About Us News Events Search Quick Send CV Healthcare 01277 217 777 My Athona Healthcare Education Clinical Services Clients Work With Us Contact Us Revalidation & Appraisal Athona Recruitment > Healthcare > Revalidation & Appraisal Preparing for your revalidation or annual appraisal can seem daunting, but with Athona’s dedicated teams support and guidance the entire process will be straightforward and easy to manage. Since revalidations were introduced in 2012, we’ve successfully revalidated 531 doctors* and every year we assist with over 500 appraisals. Better still, according to the GMC’s Revalidation Data Explorer our results show we not only have the highest revalidation percentage, but also the lowest deferral rate of all leading agencies. To see how we compare, simply check out the Data Explorer and filter by ‘Designated body type’ to ‘Locum Agency.’ If you’re a doctor or nurse, take a look below at how Athona can support you with annual appraisals and revalidation. *Information correct as of September 2020. Important Information Regarding Appraisals in 2020 NHS England and the GMC have made positive changes to 2020 Appraisal’s focusing on support not paperwork. It has been a challenging time to say the least, all of us have all been affected by Covid-19 in some way and sadly some more disproportionately than others. We are acutely aware of the impact this may have had on the usual process of obtaining CPD and achieving PDP but more importantly the impact on your health and wellbeing as we progress through the stages of the pandemic. Meet the Team Tracie Spires – Associate Director of Quality & Insourcing tracie.spires@athona.com 01277 255617 Jessica Rawlinson – Appraisal & Revalidation Support Officer jessica.rawlinson@athona.com 01277 246882 Sarah Ferguson – Appraisal & Revalidation Support Officer sarah.ferguson@athona.com 01277 245868 Annual Appraisal for Doctors Athona is pleased to be able to bring you some positive news about changes that NHS England and the GMC have made with regards to doctors undertaking their appraisals this year. The appraisal process has been amended to reduce the administrative burden when preparing for appraisal and refocused on supporting you during the pandemic. Please see below the highlights of the changes and refer to the full 2020 Medical Appraisal Guide produced by the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges. Changes to the ‘Scope of Work’ impacted by COVID-19 should be included and discussed. PDP goals from the last appraisal can be dropped or carried forward. Significant Events and Complaints remain (a simple list is sufficient, no documentation required) – as does anything else you may have been specifically asked to provide, or which you wish to include. No further supporting documentation or written reflection is expected. Self-review (reflection) can be provided in discussion There will be no counting of CPD credits or hours. The appraisal discussion can be used as a confidential opportunity for you to debrief on your experiences this year. Appraisers will not document this unless you specifically ask them to. The reduced evidence and changes to verbal reflection have been designed, approved and implemented by NHS England and the GMC as an accepted method of evidence and this will not impact on a doctor’s revalidation recommendation. It is important to note that whilst there is a reduction administration or evidence required for appraisal this year, you are still obliged under Good Medical Practice to remain up to date and fit to practice. So what does this mean in terms of your appraisal preparation? Changes to Supporting information for 2020 appraisal Useful Links & Access to PrepIT appraisal system Revalidation for Doctors Revalidation is the process by which licensed doctors demonstrate to the General Medical Council (GMC), on a five year cycle, that they’re fit to practise as a medical practitioner. They do this by keeping up-to-date within their field of medical knowledge, attending annual appraisals, engaging in regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and complying with their employer’s requirements. It is a mandatory process designed to protect both patients and doctors. Over the five years of your revalidation cycle you will need to prepare for, and participate in, an annual appraisal, uploading evidence of CPD, quality improvement activity. At least once in your five year revalidation cycle you need to conduct a 360 Multisource Feedback exercise, we can assist you with reporting on feedback from colleagues and patients. How do I revalidate with Athona? I have been automatically deferred by the GMC, what can I do? I am due to revalidate August 2021 onwards, will the 2020 appraisal changes affect this? GMC Annual Return & Rev 12 Support If you’re not getting the support or advice you need from your current designated body, please get in touch with our Revalidation & Appraisal support team. We have supported many doctors by listening to their concerns and giving clarity and context around the appraisal and revalidation process, enabling you to have a positive appraisal and revalidation experience. Complete this short form to get in touch with our Revalidation & Appraisal support team and find out how we can support you. Find out more Revalidation for Nurses Since its introduction in April 2016, revalidation for nurses has provided assurance to the public of a nurse’s continued competence, as well as to encourage ongoing training and development. Most nurses will feel some degree of anxiety about the process, but for agency nurses who don’t work in just one NHS Trust we understand that the pressure can be especially daunting. We have a dedicated Revalidation Support Team on hand to support you through the entire process and have provided a breakdown on the revalidation process and a handy toolkit to get you started. Get in touch with the team today to find out how we can help calculate your submission of Athona hours and facilitate the arrangement of reflective and confirmation discussions. Breakdown of the revalidation process Resources