years of the revalidation cycle. This is a precautionary measure in case it is necessary to repeat the exercise, perhaps due to low return rates, or the doctor in discussion with his/her Appraiser wishes to repeat the exercise. The patient feedback exercise must be completed prior to the revalidation due date.
Doctors will be required to distribute 25 patient questionnaires across the whole of their practice and where possible should capture both inpatients and outpatients. It is accepted that some questionnaires may not be returned. The questionnaire should be distributed randomly and without influence from the doctor to patients who are competent and well enough to complete the proforma. It is also possible for parents or carers to complete the questionnaire instead of the patient.
Please follow the guidance below to obtain your NHSGGC Patient Feedback Questionnaire:
- Request the patient questionnaire by e-mailing ggc.medical.revalidation@nhs.scot at least 2 weeks prior to when you wish to commence the exercise;
- Indicate in your e-mail if you wish the NHSGGC Patient Feedback questionnaire, the adapted Radiology or Child Health Care Questionnaire. Please also advise if you require these questionnaires in any of following languages:- Arabic, Polish, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese and Urdu
- On receipt of your email, the Medical Staffing team will post out 25 patient questionnaires with instructions for distribution by a third party. Please note that it is a GMC requirement that the patient questionnaire be distributed independently of the doctor, i.e. by a third party;
- Once the questionnaires have been returned, Medical Staffing will scan the completed returns and generate a summary report. To obtain this report, please contact Medical Staffing by e-mailing ggc.medical.revalidation@nhs.scot at least 2 weeks prior to your appraisal meeting;
- We would recommend commencing the patient feedback exercise at least 2 months prior to your appraisal meeting, to allow time for the patient questionnaires to be distributed, completed and returned and report produced.
Please note: requests for the NHSGGC Patient Feedback Questionnaire must be made through medical staffing. This enables the team to administer the process and produce the required summary reports. The electronic scanner can only read the copies of the questionnaires issued by the Medical Staffing team, so please do not photocopy, scan or downloaded copies from another website.
For any queries in relation to Patient Feedback Questionnaires please telephone 0141 201 0780
Colleague Multi-Source Feedback (MSF)
To support revalidation, doctors are required to gather colleague feedback. This is also referred to as Multi-Source Feedback (MSF). All doctors are requested to complete the colleague feedback exercise at least once in every 5 year cycle. Any exemptions must be discussed and agreed at the Board Wide Revalidation Group (BWRG) which is chaired by the RO.
The colleague feedback exercise should be used formatively:
- as a learning and development tool to identify strengths and areas for improvement in a doctor’s practice, to inform continuing professional development; and
- as one of several pieces of information which, when considered together, will inform the decision as to whether a doctor should be recommended for revalidation.
The Scottish Government Health Department commissioned NES to develop a colleague questionnaire that would be suitable for all General Practitioners and career grade doctors in Scotland. This questionnaire is available as a web resource and is free to use for doctors registered with SOAR.
Please click the following link to access the colleague questionnaire:https://www.appraisal.nes.scot.nhs.uk/what-is/faqs/msf/
It is recommended that the doctor seeking feedback invites 15 colleagues to complete the short questionnaire, selected from across the whole of their practice. For example, colleagues from other specialties, junior doctors, nurses, allied healthcare professionals, management and clerical staff. Doctors are also encouraged to score themselves as this helps to facilitate a more meaningful discussion in terms of how the doctor views themselves compared to their colleagues. The results are then collated and a summary report is provided to the doctor (the NES MSF tool does this electronically). Doctors should aim to complete the colleague feedback exercise in the 4 weeks leading up to their appraisal meeting, to ensure that they have the necessary feedback to form part of their appraisal discussion.
Review of Complaints and Compliments
Information on Complaints Certificates
Feedback is often provided by patients and others by way of complaints and compliments, which should also be reviewed as part of the Appraisal process. The GMC definition of a complaint is “a formal expression of dissatisfaction or grievance. It can be about an individual doctor, the team or about the care of patients where a doctor could be expected to have had influence or responsibility”. The doctor may also choose to bring any compliments they have received to their Appraisal meeting.
Doctors should discuss any change in their practice that has been made as a result of any complaints or compliments received since the last Appraisal, either individually or across the team.
The Board is able to provide doctors with a Complaints Certificate, which confirms the number of complaints a doctor has been involved in within the previous year (this data is extracted from the Datix System). The reports are run three times a year in keeping with the ‘phased’ Appraisal timetable:
- doctors due to be appraised between 1st April and 31st July will be issued with a complaints certificate covering the period 1st April to 31st March;
- doctors due to be appraised between 1st August and 30th November will be issued with a complaints certificate covering the period 1st August to 31st July; and
- doctors due to be appraised between 1st December and 31st March will be issued with a complaints certificate covering the period 1st December to 30th November.
Please follow the guidance below to obtain a copy of your Complaints Certificate:
- request a Complaints Certificate at least two weeks before your Appraisal meeting by emailing ggc.medical.revalidation@nhs.scot; and
- on receipt of your e-mail you will be e-mailed one of two certificates stating either:
- there have been no complaints in the previous year; or
- you have been involved in “x” complaints and the outcome of each complaint e.g. upheld, partially upheld, not upheld and so on.
For any queries in relation to complaints certificates please telephone 0141 201 0780
Significant Clinical Incidents
To support revalidation doctors are required to discuss any Serious Clinical Incidents (SCIs) at their Appraisal, with a particular emphasis on those that have led to a specific change in practice or demonstrate learning. The Appraiser will be interested in any actions that the doctor has taken or any changes which have been implemented to prevent such events or incidents happening again.
Areas for further learning and development should be reflected in the doctor’s personal development plan and CPD. Doctors should bring along their own log of any SCIs recorded in the preceding year up to the date of the Appraisal meeting.
If you require further information regarding an SCI or SCI’s that you have been involved in, please contact your Clinical Director.
NES Appraiser Training
If you wish to apply to be an Appraiser, you need to complete the application form and equal opportunities form, which can be found along with appraiser training dates on the NES website: https://www.appraisal.nes.scot.nhs.uk/appraiser-training/
The completed forms must be sent to NES by email: Medical.Appraisal@nes.scot.nhs.uk. A copy of the forms should also be forwarded to the Medical Staffing Team to ensure that a central record of applications is maintained: ggc.medical.revalidation@nhs.scot
Please note: your application must be authorised by your Medical Manager before submission to NES.
Click on the following link to access the Scottish Medical Appraiser Handbook: http://www.appraisal.nes.scot.nhs.uk/i-want-access-to/resources-for-appraisers/appraiser-handbook.aspx.
Making a Recommendation
There are 5 steps to support the Responsible Officer (RO) in making a revalidation recommendation:
- The Appraiser and Appraisee should ensure that the Form 4 is completed online using the SOAR system, which allows the RO to review/access the Form 4(s) when it comes to making a revalidation recommendation to the GMC;
- The Chiefs of Medicine (COMs) are advised by the Revalidation Team which doctors are due to revalidate within their Directorate/Sector in the coming month and are asked if they know of any reasons which may preclude a doctor from being revalidated. For example, there may be ongoing HR processes, which need to be finalised before a recommendation can be made. Another extenuating circumstance, which could prevent a recommendation being made, is if an individual has not completed an appraisal;
- The Deputy Responsible Officer quality reviews the Form 4s submitted to ensure that all the information required has been included, for example CPD, MSF/Patient Questionnaire. If the Form 4 is incomplete the DRO will make contact with both the Appraisee and Appraiser to advise. If the Form 4 needs to be edited, arrangements are made by the the Revalidation Team to have SOAR unlock the Form 4;
- The RO meets the Deputy Responsible Officer, Board Appraisal Lead and Revalidation Team on a monthly basis to review and sign off the Form 4s for those Appraisees who are due to revalidate in the proceeding month. The RO will make one of three disposals: Recommendation to Revalidate; Deferral; or Non-Engagement.
- Further to the monthly meeting, the Revalidation Team notifies the GMC of the recommendations that have been made. Once the GMC has received the RO recommendation they will make a decision about your recommendation and will write to let you know.
Awareness Raising and Newsletters
GMC Guidance
Please click on the links below for GMC Guidance:
Scottish Government Guidance
