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Kate Oultram describes new guidance aimed at easing the appraisal and review process
Abstract
A new guidance document aims to provide useful tips and ideas for development reviews and appraisals, based on the KSF.
Key words
Appraisal, review, KSF, AfC, employer
Introduction
Before you cry: Oh no, not another relaunch of the KSF,' it could be worth taking a look at the NHS Staff Council and NHS Employers' new document Appraisals and KSF made simple - a practical guide. Don't forget, many consider the best part of the upheaval around Agenda for Change was the promise of supported development for all staff within their role.
This guide is aimed at managers and staff across the health service, and provides useful tips and ideas for development reviews and appraisals, supported by the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF).
Just as a barometer of your own experience, which of these statements reflects your current feelings about KSF most closely?
* We developed really detailed KSF outlines a few years ago for all our mental health team roles, but we don't actually use them.
* Our team decided to use the bits of the KSF we thought were relevant to our practice, and developed our own version - is that ok?
* Some mental health nurses like the KSF as it supports their professional learning and PREP - why do two different things?
* We don't have time to do appraisals or reviews, sadly, no one seems to mind.
* The KSF handbook is just too complicated, plus we were waiting for job evaluations and the electronic staff record to get finished, so it still hasn't happened here.
* In our service, we each have monthly meetings with our team manager, and a longer one every six months.
* I've not had any learning on or off the job for years, we don't even complete mandatory stuff.
* We all share the team objectives, and if we need any training we try to agree so it gets done somehow.
* In our organisation we get protected learning time, but we are so busy no one takes it.
* What's the KSF?
The guide results from work following the independent review of the KSF carried out in...